According to Chinese astrology and lore, the Year of the Rabbit is supposed to usher in a year of peaceful energy. All the more heartbreaking, then, that— for too many of our neighbors—this Lunar New Year began with the sounds of gunfire, screaming, and trauma. Once again, a joyous celebration ended in senseless violence at the hands of a lone man with a deadly weapon.
In our nightly prayers, we ask God to spread over us a sukkah of peace. Today, we can all imagine that shelter expanding to Monterey Park and beyond. As details continue to emerge, we hope that our neighbors find compassion and comfort in the arms of a loving community.
We offer prayers of condolence from our community to the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community here in Los Angeles, our own AAPI members, and all those around the globe who are hurting in the wake of this latest mass shooting. May they, and we, know true peace and safety speedily and in our days.