We Choose Life

Leor Sinai, (RS ’09) Co-CEO of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel.

The Days of Awe, Yamim Nora’im, are a time of reflection and choices. In Parashat Nitzavim, God suggests to the People of Israel prior to entering the Land “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life.” (Deut. 30:19). And in the Laws of Repentance (teshuvah), Moses Maimonides suggests, “Man is capable either of rising to noble heights or of falling into a life of sin—the choice is his.” And finally, William Shakespeare suggests, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Simhat Torah 5784, Am Yisrael woke up to the news of Hamas’s brutal invasion of Israel, which resulted in the longest ongoing war we have faced as a modern nation-state. Though broken, Am Yisrael chose to act; we chose life.

Following my ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary in 2009, my wife and I chose to fulfill our dream of making aliyah in 2011. Our move to Israel was a dream come true—not just our dream, but the dream of our ancestors. On October 7, the dream became a nightmare as darkness spread all over. Yet within 24 hours of the invasion, we saw glimmers of light. Israelis, Jews around the world, and our allies chose to act. Many headed to southern Israel in support of the evacuated families and soldiers. Many took part in food and clothing drives. Many donated precious resources. Many volunteered to help save the agricultural sector. And many of you came to physically bear witness—to be in Israel during her greatest hour of need.

A friend and I heard about a gathering of hostage families at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (later known as Hostage Square / Kikar Hahatufim) in Tel Aviv. We decided to go to the square on that first Friday evening, erev Shabbat, to be with the families. We lit Shabbat candles, sang “Shalom Aleichem,” and recited Kiddush. What we witnessed at that time was incredible, tearful, joyous, and hopeful. We have been here ever since, not missing a single erev Shabbat since October 7. We pray and sing with both secular and religious Jews—with and without kippot—and with non-Jews from across Israel and the world who have come because the heart yearns for healing, unity, and hope. For us, erev shabbat at Hostage Square has become hallowed land, a Beit Hamikdash, symbolizing a new covenant among people who choose life.

This year, 5785, we enter the Days of Awe an ocean apart, though we stand together at the intersection of life. My hope for you, for us all, is that in 5785 we choose to be, we choose life, and by doing so we embody the value of “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh” (All of the Jewish people are responsible for one another). Together we will heal what hurts, we will repair our rifts, and we will envision better days ahead for us and for our children everywhere.  

Shanah tovah u-metukah!

Back to Glimmers of Light: Reflections on Hope for the Days of Awe 5785