A year of peace?

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Latest News, Up Front

It’s certainly been a chaotic start to 2025.

We were barely finished singing Auld Lang Syne when we heard the news about the deadly attack in New Orleans by a man displaying an ISIS flag. (page 4) The threat of Lone Wolves, we’re told, is one of the many reasons to remain vigilant about security wherever we are and to immediately report incidents.

Just one week later, the wildfires in Los Angeles consumed everyone’s attention. Whether we know someone who lost their home, had to evacuate, or know someone who knows someone. . . these devastating fires have impacted us all as we’ve learned about people who lost their lives or had them completely upended. As Rabbi Daniel Sher said in a video to his congregation, “So many of us are experiencing heartbreak. But when a community experiences heartbreak together, it means we can mend our hearts together as community as well.” (page 8) Inspiring words from someone who lost his own home.

As we go to press, a hostage and ceasefire deal is on the cusp of taking place. This one seems possible. By the time this is read, we’ll know. And we’ll know if such a deal actually puts an end to the deadly battles in the Middle East and the divisive protests at home. The article is on page 6.

On publication date, a new administration officially takes the reigns of the United States. Whether feeling exuberant or distressed, it is important that we all have hope for peace.

Speaking of peace, last month my husband and I attended Shabbat services at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, Calif. Rabbi Aaron Torop read his prayer for peace that we share here.

Perhaps by mending our hearts together as a community as Rabbi Sher suggests, we can look forward to a much less chaotic and even peaceful 2025.

Prayer for Peace


Oseh Hashalom, God who makes peace, bless us and all people with peace.

We pray that the hostages, the soldiers, the
citizens of Israel and Gaza and the West
Bank see days of peace in their lifetime.

We pray for a peace that has the absence of
rockets that terrorize civilians and the
end of the torrent of bullets and bombs.

We pray for a positive peace: a peace filled
with hope and possibility for the Jewish
people and the whole world.

A peace led by leaders who unite us and
seek the prosperity and protection of all.
May Your shelter of peace be spread over us
and people everywhere speedily and in
our days. Amen.

– Rabbi Aaron Torop