Message to the Temple Sinai Community about Yesterday's Events in Colleyville, TX

January 16, 2022

To the Temple Sinai Community:

This morning, we awaken with a profound sense of relief that the three members of another Reform synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, and their rabbi, are alive and safe after a 10-hour hostage standoff yesterday. With a deep sense of gratitude, we can recite the Hebrew prayer that is found in our Mishkan Tefilah prayer book: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, mattir asurim: “We thank You, Eternal One, Source of the universe, who sets free the captive.”

Yesterday’s events, however, re-open for many for us a frightening sense of vulnerability, and are a reminder that we Jews, among other minorities in our country, continue to be the targets of hatred and violence. It was shocking to see yet another synagogue engaged in prayer on Shabbat morning interrupted by an antisemitic extremist wielding weapons and threatening lives. Learning of yesterday’s hostage situation at a Reform temple was traumatic for some in our community, and it raises our sense of alarm and anxiety at our own vulnerability. In an ideal world, no one would feel any sense of fear in coming to their house of worship to be with their fellow Jews. Sadly, that is not our world today.

We find strength, however, in community. We take some comfort knowing that yesterday’s event was an isolated incident, and from the overwhelming expressions of care, concern and solidarity sent to us at Temple Sinai from Christian and Muslim friends last evening – and to Jews around the country – as the events were unfolding. We are not alone.

We also found strength last night from American Jews across the country. As Shabbat was ending, the Reform movement quickly set up a Havdallah prayer gathering on Zoom for Reform Jews all over the world for over 1,000 people. It was uplifting, in a time of need, to see all the faces and hear all our prayers and song gathered as one.

We also supported one another last night through Temple Sinai’s Facebook group, on which many of our members interacted and posted heartfelt messages of support. Those messages remind us we are all connected to each other. (A request: If you are not yet a member of the Temple Sinai Facebook Group, please click here to join it, and find more ways of connecting to our community.)

The days and weeks ahead will bring different waves of emotion as we consider what it means to be Jewish in America today. We urge you, and especially parents in our congregation, to read this article about how to deal with the emotional burdens of trauma and fear when a synagogue is targeted in an attack. And we encourage you to find your own voice in prayer as a spiritual outlet for your own concerns, anxiety or gratitude in the days ahead.

We, your rabbis, are available if you would like to talk through your reactions to yesterday’s events, or to pray with us and find support. Please know that your Temple Sinai community is here for you.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Andy Vogel, rabbivogel@sinaibrookline.org

Rabbi Talia Stein, rabbistein@sinaibrookline.org