Terrorist attack has changed the message.
By: Jeff Milgram
Rabbi Shana Margolin of the Jewish Center of Belle Mead was going to speak about living a Jewish life in her Rosh Hashana sermon.
Her counterpart at the Jewish Center of Princeton, Rabbi Dov Elkins, was planning to discuss the importance of Israel to the American Jewish community.
And Rabbi James Diamond, director of the Center for Jewish Life at Princeton University, had envisioned a sermon touching on a host of topics.
All three had to rewrite their sermons in the aftermath of last week’s catastrophic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Rosh Hashana celebrates the beginning of a new year, 5762, and is the start of a 10-day period of self-reflection known as the High Holy Days, when Jews traditionally ask God to forgive their sins. The High Holy Days, which began Monday night, culminate with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, on Sept. 27.
What is obvious is that the terrorist attack has cast a shadow over this year’s High Holy Days.
"You can’t not talk about it," Rabbi Diamond said of the attack and the thousands of people of every religion and race who are still missing.
"People are concerned. I think we’ll get a huge turnout," he said.
Rabbi Elkins said he had to completely change his sermon, which he will deliver today at services that begin at 8:15 p.m.
Instead of speaking about Israel and the violence in the Middle East this past year, Rabbi Elkins will talk about America’s vulnerability to terrorism.
He will call last Tuesday’s attack a "wake-up call" to Americans about the constant dangers of terrorism dangers that Israel faces every day.
And he will have words of comfort, especially for the families of three members of his congregation who apparently died in the attack Steven Goldstein of Montgomery, Frank Reisman of Princeton Township and Cathy Chirls of Princeton Borough.
"America remains a great bulwark of democracy in the world," Rabbi Elkins said.
He said the extremists who committed the attack want to "destroy democracy, destroy freedom of speech, destroy modernity and destroy women’s rights."
Rabbi Margolin will speak about how people came together to comfort each other after the attack.
"We’ve seen incredible goodness from people all around the country and I’d like to hold on to that," she said.
"People have a clear vision of what’s important," she added.
Rabbi Diamond said he wants the students to know that, despite the loss of life and destruction, life is good.
"I want to remind people that the world is good, that human beings are good. That we should know that America is based on some very important ideals … that the American dream is not finished," he said.
"We all feel bereaved," Rabbi Diamond said. "The whole country feels bereaved."