Ba'Aretz # 8-Yom Kippur, Sukkot....and threats

This was my 58^th Yom Kippur. Thirty-two years ago, Stephanie and I spent Yom Kippur in Jerusalem. And then, for the next thirty years, I led services in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Mansfield, Ohio, Adelaide, South Australia, Rockford, Illinois, Miami, Florida, and Warren, New Jersey. Last year, we returned to Jerusalem for the holy day. This year (yesterday and the evening before) we once more spent the Holy Day in the Holy City. Nowhere else in the world is Yom Kippur so special.

From the siren announcing the beginning of the holiday at precisely 4:40 pm Wednesday afternoon until we heard the Shofar blast once the sun had set at the Italian Synagogue in Nachalat Shiva we were in the midst of an entire city at prayer. The sky was blue, a gentle breeze swept through the city, birds flew and chirped in the sky… but not a single shop or restaurant was open, not a car or bus moved… walking through Jerusalem all one encountered was an entire people at prayer.

We drove home silently last night, seeing towns and villages coming back to life. We passed Ben Gurion airport at about 7:30, two hours before it would re-open to air traffic. As we approached Tel Aviv, Israeli radio returned to the air. The car radio was on and set to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) as the first post-Yom Kippur song was played – "Lu Yehi… If Only it will Be" – asking G-d that all our hopes and prayers be fulfilled.

Yom Kippur has ended and Monday night Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles – begins. I just returned from Friday morning shopping ahead of Shabbat and enjoyed seeing many cars on the road with palm fronds for Sukkot tied to the roof, much like Americans transport Christmas trees in December. This afternoon, before the beginning of Shabbat, our Sukkah will arise on our mirpeset (balcony) and we will soon receive visitors and fulfill the mitzvot of eating and dwelling in the Sukkah, as well as waving the lulav and etrog.

The Jewish people will begin prayers for rain, for Sukkot begins the season when G-d sends rain to the Land. The Mesopotamians to the North counted on the Tigris and Euphrates to water their crops; the Egyptians to the south depend on the Nile. But Israel – ancient and modern – depends on G-d sending rain to irrigate the Land. Israel faces unprecedented water shortages this year. May all our prayers for the Land of Israel be answered!

And, may our prayers rise up support of Hicham Bougrine, a Moroccan, Muslim supporter of Israel who seeks peace between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. A Muslim dissident, a death threat was recently directed against Hicham. Hicham writes an Arabic blog in support of peace between the faiths.

The unsigned threat received by Hicham translates to English as follows:

In the name of God, the merciful, Creator of our nation dedicated to monotheism and jihad, That has commanded us to be a thorn in the throats of Zionist criminals and their slaves, the mercenaries and hypocrites.

Let God's blessings be bestowed on the master of men, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the illiterate Prophet who defeated the enemies of faith, so that there would be no transgression except against evildoers. Peace be upon those who follow the true path.

We have seen your Zionist site which conveys prejudice against questions of Islam and the Muslims and which reflects your profound hatred against the nation of monotheism. And because of your boldness against this religion and the Muslims, we warn you not to continue on this path, which will bring nothing to you from us anything except that which will not please you. And if you continue, we will proceed, with God-given certainty, to cut your head at the neck. Pardon is merited by those who give warnings.

And Allah has power and control over all affairs, but the majority of people do not know it. God, Omnipotent over the criminals, speaks the truth.

May G-d protect Hicham, and all those who risk their lives for truth, justice, and compassion. May this new year be the year when hatred and violence end.

Please visit Hicham Bougrine on his Facebook page and express your support.

And may the Festival of Sukkot be a joyous one for you and your family, with all our Sukkot prayers answered.

Rabbi Jeff Kahn