The Hasidic story is told that a Rebbe asked his students how they could determine when night ends and day begins. Is it when we can distinguish between a dog and a sheep from a distance? Or is it when we can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine? “ No,” and “no,” the Rebbe said. “ It is when you can look into the face of human beings and you have enough light to recognize them as your brothers and sisters. Up until then it is night, and darkness is still with us.”
Across the world, and certainly in our own neighborhoods, there are too many instances when we cannot not see our neighbor’s face. All of the science and technology that connects us as a global village can do little to illuminate the world’s darkness if hatred, fear or indifference are the basis of our actions.
These past several days, much of our attention was on Baltimore where Freddie Gray, a 25 year-old black man, died while being held in police custody. We saw anger and rioting erupt in outrage and community leaders came together to quiet—but not dismiss—the exasperation of the protesters. Half a world away, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook the peaceful nation of Nepal. Every day the death toll climbs.
In these fundamentally different tragedies we have seen the Jewish community’s responsiveness and we are able to see, as Jewish tradition teaches, that we are all created in the image of God, b’tzelem Elohim. When we, as a Jewish community, respond to tragedies around the world or within our own town, we acknowledge that we see the faces of our brothers and sisters in need. We create hope and light in the darkness. We are proud to acknowledge the work of our colleagues in affiliated organizations as they undertake the fulfillment of their life-saving missions. We hope you will support them and help bring light to the darkened corners of our world.
www.Associated.org — In the aftermath of the recent unrest in Baltimore, the Jewish Community Federation stands with partners to create positive, long-lasting change in its beloved city
www.jdc.org The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is providing medical assistance through aid workers traveling from India to Nepal.
www.JFNA.org Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) The coalition of Jewish federations and communities focuses on rebuilding and improving infrastructure after natural and man-made disasters. In Nepal, the groups are working to determine what survivors’ immediate needs are, and is sending emergency supplies
www.AJWS.org American Jewish World Service (AJWS)The organization is raising money to distribute to aid organizations in the hardest-hit areas of Nepal