Tisha Be'Av: Seeing/Hearing Each Other and Restoring Our Home

***SPECIAL BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!*** ENDING GUN VIOLENCE: ESSAYS, PRAYERS, AND POEMS

 ***SPECIAL BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!***

ENDING GUN VIOLENCE: ESSAYS, PRAYERS, AND POEMS

BY RABBI MENACHEM CREDITOR

FOREWORD BY FRED GUTTENBERG

Truly humbled to share that for the first time, all of my essays, poems, and prayers, writings on Gun Violence have been published in one place. A very special thank you to my teacher, my friend, Fred Guttenberg, for his powerful foreword.

Paperback: amazon.com/dp/B0B8H967YN

Hardcover: amazon.com/dp/B0B8BRMXFQ

I'm also grateful for the chance, in the book's dedication section, to quote wisdom from my beloved friend, Rachel Brodie z"l, who once wrote: "For Jonah’s experience to be valuable, it has to be more than just a reminder that he’ll be able to experience joy again, that while it’s true that nothing lasts, and that his cynicism is well-founded, it also demonstrates God’s point that Jonah cannot use his truth to justify inaction. If you have responsibilities—and you know what they are—then you must do them."

May we be blessed to do our parts in saving lives.

May America begin the process of healing after decades of inaction on Gun Violence.

May the thousands upon thousands of souls we’ve lost finally rest in peace.

Amen.

My teacher, Fred Guttenberg, spoke in court today. His victim impact statement as the father of Jaime z"l, who was murdered at the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in #Parkland, FL on February 14, 2018. Fred spoke about what the loss of his daughter has meant for him and his family. No father should have to say what Fred said today, "what if my daughter wasn't murdered?" This is so very painful. And it is so very necessary to witness if we are to make the necessary change. We must. May Jaime's memory be forever blessed. May her family find comfort. #EndGunViolence

Reflecting on the past, envisioning the future! #MorningTorah #Broadcast600

a quiet, powerful rabbinic experience.

Just had a quiet, powerful rabbinic experience.

Often, clergy shares with others life's most tender and vulnerable moments. And then, once the intensity ebbs, usually after many years, the intimacy and frequency of the relationship ebbs as well. Sometimes the rabbi changes locations. Sometimes the other person does.

But then, every once in a while, re-encounter happens. This one was on Facebook.

Many years ago, I became part of someone's life when their spouse was dying. I fell in love with them both and with their family. I learned with them, sang with them, and eventually did bury my new friend, crying with their family hot, grieving tears. It was ravaging, and I've whispered my friend's name every Yizkor since.

Today, "by chance", I scrolled through FB (confession: I rarely do) and came across photos of my friend who had lost their spouse. I saw life in their eyes, glimpses into their next chapters since the grief we experienced together, clear happiness and health. All this brought new tears to my eyes, tears of comfort, tears of gratitude.

Years have passed since we've been near each other, and yet in this moment, time collapsed and I see hope.

Blessed is the One whose flow is Life itself.

Amen. 

We must (and can) learn to be curious again. #MattotMassei #MotiveAsymmetry

Looking back at Thomas

Looking back at Thomas

whose words did and didn't declare freedom

whose coat once did fit and now does not fit

our society which is and is not yet free,

I wonder:

As he gazes across the water

toward his neighbor Martin, 

whose folded arms and fierce gaze

say so much,

what would he say today?

would anything seem so self-evident anymore? 

and would he seem so tall?

- Menachem Creditor