Rabbi Alex on NPR

Rabbi Alex was interviewed on NPR. Find the recording and transcript below.

Excerpt of transcript:

DEROSE: While there are no current credible threats, law enforcement in the region says they've increased patrols in neighborhoods with large Jewish and Muslim populations. That's information Cynthia Barzilai takes seriously as executive director of Beth Shir Shalom in Santa Monica, a congregation and school that serves about 200 families.

CYNTHIA BARZILAI: We are a smaller community, so we don't have a full-time security guard, but we've taken measures. We have new, updated cameras and monitors and intercom systems. We have blast-proof windows.

ALEX KRESS: It's hard to express how to be a Jew, even in 2023, is to be scared to be too public.

DEROSE: Alex Kress is Beth Shir Shalom's rabbi. He says it's an excruciating time for his congregation, for him and for Jews around the world. But he finds hope in a recent Torah portion - the creation story from the opening verses of Genesis.

KRESS: What is God creating from this term, (speaking Hebrew) - this void, this darkness, this chaos? And the first creation is light. And what does God say? That the light is good. Even in these moments of horrible depths of depravity and darkness, the light is good, and we have to find the light.

DEROSE: Rabbi Kress reminds his congregation there is still joy in life, still the peace of Sabbath, despite sorrow, despite fear, despite the armed guard at the synagogue door. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Los Angeles.

Alex KressOctober 17, 2023Comment