In the wake of the March 12, 2026 narrowly averted tragedy at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Rabbi Josh Fixler asks what kind of Jewish story we will tell in this moment. Will we define ourselves by fear and fortresses, or by sacred purpose, community, and presence? Drawing on the Torah portion Vayak’heil-Pekudei, the image of the Mishkan (portable sanctuary), this sermon invites us to see Jewish security and Jewish spirit as deeply connected. ​

Rabbi Fixler reflects on how synagogues have invested in physical safety and security, and on the quieter spiritual cost of living behind bollards, fences, and armed guards. He then turns to Purim and Passover, asking how we move beyond “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat” toward a Judaism grounded in holiness, responsibility, and care for one another. ​

If you have ever felt both grateful for synagogue security and unsettled by it, or if you are seeking a Jewish language of resilience that is about more than fear, this teaching is for you.