We move into Tisha B’Av, our tradition’s day of mourning for the destruction of the Temple and for violence Jews have faced since then.  Our hearts are in the East as we stand with Israel ever supporting her right to defend herself, as we mourn for the loss of life among Israelis and Palestinians, and as we seek a path to an enduring and secure peace.  May we heed the words of URJ president Rabbi Rick Jacobs’ in his column in Haaretz: as Hamas wages war on Israel’s very right to exist, we do not answer hatred with hatred. From the words of the Lamentations text we read for Tisha B’Av: Comfort, Oh comfort My people, says God.  You can support our community’s Stop the Sirens campaign here.