BK Blast Archive

Dear Bnai Keshet Community,

My heart is broken over news of the worst mass shooting in American history, killing 50 human beings and wounding 53 others in the Pulse club in Orlando, Florida.  I am all the more pained by the identity of so many of the victims, members of the LGBT community, who have already suffered so much violence and hate in our country.  I invite anyone who has been shaken by this horrifying event to reach out and talk.

This was an act of homegrown terrorism.  This hate was learned in the United States and we bear a responsibility to end it.  This hate was made deadly by easy access to exceptionally lethal firearms.  I am praying for the victims today, but I am also finding ways to turn my prayer into action.  This attack took place as some of us learned Torah through the night on Shavuot.  Receiving the Torah took our inchoate faith and turned us into a community of action and ritual.  We learn from Torah that we must continuously turn our best intentions into real action.  

What action can you take?

• Call your representatives in Congress and tell them what you think about sensible gun reform.

• Donate blood at Bnai Keshet this Thursday - sign up here.

• Join the Montclair community of faith at First Congregational Church (40 S. Fullerton) at 7pm on Wednesday night for a vigil on the front lawn.  Bring a candle.

• Join Garden State Equality on Saturday, June 18th at 10am in Asbury Park for the annual Equality Walk, dedicated this year to the victims of the Pulse Orlando shooting. 

May all our sacred spaces be inviolable, may we be held and supported when we are broken and vulnerable, and may we reach out and create love in a world of too much hate.

A Prayer for Healing after a Hate Crime 
Eloheinu v’elohei avoteinu v’imoteinu

Our God and God of our ancestors,
Hate has been visited upon our community
Our sacred space has been violated.
We feel vulnerable, afraid, angry and broken.

God and God of our ancestors,
We pray to You:

May strength come from our vulnerability,
so we can support one another,
and receive the support of others with gratitude and humility.

May compassion come from our fear,
so we do not act from that fear,
and we can pursue justice not revenge, peace not more violence.

May wisdom come from our anger,
so we are able to see that an attack against us is an attack against all,
and we are able to join in common cause with those who are similarly oppressed and targeted.

And may healing come from our brokenness,
so we are able to rise from this challenge with renewed life, commitment and connection.

May You frustrate those who seek to do harm
And uphold those who seek to do good.
May the shelter of Your peace spread over us and over all who dwell on earth.

And let us say, Amen.