Local rabbi offers words of healing following Hamas attack

Jewish and Palestinian communities across the United States are still reeling two weeks after the Hamas militant group launched a deadly attack in Israel.

News of the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and other countries, in neighboring Israel on quickly spread around the world, including here in Alaska, eliciting strong reactions from Jewish community members and others.

According to the Associated Press, the Israeli government officially declared war last week against Hamas, So far the death toll from Israel has passed 1,400, with thousands wounded on both sides of the conflict, including 29 Americans, as well as nearly 200 people taken hostage; 15 U.S. citizens among them. It is being called one of the worst massacres of innocent civilians in Israeli history, as Hamas was able to break through Israeli defenses in coordinated sea, land, and air attacks.

Rabbi Mendy Greenberg called the attack barbaric, especially the attack on women and children.

“Here, like everywhere, people are in utter shock and heartbroken. This is tragic, a travesty never seen in my lifetime.”

The numbers are staggering and the images, horrifying as innocent victims in Israel and those trapped in Gaza are caught in the middle, leaving many to worry for family and friends caught in the war, asking what can be done, how they can help.

“This has devastated the Jewish community, and the friends and supporters of community,” says Rabbi Mendy Greenberg of the Mat-Su Jewish Center in Wasilla. He, like most in his congregation, has close friends and family there, and has himself spent significant time studying in Israel.

“This has touched every Jew all over the world. We have family and friends there, much like the others here have friends and family on frontlines.” Rabbi Mendy says that one member has a grandson in the Army there. The Israeli government has called over 350,000 reservists to active duty as the world waits to see if a ground attack into Gaza is imminent.

“Now is not time to sit back, but take action, which means to stand up with the Jewish people in Israel, the IDF, with entire situation. Be there for them.”

He says that the people of the synagogue, and the community, have shown tremendous support and outrage, thoughts and prayers, and asking where to donate to help the people who have suffered so much.

“Donate your voice, whether on social media or with friends. Educate our kids, adults, everyone, and we will ultimately overcome.”

And while the Hamas invasion is unfathomable, unbelievable, Rabbi Mendy has a simple way for people everywhere to combat the evil the world is witnessing.

“The best way to combat evil is with kindness, by being good to one another,” he says. “Exercise your kindness muscles—the more we practice, the stronger our kindness is. Do good, be kind, compassionate, and charitable. This is how we fight evil.”

He also says that he hopes people will strengthen Jewish heritage, increase traditions, and connect to brothers and sisters that are suffering so terribly in the warzones.

“We should understand good versus evil in the most extreme, day to day struggle to make right choices. Think about the choices, encourage people to make good choices, show compassion, bringing in good will have ripple effect, even from here in Alaska all the way to Israel.”