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The mood in morning minyan on Hoshana Rabbah was one of uplift and joy, something barely witnessed these past two years. Finally, all the living hostages were returned home. Amid much celebration, let us not forget the approximately 28 hostages not yet returned, the ones who died. We mourn their loss, and embrace their families, for they are part of our family. 

Despite media reaching out to me, I do not have any answers; there are plenty of talking heads to provide those. I still have questions, of which I will leave you with the largest one that looms over us all: Why October 7, 2023? What did it really accomplish?

The past two years have been difficult ones for the Jewish community, as we have dealt with the aftermath of October 7: the shock; the pain; the loss; the rise of antisemitism; the words of H; the attacks upon property and people; the threats. I do not expect that suddenly all of this will evaporate, and those who seek to sow H will move on to their next flavor of the month. Antisemitism has become normalized and an acceptable expression both in word and deed. The hushes tones post-World War II have been replaced by full-blown expressions of H. How should we respond? 

Much has been done in communal settings through an array of organizations. My focus right now is on the individual, you, my reader who might be Jewish. Have you been taking good care of yourself? What does good self-care look like?

I believe that the creators of our prayerbook might not have recognized an invaluable element contained within its pages: it is a guidebook for self-care. The crafters of the prayers struggled with a range of emotions and experiences and tried to put into words how they were feeling. They poured out their hearts to God seeking comfort, the sustaining power of God’s presence, and to feel that they were enveloped in the wings of the Eternal. We don’t have to go to a brick-and-mortar bookstore or shop online to find our help. The format for it exists within our prayerbook and within the walls of our synagogue service. My go-to Psalm has been the 121^st for these past nearly seven years, and the opening verse answers the question that all of us regularly ask: I lift my eyes to the Heavens; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from God, Maker of the Heavens and the earth. 

The words and the place are here, ready for you. The invitation is here as well, although you should know that you never need an invitation; you are always warmly welcomed. Take the time out of your day to take care of yourself. We have been doing so for a very long time. And it works.