Kol Nidrei Address by Chairman of the Board Mark First
Mark First, Chairman of the Board
September 24, 2023 ~ 10 Tishrei 5784
Dear friends,
As we spend time with family and friends during this week of Passover, our hearts go out to Sri Lanka and to Christians throughout the world. We mourn for those who were killed and pray for those who were injured in the horrific act of violence that was perpetrated on Sunday. In the past year, we've seen many attacks on houses of worship and those who attend them. This most recent assault in Sri Lanka happened on one of the holiest days of the year for the Christian community. We ache for those who have had the peace and sanctuary of their sacred spaces tainted with fear.
In our Shabbat liturgy, immediately following the reading of the haftarah, there is a prayer for the welfare of the congregation, Yekum Purkan. We pray that all members of our congregation – and every congregation – be spared any distress and danger. As our festival of freedom concludes on Shabbat, we will say this prayer with elevated fervency, keeping in our hearts the victims of Sunday’s violent attack and their families.
Park Avenue Synagogue Clergy, Officers, and Staff