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Posts

And Now & The Seeds of Compassion by Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks
November 1, 2018/in Featured, News, Sermon /by Temple News

Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks: I wrote this poem just moments after the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. It was read at the Jewish Community Memorial Service Sunday evening in memory of the 13 Americans who were murdered last week–2 at the J’town Kroger and 11 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

And Now…

In the Beginning

God created

the heavens and the earth

and now…

there is darkness on the face of the deep

and the earth is void

of righteousness and compassion.

And God divided

between the heavens above

and the heavens beneath

and now…

the heavens are filled with cries of suffering

and the seas could never contain

the oceans of innocent blood.

And the Holy One

Blessed Be

gathered together the waters on earth

and now…

upon the dry land there is

grass and trees bearing fruit

and anger bearing hatred and death.

And on the fourth day

The Lord God illuminated

sun and moon and stars

and now…

darkness threatens to overcome

the power of light

and the forces of evil and war unite.

Then the Eternal One

called forth living creatures

to swarm in the heavens and in the seas

and now…

the skies are filled

with weapons of destruction

and violence clouds the very air we breathe.

And the Creator

of all the world said

Let us make animals and human beings

and now…

human beings have become as animals

that demand domination over all God’s works

and kill and destroy what they cannot control

But on the seventh day

God rested from all labor

and God blessed the work of Creation

and now…

we must live that blessing

we must turn from death and war

and learn again the message of hope and love and peace.

And now…

let there be peace

let there be light

let there be promise

let there be love.

This poem was written in response to Mayor Greg Fischer’s call and was read at the Metro Hall this morning for Louisville’s Moment of Solidarity.
I wrote it in honor of the Mayor’s ongoing, unstinting efforts to make Louisville a City of Compassion and in memory of the 13 Americans who were murdered last week–
2 at the J’town Kroger and 11 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The Seeds of Compassion

May the tears shed for these souls,

gunned down in a war against hope,

water the seeds of compassion. 


May the oceans of prayers and words,

spoken against violence and hatred,

overflow into healing and unity. 


May the commitment of the caring and just, 

roll down into action like water,

to righteousness as a mighty stream. 


That our grief may turn into healing,

our mourning into joy for the world,

Never Again to weep for those slain.


We must counter violence with votes,

fight hatred with love,

conquer fear with friendship,

overwhelm terror with the forces of light and good.


May the tears shed for these souls,

gunned down in a war against hope,

water the seeds of compassion. 

Louisville Vigil for Pittsburgh & Kroger Shootings

October 28, 2018/in Featured, News /by Temple News

Louisville Vigil From WLKY:

Hundreds of people attended a vigil at a local temple Sunday night in memory of the 11 people killed in a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

“Regardless of our faith and traditions, we are all one and that is one human race,” said Haleh Karimi, the executor director of Interfaith Paths to Peace.

It was standing room only at Temple Shalom as more than 200 people gathered to honor those killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

“There are Jews, there are Christians, there are Muslims, there are Hindus,” explain Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks. “I mean its just so meaningful and touching and I think that we all wanted to come together as a community just to say ‘Not in our America.'”

For many, like Rooks, the news of Saturday’s shooting came as a painful shock.

“That this could happen on such a sacred day in the synagogue, I couldn’t believe it,” Rooks explained.

“I have been through too many of these, as we all have,” said Rep. John Yarmuth, who attended Sunday’s vigil.

Yarmuth called people of every faith to action.

“We have to commit ourselves to pushing back against hatred, racism, bigotry in any form,” Yarmuth said.

Many joined hands as rabbis from throughout Louisville shared messages of peace and led the crowd in prayer.

“When we come together as one, that’s when we can recognize each other’s similarities and be able to connect as one,” Karimi said.

Rooks said these tragedies can only be stopped if people open their hearts to one another.

“I think that if you can sit down with someone and show them pictures of your kids, and share a meal, break bread together, get to know who they are and their hopes and dreams, and see them as human beings,” Rooks said.

Links to other news articles:

  • http://www.wdrb.com/story/39373174/hundreds-attend-local-vigil-to-remember-victims-of-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting
  • https://www.wave3.com/2018/10/29/louisville-comes-together-comfort-unity-sunday/

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