Rabbi’s Update 6/13/2025

Dear Friends:

As you most likely know, last night Israel launched a massive attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and the Iranian military command structure. Iran retaliated by sending about 100 drones towards Israel but the Israeli air force reported shooting them down before they reached Israeli territory.

Nevertheless Israel remains on the alert for further retaliation. As I write this on Friday morning I am listening to Israeli radio (Reshet Gimmel if you are familiar) and the music is interrupted every few minutes to remind listeners to be alert and make sure that they are in the vicinity of a safe room. While Reshet Gimmel normally plays soft rock and folk hits from previous decades on Friday afternoons anyway (which it is in Israel), the playlist has been changed to what Israelis call שירי ארץ ישראל meaning songs which emphasize the beauty of Israel and our connection to it.

The Chief Rabbinate has instructed that synagogue services throughout Israel be cancelled. Israeli airspace has been closed. Airplanes which were on their way to Israel have landed in various European countries, stranding hundreds of travelers, many of them observant, leaving them scrambling to find kosher food and Shabbat-friendly accommodations in unfamiliar territory.

Some of us are studying Pirkei Avot and in Chapter 3:13 we read that “silence is a fence for wisdom.” The Bartenura commentary on this Mishnah quotes Proverbs 17:28 -- “even a fool who keeps silent is regarded as a sage.” There may be a time for all of us to share our thoughts on Israel’s action, America’s response, and so on. But this is not that time.

I do want to reassure you that both Kehilat Shalom and the Montgomery County Police Department have doubled and redoubled our security preparations. You may see more police presence around the shul. We have continued to install new security equipment (fortunately paid for by grants) and we now have an intercom system on the doors to the sanctuary wing. Please remember to bring your blue Kehilat Shalom identity card. If you are a visitor, please contact the office before your visit so that you may be admitted without unnecessary delay.

And of course, pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the safety of all its inhabitants. I suggest Psalm 20 as an appropriate prayer at this time:

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

For the leader. A psalm of David.

יַֽעַנְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃

May the LORD answer you in time of trouble,

the name of Jacob’s God keep you safe.

יִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃

May He send you help from the sanctuary,

and sustain you from Zion.

יִזְכֹּ֥ר כׇּל־מִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃

May He receive the tokens of all your meal offerings,

and approve your burnt offerings. Selah.

יִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְֽכׇל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא׃

May He grant you your desire,

and fulfill your every plan.

נְרַנְּנָ֤ה ׀ בִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָ וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹהֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

May we shout for joy in your victory,

arrayed by standards in the name of our God.

May the LORD fulfill your every wish.

עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ׃

Now I know that the LORD will give victory to His anointed,

will answer him from His heavenly sanctuary

with the mighty victories of His right arm.

אֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ בְּשֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃

They [call] on chariots, they [call] on horses,

but we call on the name of the LORD our God.

הֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃

They collapse and lie fallen,

but we rally and gather strength.

יְהֹוָ֥ה הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קׇרְאֵֽנוּ׃ {פ}

O LORD, grant victory!

May the King answer us when we call.-c

As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 4 at the shul. For my drop-in hours, you do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.

As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment; if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by. 

Additionally, if you know of a Kehilat Shalom congregant or another member of our Jewish community who could use a phone call, please let me know.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Charles L. Arian