Today, we enter the Hebrew month of Elul, the month preceding Rosh Hashanah. It is a time of introspection and self-improvement as we prepare for the new year.

Our sages famously taught that the Hebrew word Elul is an acronym for the verse from the Song of Songs: “ani l’dodi v’dodi li,” “I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me.” We normally associate this verse with happy occasions, like weddings and anniversaries. But today, we associate it with deep, inconsolable sorrow.

The murder of our beloved ones - Hersh Goldberg-Polin z"l, Carmel Gat z"l, Ori Danino z"l, Eden Yerushalmi z"l, Alex Lobanov z"l, and Almog Sarusi z"l – is an outrage so morally depraved that words cannot do it justice. We can only send consolation to the grieving families of each of the fallen.

Our bond with each other, Jews around the world, and especially in Israel today, is exactly the bond described in our holy texts. May we merit to see all the remaining hostages released immediately, may safety and security be restored to our beloved Jewish state and all its inhabitants, and may our beloved soldiers and their families also see peace ahead.

May the memories of the fallen be for a blessing and may those who are left to mourn be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and the world.

Alex Shapiro

Chief Executive Officer