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A follow up from yesterday's class: This morning, it struck me that the Torah, in a written book format, is called a Chumash. The scroll is a Sefer Torah. Yet, the Tanakh acronym includes "Torah." So, since the Tanakh is not a scroll, I'm curious as to why it's Tanakh, instead of something like "Chnakh" ( or whatever the proper grammatical convention would dictate). Any insight would be appreciated!

When seeking conversion what is and is not acceptable? I know some say that non-Jews cannot fully participate in Shabbat, while others are less stringent. How would this apply to Sukkot or other observances? Speaking for myself, there is the desire to act, but on the other hand, there is a hesitancy for fear of doing something prohibited or "pretending" to be someone you are not by virtue of being a non-Jew doing "Jewish things." Due to a variety of viewpoints/approaches on this matter, I'm looking for clarification.

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Rachel Sofaer I am so angry and frustrated at John Oliver and people who are presenting one side of the story here in the Middle East. Saying that Palestinians are being evicted and "ethnically cleansed" from their homes, without explaining that they have refused to pay rent for over 30 years, saying that Israeli police "attacked innocent worshippers in a mosque" without explaining that those people attacked a police outpost, gathered with weapons, and were violently rioting, saying that "Israel blew up a building that housed international press" without explaining that Hamas was controlling the building etc. etc. People should not use little quotes from articles, like "Palestinian children dead" and then not explain that children are dead because of Hamas's own rockets backfiring. Israel does not need to apologize for being stronger or having better weapons. When your country is attacked by a terrorist organization you will do whatever is necessary to protect your citizens. The Israel Defense Forces specifically targets areas in Gaza that terrorists are conducting activity and shooting rockets from. We do not target civilians, unlike Hamas. So yes it is unfortunate and upsetting that innocent people are suffering because of this conflict, but that does not mean that Israel is acting "disproportionately." Just wondering how all of you would feel if your country were being attacked by thousands of rockets? Would you condemn your government for fighting back or would you be thankful that they are doing their duty and protecting you and your loved ones? Food for thought.

As I sat down to write this week’s sermon, I am confused with turmoil. This week’s sedrah is Bamidbar. The English title is “Numbers” because a census is taken of Israelites over the age of 20. We count our people individually because each Israelite counts. Not so in Israel. As we sit here in the comfort of the most powerful country in the world, the United States, we worship in relative safety. Certainly, there has been threats to our people, as there always is, but we can rest assured that throughout the course of our service, we will not hear any sirens warning us we have twenty seconds to get to a bomb shelter. Our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land do not have that peace of mind. For yet another time (I’ve lost count), Israel is under attack. Not just from missiles fired by a terrorist organization, their neighbor, mind you, but also global public opinion. But where is the outrage of human rights attacks by other countries whose actions are far worse? Meanwhile, President Rivlin of Israel has reminded the world that no other country would tolerate what Israel does. Any other country, under attack by missiles, would have retaliated hard and with absolute certainty. Yet Israel is demeaned by other countries for injuring innocent civilians by their efforts to protect their citizens. Again, no other country would tolerate these abuses. Their response would swift, severe, and complete. Many of you may be surprised that I am addressing this issue in a sermon. Typically, I stay away from political issues and I do that out of respect for all of you. All of you have your own opinions and you are all certainly entitled to respect to believe as you will. That is freedom. And certainly as your religious leader, I see my role as a paragon of comfort and spiritual inspiration, and I will state unequivocally that I do indeed respect all of your opinions because I know all of you to be intelligent, caring and sensitive people But as Jews we need to be concerned. This is our ancestral land. These are our people. They are fighting our fight. We have to stand united with our fellow Hebrews to support their efforts. They are entitled to live a life of comfort and fulfillment without the constant threat of death. How do we react to this outrage? We continue to be Jews; it’s that simple. We do not back down and apologize for existing. We don’t stop observing our religion. And we stand up for ourselves. There were multiple demonstrations around the country earlier this week and I had the privilege and honor to attend one in Irvine. It was organized and sponsored by StandWithUs, a group that advocates for ourselves. There were many other Jews there, parading around with both American and Israeli flags. Israeli and Jewish music was playing in the background. The crowd was dancing and waving signs that We Stand With Israel and that Hamas is a terrorist group. Of course, there were detractors. Palestinians joined the group. While people crowded around them singing “Am Yisrael Chai”, they were safe. And it wasn’t just because police were looking on. We Jews do not engage in unwarranted violence. Some people passed by making obscene gestures and shouting epithets. Some of the demonstrators got upset. At this point, why? We all know the truth. Israel, like every other country in the world, is not a perfect place. But to have violent riots, over 1600 missiles launched at anyone who’s living in Israel? That’s a solution? And some people support that? Hamas, as we all know, has been designated as a terrorist organization by most major civilized countries. Yet while people demean and vilify both Israel and Jews, they ignore other worse situations. Where is the outcry about far worse abuse in other parts of the world? But that’s OK because we will survive. We are strong. We have existed as a people for thousands of years and we will continue to prevail. We will mourn our losses, but we will go on with the same courage that has stayed us for almost 2000 years of oppression by the rest of the world. So let us remember this week’s portion and keep these people in our hearts. Every Israelite is counted because every Jew counts. Am Yisrael Chai!

