Eternal God,
We have walked a path with You for three thousand years
Or more.
We have celebrated Your presence in our lives.
We have endured the contempt of others who did not understand
Our covenant with You
But at great cost.
We have heard expressions of praise for our strength and our dedication to our heritage.
Yet, we still experience attacks in the form of words and physical violence.
We hear offhand comments that draw on age-old stereotypes.
We see gravestones marked with insulting graffiti and overturned.
Congregations have been violated by people bearing arms
By individuals destroying prayerbooks and Torah scrolls...
Even now and in the last several years.
But these events do not define us.
We are about...
Learning
Values
Leadership
Shabbat
Chanukah
Passover
Sukkot
Weddings
Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations
Moments of Remembrance
Community
Torah
Social Justice
Love of God
And love of our fellow human beings.
May the gifts of our heritage inspire us to contribute our wisdom and spirit
To a world that needs us
And may you offer protection when necessary
And enable us to join with others to change hearts and minds
So that our human family can draw ever closer together
In respect, in cooperation, in hope, and in peace.
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