Never Forgive, Never Forget: Statement from Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, Wednesday, February 19:
We received the heart-shattering news that Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz are no longer with us.
This news cuts like a knife through our hearts, the families’ hearts, and the hearts of people all over the world.
Oded was a journalist and peace activist who helped found Kibbutz Nir Oz. He dedicated his life to helping others and transporting sick Gazans to Israeli hospitals, and his grandchildren called him "Super Grandpa" for his wisdom and love.
Shiri was a dedicated mother and accountant, known for her boundless kindness, who nurtured and cared for all the kibbutz children. She touched everyone's heart with her capacity for giving and love for others.
Ariel, just four-year-old when kidnapped, loved Batman and playing with tractors in the garden. Baby Kfir, not-even-one-year-old when taken, had gorgeous red hair and a smile that could melt any person.
They weren't just names - they were beloved people, with families who cherished them, with dreams and futures stolen from them.
We grieve not only for them, but for the other precious lives lost, including four more deceased hostages who will be returned next week.
We will not rest. We will not stop fighting for every hostage who isn't part of the current deal - for those still alive, clinging to survival, desperate to return to their loved ones and begin healing.
And for those we know are deceased - their families deserve the dignity of closure, the basic right to give their loved ones a proper burial.
Abundant & Eternal: Yes, right after Mr & Mrs Abq Jew celebrate their wedding anniversary every year, there appears on the civil, which is to say Christian, calendar the Feast of Saint Valentine.
There's lots of Valentines and almost as many St Valentines, and the tradition of which particular Valentine they, which is to say Christians, feast for is, to say the least, ambiguous. But here we all are.
We Jews give and receive love, too - but, of course, not exactly like our neighbors. And we do not on observe the same day.
For a couple thousand years (approximately), we've celebrated Tu b'Av, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av. My Jewish Learning tells us that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said:
There were no better (i.e. happier) days for the people of Israel than the Fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur[!], since on these days the daughters of Israel/Jerusalem go out dressed in white and dance in the vineyards. What were they saying? Young man, consider whom you choose (to be your wife)! (Ta’anit, Chapter 4)
We Jews do speak about abundant and eternal love. But when we do, we are usually speaking about the love of God for his people Israel.
And its reciprocity. Most (arguably, as are most things Jewish) notably in the Ahavah Rabbah prayer, which we recite before the morning and evening Shema.
Which brings us to
Josh Warshawsky
"The preeminent voice of contemporary, soulful, exciting music within today’s Judaism." About whom (see October 2020's Music as Midrash and Prayer) Abq Jew has written before. And whose website tells us:
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky is a pray-er, gatherer, music creator, and lifelong meaning-seeker.
He is the rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim in Bexley, OH, and a nationally touring Jewish musician, songleader, composer, and teacher of Torah. Josh seeks to build intentional praying communities, and travels to synagogues and Jewish communities across the country sharing his music and teachings on prayer and meaningful living.
He has released four albums of Jewish music, filled with melodies written intentionally to express the deep meaning of the words of our tradition. His latest album, “Chaverai Nevarech Vol. IV,” comes out February 6th!
Rabbi Josh always assembles the very best musicians and the very best of modern Jewish music for his back-up band. The Chaverai Nevarech Band continues that harmonic and harmonious tradition.
Abq Jew is especially excited to see (the guy in the green shirt at 1:05) Rabbi Noah Diamondstein as part of the Chaverai Nevarech Band.
Rabbi Noah is - as stated - also one of the very best. In his own right.
Abq Jew knows this for a fact, because Rabbi Noah officiated - both beautifully and meaningfully - at (see November 2023's At the End of the Rainbow) the wedding of Mr & Mrs Abq Jew's wonderful daughter Alex to the equally wonderful Jake.
Want more music? Here is a video of Rabbi Josh Warshwasky and Coleen Dieker leading the Chaverai Nevarech Band in their rendition of Yom Shabbaton. Look for the guy in the green shirt.
And - as a special Valentine's Day / Shabbat treat - from (where else?) The New Yorker - the first three frames of Liana Fink's series on The Wife of Valor!
Old, Old News: This coming Shabbat (Shabbat Shirah!), Mr & Mrs Abq Jew willאי״ה celebrate the 49th anniversary of their wedding at NYC's Town & Village Synagogue (with reception following at the Waldorf Astoria).
Yes, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew will be 49ers! You, Abq Jew's loyal readers, may not know this, but - once upon a time, long, long ago, Mr & Mrs Abq Jew almost became true San Francisco 49ers.
Shortly after Abq Jew graduated (see June 2024's Religious Freedom? Meh., et al) fromThe Jewish Theological Seminary of America - and realized that there was no job in Jewish Education waiting for him anywhere in the US - Mr & Mrs Abq Jew (and Mickey the cat) took off for California, where Abq Jew grew up and where Abq Jew's parents z"l then lived.
And where jobs were plentiful. In Silicon Valley, of course, which did not then include The City By The Bay. But The City was only 50 miles and a one-hour drive away, and it was so beautiful ....
So (see December 2021's Joseph Dreams) anyway - Mr & Mrs Abq Jew wound up in Sunnyvale, in the heart (or, perhaps, another body part) of Silicon Valley. Where Abq Jew's 10-mile commute to work still took about 45 minutes, including the 15 minutes he needed just to get out of the driveway.
Do you like crossword puzzles? Abq Jew will do a middle-of-the-night Wordle, but Mrs Abq Jew will do crossword puzzles until the cats come home.
Now comes the magic - when Abq Jew puts California, puzzles, and Shabbat Shirah together!
So. Abq Jew the Engineer grew up (if anyone ever does) in California. Junior high, high school, and 3 of 4 years in college (with one year at The Technion).
Mrs Abq Jew the Artist grew up (as one does) in Brooklyn. Midwood High School. Undergrad years in Philly (with one year in Italy).
And thus, Abq Jew and Mrs Abq Jew approach, reconnoiter, attack, and occasionally defeat crossword puzzles differently. We help each other when indecision strikes, and laugh when one of us can actually decipher a clue.
A recent clue: "Pontiac muscle car." Three letters.
An East Coast artistic yet non-musical and certainly non-automotive upbringing did not provide the background Mrs Abq Jew needed to proclaim the answer:
GTO
Which Abq Jew, with his California upbringing, knew instinctively. (Here's where Shabbat Shirah - the Sabbath of Song - comes in.)
You see - Abq Jew grew up with California muscle cars. Although he walked to high school and only drove the family's 1962 4-door Dodge Lancer on off days - Abq Jew listened to Ronny and The Daytonas' song on the car radio.
Abq Jew hears you shout. Wasn't that a Beach Boys song? I mean, didn't The Beach Boys also do GTO?
Well, yes, they did. The Beach Boys covered (as they say) "GTO." But said Beach Boys are much more famous for Little Deuce Coupe!
