Many of us will have seen the news this past week of the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath and godfather of the Heavy Metal genre in pop music. Osbourne was known for his outlandish and controversial stage presence, which included an incident with a bat (I shall say no more). What was perhaps less well appreciated in most circles was his real talent as a singer and songwriter. It seems hard to reconcile seeing a class of 10 year old public school students playing “Crazy Train” in a room full of xylophones, but it works, and the musical legacy he leaves is more positive than the image.

Osbourne was more than a musician in popular culture, though. Along with his wife Sharon and two of their children, a ‘reality’ TV show featuring the family and its drama was one of the first of a genre we take for granted these days. There was an earnestness and a quality of genuine feeling - at times - to their show, which is rare indeed among those that followed.

One of the things the show and subsequent public statements made clear was Sharon’s proud Jewish identity, her childhood memories of her father and London’s Jewish community, and the absolute disgust with antisemitism both she and Ozzy articulated. Further, Ozzy played multiple times in Israel, giving a literal and figurative middle finger to the BDS busybodies and blatant Jew haters (I’m looking at you, Roger Waters) in the industry. It is little wonder that David Draiman, lead singer of Disturbed and a key voice in confronting anti semitism and anti-Zionism online, described Ozzy as his mentor.

I bring this up to mourn him, yes, in a small way, but perhaps more importantly to demonstrate that our community, as alone as we sometimes feel, has friends in places we may not expect. We should appreciate these friends and celebrate them. We should never take them for granted. And I’ve more than once in these messages thanked our friends right here in Rockland who stand with us.

Back in June, I had just finished meeting with members of the Administration at the Eisenhower Building in the White House complex. I was waiting for an Uber to return to Union Station when a gentleman approached me. He was definitely a tourist, in T-shirt and shorts, while I was attired, as you might expect, in a suit and tie. And a kippah. And a yellow ribbon pin. This man came over to share a blessing for me, for Israel, for the hostages, and for all of the Jewish people. He wanted me to know that we were in his prayers. I thanked him, and he continued on his way. I smiled all the way to the train.

It gives us strength, when we need it most, to know we are not alone.