Our Jewish communities mourn today as we remember the Israeli and international lives taken on October 7, 2023. We also mourn the many Palestinian and hostage lives taken in the year since. And we feel pain and the call to action, every day, for all the lives taken prior and for all the lives that are still at risk, including the many families in Gaza who live without safety, the Israeli and Palestinian captives who long to be reunited with their loved ones, families fleeing for safety in Lebanon, and everyone in the region living under the threat of even more unspeakable violence.

Judaism teaches us that all lives are precious. As we mark the new year and the Days of Awe, we draw on the practices, wisdom, and traditions of our history and our ancestors to face this past year and prepare ourselves for the year to come. We hear the sound of the shofar and heed its call to be fully present in the world around us. We commit ourselves to building a future where all are safe and cared for.

May it be so in 5785, and for all the days to come.