Marbeh: a jewish invitation to continue the story ….

Halle, Germany. Wednesday, October 9, 2019.

The rabbi of the Halle synagogue stands with members of the congregation in front of the shattered windows of the Imbiss. Candles have been lit. Small stones lay in clusters.

"With the deepest sadness,
we mourn those murdered here today. We pray for their families and loved ones, their friends and colleagues and communities. For their terrible, unspeakable losses. We pray for the wounded; may they find healing for both body and soul.

With the deepest pain,
we stand here facing the terrible truths of racisms, nationalisms and white supremacy. These kill and these maim. These target you. These target me. These target us. These target our neighbours. These target the very fabric of life. In word and deed, with gun and pen. These draw borders steeped in blood.

From the deepest silence,
we listen.
Here where we stand,
we listen.

And hear the timbres of teshuva. Hear the clear, searing, wail of the shofar as it reverberates deep in the very tissue of our bones, as it reverberates deep across spaces seemingly deaf to one another.  Listen! our bone quivers. Listen! the wail calls deep across borders.

We listen from the deepest silence,
hear where we stand.

And know: the book of life is written in the language of voices raised against all injustices, all violences.

People were murdered today, because they were deemed alien elements threatening supposed racial, national, religious, cultural purities.
People were wounded today, because they were deemed alien elements threatening supposed racial, national, religious, cultural purities.
People were targetted today, because they were deemed alien elements threatening supposed racial, national, religious, cultural purities.

People are murdered and wounded and targetted every day,
because they are deemed alien elements threatening supposed racial, national, religious, cultural purities.

Here where we stand,
we turn
and raise our voices in prayer.

We will not be silent. "

What did not happen in Halle, or anywhere in Germany.
What could happen in Halle, or anywhere in Germany.

J.K. Langford, Berlin, Germany. October 12, 2019.