Sometimes, events far away can touch one deeply.
Yesterday, I talked to Alaa Alibrahim, one of our Syrian friends, who escaped the war in 2016. Alaa, a trained pharmacist and fluent English speaker, came with his wife and daughter. He settled in Barnet under the Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme with the help of Finchley Progressive Synagogue, who led the campaign to persuade Barnet Council to accept 50 refugees fleeing Syria. You might remember Leader of Council Richard Cornelius on our Bimah, Sukkot 2015, agreeing to our ask.
Three weeks ago, Alaa came to talk with a group of FPS folk at a Havdalah and conversation event Shabbat afternoon. We were speaking about the war in Israel, Gaza and beyond, as well as about his memories of arriving at FPS. He told us he was excited to meet us because his family in their villages in the Syrian parts of Golan heights had profound gratitude for Israel, who came to their aid repeatedly with medical help and food, when Assad had abandoned his citizens.
In this extraordinary week, we spoke about the relief, jubilation and uncertainty there is following the fall of Bashar Al Assad, the architect of such horrific suffering in Syria. Alaa also spoke of his worry of Israel’s arrival into Syria and what it might mean and of the tension growing – the IDF are currently in his uncle’s farm and the family are not permitted to leave their home. The world is small. We all are fearful of what may and could happen.
This week’s Torah portion Parashat Vayishlach shows Jacob continuing his journey, now with wives and children in tow, spending one night alone where he wrestles with an angel; it could have been a strange assailant or even just with himself. As a result, his name is changed from Jacob to Yisrael – the one who wrestles with God. This name has been our legacy as Jews, as it is for the country of Israel, which also bears this name.
Right now, this wrestling has a deeper meaning than ever. I pray for ease, for compassion and for each of our souls as ‘wrestlers with God’.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca
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