Rabbi Heller's Blog

Updated with working link:  https://www.youtube.com/live/j1i2FuqiqXQ

Saturday night we learned that the empty chair in our sanctuary will never be filled by the person we have held it for. We received the devastating news that six more Israeli hostages had been recovered in Gaza, recently murdered: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino. The Talmud teaches us that God created humanity, in all its diversity, starting with just a single person, to show that the loss of any one person is simply beyond measure. And indeed, members of our community have suffered losses in the very closest circles of family and friends, of hostages, of victims, of soldiers who have given their lives defending the innocent, making these past 11 months so unbearable.
 
And yet, many in our community may be feeling this loss more closely because our congregation had taken up the cause of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. For over 10 months, a chair has been reserved in our sanctuary for him. Many of us have been inspired by the bravery and courage of his parents, Rachel and Jon, making noise on the world stage not only for their own son, but for those whose loved ones did not have the same voice or who had none to speak for them at all. We have advocated; we have done mitzvot and studied because of their strength. I will admit that the loss is personal for me because my family has connections to the Goldberg-Polins. Our families spent Passover together at Ramah Darom for many years, and this past Passover, the seat held for him was, in fact, the one he had sat in in years past. Sunday night I attended a vigil at Harvard where my daughter spoke about him 

At a later time, we will be able to reflect on the meaning of this moment, its political and national implications, and what kinds of advocacy will best protect Israel and bring home those who must still be saved. At our Yizkor services over the High Holidays, we will attempt to remember all those who fell in the context of history and community. For now, we recognize that if we feel connected to any one loss, we must multiply it a thousand fold and more to grasp the magnitude of the total loss of October 7th and since.
 
For those in our community who want to honor Hersh’s memory, there are several opportunities. His funeral will take place at 9 AM Monday morning, US time.  You may stream it at https://www.youtube.com/live/j1i2FuqiqXQ. You may choose to attend minyan  Monday night at 6:15PM, Monday morning at 8:45AM, or Tuesday morning at 7AM. On Tuesday evening, after 6:15PM minyan, we will have a short gathering in the sanctuary to mark the fact that we can no longer hold a chair for Hersh, and instead we hold space for all of those still held in Gaza, and those families that wait in anguish for the return of their loved ones. May the deaths we learned of today be avenged and bring closer the return of those waiting to come home.