(A beautiful message from Hadassah International) Zionism Update For nearly two weeks, Israelis endured an unyielding barrage of rocket attacks that have forced defensive operations to stop the terror. Air raid sirens were sounding and bomb shelters were occupied, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) worked carefully and methodically to ensure that innocent lives are protected — both in Israel and in Gaza. ACT NOW With news updates sharing contradictory accounts of quickly unfolding events, we want to help you understand what's happening — and how you can help. The battle was not nor has it ever been between Israelis and Palestinians, but Israelis and terrorists. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are the enemies of coexistence. Their actions undermine efforts to build a more peaceful, tolerant future, and threaten innocent Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza. Support for peace requires support for Israel. The loss of innocent life is tragic. Israel remains committed to supporting innocent Palestinians with critical humanitarian aid. Yet Hamas puts Palestinians in harm's way and actively blocks desperately needed fuel and medical supplies. This week, an Israeli convoy with humanitarian aid was struck by mortars as it passed into Gaza. Amid these acts of terror, the cooperation of Arabs and Jews at Hadassah’s hospitals brings us hope. Hadassah is a prime example of the positive impact coexistence can have on the health and vitality of communities. Israelis and Palestinians know that Hamas has no interest in peace, instead committed to destroying Israel and killing Jews. Hadassah has always and will always support the democratically elected government of the State of Israel, and the people of Israel. And we pray for the safety and well-being of all people suffering under the terrorist threat. Take action to support Israel by contacting your members of Congress. Visit the National Action Center today and urge them to support Israel and her people. Hadassah strongly opposes any efforts to impede the US sale of precision-guided weapons that Israel needs to defend itself. Ask them to support legislation that binds the US and Israel more closely together. Urge them to endorse a Hadassah-led effort to protect Palestinian children from the lessons of hatred and antisemitism that help fuel continued acts of terror. Speak with your friends and families to help them make sense of what’s happening, and share news and information about the positive work at Hadassah. hadassah.org Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. 40 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005 | 800.928.0685 Hadassah.org ©2021 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Roz Rothstein CEO StandWithUs May 21, 2021 As an organization that stands in solidarity with Israel and has many Israeli employees, friends, and family members living across the country, this has been one of the most difficult periods since StandWithUs was founded 20 years ago. We write this to reflect on everything we have seen in recent days and weeks. StandWithUs is relieved that the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas seems to have ended with a ceasefire. We extend our deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones in Israel as well as to the families of Palestinian civilians killed as a result of Hamas terrorism. We see this conflict as a horrific tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians alike. More than anything, we join people of good will who yearn for a future of justice and peace, where all people in the region can be free of the genocidal racism, extremism, and violence of Hamas. We hope the shocking mob violence by Arab and Jewish extremists that occurred within Israel will lead to an even more powerful movement for coexistence. These outrageous attacks were condemned by Jewish and Arab leaders across the political spectrum, and many arrests have been made. Nevertheless, we know it will take time to rebuild the trust that has been lost. Many governments, leaders, and activists around the world and across the political spectrum showed their solidarity with Israelis in recent days and weeks. Through rallies, on social media, and beyond, you stood with us and will continue to do so by attending the many rallies planned for this weekend to support Israel and oppose antisemitism. We know this isn't always easy or popular, and we are deeply grateful. Likewise, we are immensely proud of our dedicated network of staff and activists around the world who worked tirelessly to create powerful educational content and share it with millions globally. In the last ten days alone, our social media reach surpassed 100 million users. We are grateful to be in a position where we can provide so many people around the world with timely, accurate information. At the same time, we are outraged that racist pro-Hamas "protesters" are now attacking Jews across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. These hate crimes are the inevitable result of a deadly antisemitic virus, which has been spreading for decades under the guise of "antizionism." Never has the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism been more relevant and necessary to clearly identify and combat all forms of this bigotry against Jews. It should now be crystal clear that this is a crisis all people across the political spectrum must urgently confront, without blaming it on "the other side." There is never an excuse for promoting racist slurs on social media, assaulting Jews, or vandalizing Jewish communities. We are grateful for all the non-Jewish leaders and allies who are taking it seriously and fighting antisemitism with us side by side. Yet we are also shocked and dismayed by the inaction and complicity of so many others around the world. We hear your silence loud and clear, and it is dangerous and shameful. When any community is demonized and attacked in this way, it endangers all our societies as a whole. These antisemitic attacks do not happen in a vacuum. They occur amidst an onslaught of dehumanizing propaganda against Israel, actively promoted in universities, on social media, among various political movements, and beyond. The Palestinian population has grown by millions since 1948, and Israel continues to provide thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza every day in spite of Hamas terrorism, yet Israelis are accused by some of being "Nazis." Historical and archeological records prove that Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, yet Israelis are labeled by some as "colonizers." An Arab Muslim political party may decide who the next Israeli prime minister will be, yet Israel is slandered by some as an "apartheid state." This is far from the first time that propagandists around the world have aided Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians by twisting reality and manufacturing narratives that demonize and blame Israel alone for the conflict. Much of this propaganda is amplified by powerful dictatorships, such as Iran (the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism), Turkey, and Qatar. All these regimes fund and support Hamas. The purpose of their social media slogans is not to uphold the rights of Palestinians to live in freedom and dignity alongside Israelis. It is to erode the IDF's ability to defend its people, strip away Jewish rights to self-determination, and ultimately end Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state. If you listen to the widespread chant, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," and then look at a map of the region, there is no question that the goal is replacing Israel with an exclusively Palestinian state. People have every right to criticize the Israeli government and debate Israeli actions in eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and elsewhere. We know the dispute in Sheikh Jarrah and other elements of the conflict will remain deeply controversial inside and outside of Israel. We are committed to factual and nonpartisan education about these complex issues. That said, there was never and will never be any justification for Hamas launching over 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilians from Palestinian civilian areas since May 10, 2021. Even the UN, which has systematically discriminated against Israel for decades, unequivocally condemned these war crimes. Hundreds of Hamas rockets fell short in Gaza, and even anti-Israel NGOs acknowledged that many Palestinian civilians were killed as a result. Yet far too many celebrities, extremist politicians, and "influencers" chose to weigh in from thousands of miles away with blind condemnations and slander targeting Israel alone. Let us be clear: there is no moral equivalence between a genocidal, racist terrorist group committing war crimes and a democracy defending its citizens of all backgrounds. The narrative that Israel is to blame because it has more power is dishonest and morally bankrupt. The only reason Hamas has not succeeded in murdering hundreds, thousands, or even millions of Israelis is because Israel has the power to stop them. Those who demand a "fair fight" are cheerleading for a war in which Hamas would be stronger, and many more Israelis and Palestinians would die. Let us also be clear that every single Israeli and Palestinian life has value, and every innocent civilian killed in war is a terrible tragedy. We know that twelve civilians and one soldier were killed in Israel. We do not yet know how many Palestinian civilians were killed. This is because the Health Ministry in Gaza—the only local source quoted by media outlets thus far—is run by Hamas. The ministry reported a total of 232 deaths. The IDF said it killed 225 members of terrorist groups. This would likely mean that the total number of casualties is higher than Hamas claims. There is also strong evidence that the IDF consistently aimed at military targets and did not intentionally harm civilians. Fully accurate numbers may not come out for some time or may never be available, especially in regards to how many Palestinians were killed by Hamas rockets that fell short. None of this changes the very real suffering of civilians in Gaza, who have lost more than anyone from Hamas' endless war against Israel, driven by its genocidal mission. At the same time, attacking Israel while shielding Hamas from accountability can only prolong that suffering and make it harder to resolve this horrific conflict. Such one-sided approaches signal to Hamas that starting wars and committing crimes against Israeli and Palestinian civilians pays off, because the international community will respond by blaming only Israel. Ironically, every ignorant tweet, graphic, and political speech also signals to Israelis that they should ignore their international critics. Now more than ever, people are hearing and sharing Palestinian narratives on social media and elsewhere. We unequivocally support free speech and encourage people to learn about many different Palestinian perspectives. That said, anyone who wants to help resolve this conflict must also engage honestly and seriously with Israelis and their experiences. Unfortunately, far too many people are not taking this basic step and commenting on the conflict from a place of ignorance. To all those who approach this issue with an open mind, we encourage you to reach out to us for educational resources. We will answer every question and never shy away from discussing even the most controversial issues. This dark chapter in the history of the conflict appears to be over for the moment, but no one can be sure what will happen next. For StandWithUs, this massive wave of terrorism, misinformation, and antisemitism has shown us the importance of our work and how big our challenge truly is. And yet, it has also strengthened our resilience and resolve to pursue our mission. We will continue to be relentless as we educate people of all ages and backgrounds around the world about Israel, hold Hamas accountable for its crimes, and fight antisemitism. Together, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. Here are some key ways you can get involved: Click HERE to subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated with our work and future campaigns. Follow us on social media: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter; Telegram; YouTube; TikTok Learn more about the recent conflict HERE. Need support or resources? Email us at info@standwithus.com Thank you for your courage and continued support! With prayers for a true peace and an end to the virus of antisemitism, Roz Rothstein CEO StandWithUs