Page 1 - JR EXTRA Jan. 13-2021 FINAL

Congregations, rabbis

& organizations react
— Pages 2-6

Jan. 13, 2021 / Tevet 29, 5781 Volume 56, Issue 2
A day of infamy – Jan. 6, 2021

This EXTRA edition of the Jewish hours by a mob that stormed the Capi- He continued: “This temple to de-
Review is designed to create a written tol and breached its buildings in anger mocracy was desecrated, its windows
memorial of the horrendous events of over Trump’s loss in the election. smashed, our offices vandalized. The
Jan. 6, 2021. We feel it is important to When lawmakers returned to the world saw America’s elected officials
document the statements and programs Capitol to resume counting and certi- hurriedly ushered out because they
from our local Jewish community in the fying electoral votes to formalize Pres- were in harm’s way. The House and
wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, violent in- ident-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Senate floors were places of shelter un-
surrection at the United States Capitol 2020 election, Senate Minority Leader til the evacuation was ordered, leaving
Building. Chuck Schumer said: “We can now add rioters to stalk these hallowed halls.
Congressional certification is normal- Jan. 6, 2021, to that very short list of Lawmakers and our staffs, average
ly a formality, but on Jan. 6, the pro- dates in American history that will live citizens who love their country, serve it
ceeding was interrupted for about six forever in infamy.” every day, feared for their lives.”
A search for healing

Long before rioters stormed our can find ways to repair our shat-
Capitol, Br’iut & B’rachot: A tered hearts and dreams.
Community Wellness Havdalah This Havdalah can help.”
was planned for Jan. 9 on Zoom. Before singing “Light is Re-
The event was designed to turning,” Safyan said: “Tonight, I
bring the community together also feel the precarious nature of
to nurture our mental health and the big things...our democracy, so
wellness and celebrate the start precious and also, fragile. It feels
of a new week and a new year. dark tonight. And yet, tonight, we
It took on a deeper need for heal- are privileged to light our candles
ing following the insurrection in together.” (See more page 4.) The Jan. 9 Community Wellness Havdalah provided an oppor-
Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. The Jewish Federation of tunity to find healing in Jewish tradition. Rabbi Barry Cohen said
Community Chaplain Rabbi Greater Portland and PJ Library the spices remind us to use all of our senses to nourish our
Barry Cohen and Cantorial Solo- sponsored the event. souls. See recording at jewishportland.org/wellnesshavdalah.
ist Ilene Safyan led the Havdalah
service to close Shabbat and find
strength for healing. Cantorial Soloist
“What a week we just had,” Ilene Safyan
said Rabbi Cohen to begin the (top row at left
evening. He continued: in yellow box)
“Amidst a pandemic, we sang “The Light
watched the desecration of our is Returning”
nation’s Capitol and of our de- as people lit
mocracy. We were horrified by their havdalah
candles. For
insurrectionists and rioters, her complete
many who waved or wore Con- comments about
federate, Neo-Nazi and racist the song and
flags or clothing. the song’s lyrics,
I can imagine our range of see page 4.
emotions.
While it will not be easy to heal
from this trauma, together, we