What are the chances…

What are the chances that a synagogue in southeast Florida would see so much death?

Synagogues are homes for study, ritual, festivals, Shabbats and life events such as bnai mitzvoth, engagements, weddings, births and death.

We know that. We expect that.

But the schul I attend, Palm Beach Synagogue founded in 1994 when a doctor and his family relocating from Boulder, CO and seeking an orthodox minyun followed the recommendation of his Boulder Chabad rabbi that he contact his brother in Miami, has experienced death after death of Jews who were killed for being Jews.

1. Michael Levin. He was a Lone Solder from Pennsylvania, his parents’ only son. His family were members of the schul.

2. Ari Fuld. He was a lion of a man, another American who made aliya and served in the military. He was a frequent visitor to our congregation. He was killed as he purchased items for Shabbat. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/now-its-real-again/

3. Alon Shamriz. His father joined us for Chanukah 2023. He was so optimistic that his son, a hostage would be rescued. If a gathering can give a collective blessing, we gave it. A few days later we woke to hear that his son had tragically been killed by friendly fire. https://www.jns.org/lulu/

Today we learned that several congregants of our rabbi’s brother, the very brother who had recommended that our founder contact him, had been burned by incendiary devices thrown by a man screaming “Free Palestine!” as they marched in honor of the remaining hostages.

Like cicadas on a daily cycle, a terrorist emerged, triggered this time perhaps by peace advancements in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar’s welcome of President Trump), the possibility of Hamas’ defeat and a whirlwind of anti-Semitic Ivy League commencement speakers and celebrities.