TashJGirl

Memorial Candles

The horrific murders in Mumbai last week were … horrific.  Not stunning or shocking.  I am no longer shocked when Jewish people are killed simply for being Jewish.  When I first heard about it, I cried.  My first reaction was “no way, this is not happening.”  Which quickly turned into “why?” and “will it ever end?”

The reality is that I know the answers to those questions.  I’m not shocked at these atrocities because Jewish people have been killed simply for being Jewish for thousands of years.  It will never end.

This evening the local JCC had a memorial service for the massacred people in Mumbai. It was gut-wrenching.  You could hear lots of people crying but nobody was uncontrollable.  I ended up sobbing at home.  Someohow, I think others cried for real privately too.

During the service, the rabbi asked that we each do something meaningful to honor the memories of those who died.  These are such simple things, like lighting candles on Shabbat, donating your collected pocket change, being a better person, doing something nice for someone.  There are a thousand ways to honor those who have died simply because they’re Jewish.  There are thousands ways to honor those who died protecting our lives.

Do something nice for someone.