It was an honor to be invited to read this poem by Yehuda Amichai, at last night's vigil to support our community's Jewish friends and neighbors, as we all continue to take in the devastating news of the terror attack in Israel.
As I said last night, my heart breaks with you. My heart breaks for you. My heart breaks for us all.
Thank you to Rabbi Reiner, and the entire Congregation Shir Shalom, for letting my children and me sit with you all and take comfort from the words and songs you shared, and for the community you continue to provide.
And Who Will Remember, Those Who Remember?
What is the correct way to stand at a memorial ceremony?
Erect or stooped, pulled taut as a tent,
Or in the slumped posture of mourning,
Head bowed like the guilty or held high, in a collective protest against death,
Eyes gaping, frozen like the eyes of the dead,
Or shut tight, to see stars inside?
And what is the best time for remembering?
At noon when shadows are hidden beneath our feet,
Or at Twilight when shadows lengthen, Like longings that have no beginning, no end, like God?
I want to share the available resources below, passed along from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut to help families in need. Sen. Murphy is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East. He and his staff are in regular communication with the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and other government agencies and we will continue to closely monitor developments in Israel.
There are many of you who know Americans currently in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including those who call Connecticut home, and they need accurate and up-to-date information about how to stay safe and get in contact with the U.S. Embassy. We appreciate Sen. Murphy making this information and resources available, and we encourage you to proactively share these with any family and friends who are traveling in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza or who have questions about the current situation.
- The Department of State has an around-the-clock coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens and assisting them through phone calls and online forms. U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can fill out this online form or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.
- For the latest updates from the Department of State, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel here.
- The State Department has asked that any U.S. citizens in Israel enroll their contact information in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You can complete enrollment online here. Enrolling in STEP allows you to receive important information about safety conditions and assists the Embassy, family, and friends in contacting you during an emergency.
- The State Department is continuously updating its international travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Those updates can be found on their website here.
Sen. Murphy's office also has a dedicated constituent services team on standby to assist with any inquiries, including questions about consular services and visas. To submit a request to the casework team, please complete and submit the appropriate form on the website, which can be found here.
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