We Are Not Alone

​The other day, I reached out to an old friend. Out of the blue, I had a thought of her and sent a text message letting her know that she was on my mind. She will happily admit to being a bit of a flake, not that good at maintaining regular communication, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear my phone ring mere seconds after sending my message out into the ether. Talking to her was a balm for my soul. We caught up on each other's lives and talked about Israel, of course, but were really just there for each other. 

Later that evening, a good friend and neighbor (also a rabbi) stopped by to borrow something. She wound up staying for half an hour as we sat on the couch and offered each other support as Jewish professionals finding our way through a painful and stressful time. At the end of the night, even after the chaos of finishing dinner, homework, bath and bedtime, I felt just a little bit more whole than I had earlier in the day. 

I typically use this space to make a connection to Parashat HaShavua, to comment on something current or (hopefully) meaningful and link my thoughts to the piece of Torah that we focus on each week. Parashat Vayera is one of my favorites, and if you're at shul at Chevrei Tzedek this week (and I hope you will be!), you'll hear me lean into the pieces of this week's reading that speak most to me. But when I was thinking about what I wanted to say in my weekly message, so much of the narrative in Parashat Vayera felt too hard to square with the needs of this moment. Too much divine detachment, too much destruction, too much discord between family members, too much separation. 

Everything we're weathering as a Jewish community right now reminds us that what we need is connection, what we need is each other. 

Togetherness isn't always easy. And right now it *really* isn't easy. Feelings and political leanings about Israel run hot and deep. We worry about whether or not our colleagues, friends, and communities will understand or support our personal perspectives, or if we can support theirs. Sometimes we can't even find the words to express the complex and contradictory ideas we may have swirling around in our heads. It can be isolating, even as we search for a safe space to find community and connection. 

One thing you may not yet know about me is that I'm a musical theater geek. I sometimes think in song lyrics, and I've been mulling over No One Is Alone, from Into the Woods. 

Mother isn't here now
Wrong things, right things
Who knows what she'd say?
Who can say what's true?
Nothing's quite so clear now
Do things, fight things
Feel you've lost your way?
But--
You are not alone
Believe me,
No one is alone


People make mistakes
Holding to their own
Thinking they're alone
Honor their mistakes
Fight for their mistakes
Everybody makes
One another's terrible mistakes
Witches can be right
Giants can be good


Someone is on your side - Our side
Someone else is not
While we're seeing our side
Maybe we forgot
They are not alone
No one is alone
Hard to see the light now
Just don't let it go
Things will come out right now
We can make it so
Someone is on your side
No one is alone


The realities of our world right now are confusing and unnerving. I know of no better way to find a path through it all than together.