As Rabbi Israel shared at the Oct. 7 vigil, when faced with tragedy, we must ask not just lamah, why, but limah, what. What can we do for the innocent who were murdered, kidnapped, and raped? What can we do for the community in Israel fighting for survival, and how do we respond here at UMD, where we face threats against our own Jewish Identity? Though our hearts are shattered, our spirit remains unbroken.
At times like these, we lean on our community that keeps us strong, allowing us to promote our identity on campus and support those in Israel. Acheinu Kol Bet Israel"—the Jewish people are truly brothers and sisters. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, kidnapped on Oct. 7, embodies this fight. His cousin, Eytan Pomper ‘24, calls on us to make a "lasting impact." In Hersh's memory and others, please join us in dedicating a Torah.
