Dear Hevre , ברוך אתה ה' אלוהינו חי העולמים מתיר אסורים. Barukh atah adonay eloheynu hay ha’olamim matir asurim. Blessed are you, THE REDEEMER, our God, Life of all the worlds, who frees the captives. – From the morning liturgy What a terrible irony that on Shabbat Shirah, as Jews around the world read about the Israelites’ liberation from slavery, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three other people were held hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas in a standoff that lasted more than 11 hours. We breathe a sigh of relief that all the hostages were freed and are physically safe. We have tremendous gratitude for the myriad law enforcement officials who worked tirelessly and courageously toward this end, and to religious leaders and lay people from all traditions, especially many local and national Muslim leaders, who expressed their concern and solidarity throughout this ordeal. They brought to life the teaching of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.: The
