On a crisp Fall day, the sky was blue.
Two airplanes sliced our world in half
And everything changed.
On a late spring Monday, it was a happy Boston afternoon.
A bomb went off in a crowd
And everything changed.
On a hot June day, it was a peaceful Jerusalem
Teenage boys were murdered
And everything changed.
Everything changed and yet, it felt the same,
You know what I mean?
Frightening
Out of control
And we need to comfort ourselves.
And we need to comfort ourselves.
Some find comfort in action, others in quiet contemplation.
Some find comfort in ice cream, others in exercise.
Some find comfort in denial, others in non-stop information.
Some find comfort in denial, others in non-stop information.
All these can work for me, but not tonight.
Tonight, i declare
That everything changes.
Tonight I go towards Shabbat.
Tonight I go towards Shabbat.
Tonight,
Instead of violence, I choose peace.
Instead of anger, I choose kindness.
Instead of revenge, I choose justice.
Instead of resentment, I choose empathy.
Instead of work, I choose rest.
Instead of ideology, I choose compromise.
Instead of destruction, I choose community.
Instead of fear, I choose endurance.
Instead of shouting, I choose prayer.
Instead of shouting, I choose prayer.
Instead of hate, I choose Shabbat.
Blessed Yah, God of my ancestors, Inventor of Shabbat, we give thanks for this day of rest and comfort, this day that does not change but that changes everything.
Amen