I completely understand the feeling of disappointment, devastation, alienation— it’s so much sometimes unbearable grief and seemingly endless pain and ignorance. It’s not an easy time to be a Jew, and especially not when the people and communities you thought to be ethical and supportive (and “home” for you) turn out to be exactly the opposite.

I’ve been finding a lot of beautiful, and sometimes tragic wisdom in our Jewish traditions; to be “chosen” and to “wander,” to me hints at these frustratingly recurring themes of feeling alienated and different and existentially lonely and frustrated and sometimes even despairing— and yet there is so much hope and wisdom and clarity and even real, rooted, deep joy that can come from our unique experiences as Jewish people, now and always.

Please know that you are not alone. And that you are such an important being, and that you have the support and love of a community that may feel far away, but is always with you. I believe these are dark times, but there can be no light without darkness. There will be a light at the end of the tunnel, soon I hope. And while life and history tend to show that sometimes certain darkness can be repeated in the universe (hopefully not this exact kind, I pray), our hope and intention and wisdom and compassion and tenacity — our spirit, is unbreakable.

Sending you so so much love. I hope you have a restful Shabbat, and I can’t recommend enough what’s been helping me most: to find some moments to get into nature (even just a drive or quick walk through a garden or a forest) and remember the beauty and gift of being. That is what is in each of us, and what we fight for. Shabbat shalom my friend, and all the solidarity and blessings to you 💙