Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater

A colleague shared ideas in a forum, ending with the words “unrepentantly Zionist and Politically Incorrect.”

He proudly resisted, and while I value his essential work and support as a rabbi, I wonder if he, like many of us, is “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” Now is the time for nuance, to stand up for our core values, and to eliminate much of the noise that makes those values challenging to embrace. Backlash often lacks focus; now, focus on our values is needed more than ever.

I am a Zionist.  But my Zionism is a belief in identity and rights to a safe and secure place to call one’s own.  It is precisely my Zionism that compels me to understand this same need for the Palestinian people.  Both are true; I must accept the other to validate the one.  Before railing against this, let me reiterate that this modern Zionism is premised on both people having the right to safety and security.  That requires people to be committed to peaceful coexistence, which requires serious and difficult compromises from each side.

Another colleague, friend, and teacher commented on the so-called Black Lives Matter movement. He is appalled by their alliance with radical pro-Palestinian groups that are also anti-Israel. I agree that they have betrayed their righteous cause of equality under the law. This is another instance where a core idea is co-opted, diluted, and ultimately betrayed by those with different political agendas. However, we cannot allow these individuals to deter us from our core belief in equality for everyone and our commitment to working with others to realize the promise of our nation’s founding principles.

Navigating through the fog is a significant challenge, but it is what we are trained to do. Our tradition of Makhloket l’Shem Shamayim, argument for the sake of Heaven,  revolves around how our values are understood when tested under various circumstances. This is precisely the challenge we face today. Whether we agree with our government’s current policies and procedures is an essential but separate conversation; how these impact our cherished beliefs should be our focus.  Our fundamental values of caring, including feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and caring for the widow and orphan, are constantly threatened, now evermore so.  Therefore, the need to champion our beliefs has never been more crucial.

 

 

A Prayer

The Prayer, is a duet shared by Cantors Azi Schwartz and Mira Davis.  I hope it helps you to enter Shabbat comforted by divinely inspired music and lyrics.

Shabbat Shalom

Let us pray for the hostages scheduled to be returned tomorrow and that those remaining in captivity will come home soon.

#BringThemHome

Disastrous Brinksmanship

Color shot of a vintage draughts or checkers board game.

On the checkboard of foreign policy, we are careening to a terrible end.

Hamas’ delay of the planned hostage release this week, combined with the horrible physical condition of the returned hostages, outraged Trump to set a Saturday deadline for the return of all hostages or else.  Netanyahu, already under internal pressure, has now threatened the resumption of brutal war in Gaza.  This leaves two options for Hamas:  capitulate to the threats or defy them.  Defiance likely would be killing some or all of the hostages.

Although Hamas does not respect human life, sending the message of defiance is the only opportunity to demonstrate resilience and, in the opinions of many, victory.  The hostages and the Palestinians will be readily sacrificed in the name of ideology.

This is a dangerous game, ultimately without winners, only losers. Hopefully, leaders will step forward to pull back from the precipice. This requires courage, a bold vision for moving forward, and the support of countries genuinely interested in peace.

Tu Bishvat-Happy Birthday, Trees

Well, Punxsutawney Phil can have his shadow, but we celebrate the 15th day of Shevat. This holiday has a fascinating history. With roots in the Bible, Tu BiShvat evolved from a biblical prohibition against eating fruit before its bearing tree is three years old into a celebration of trees, the early signs of spring, and awareness of the world we live in.

To learn more, check out this article on MyJewishLearning.com https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tu-bishvat-ideas-beliefs/

And here are the Shvesters sharing a Yiddish song about a tree, a boy who loved it, and his Jewish Mother.

How do you serve someone who does not respect you?

Trump’s politicization of the plane crash in D.C., blaming it on Biden’s DEI policies, is not only unfounded but also a poor demonstration of what it means to be Commander in Chief. His remarks have insulted the men and women of the Armed Forces, and his anti-trans military ideology is equally counterproductive. Those serving our nation train under demanding standards, earning their positions daily. Despite the antics, those who wear the uniform continue to serve. There is an important lesson we must recognize.

Those who wear the uniform take an oath to the Constitution, not to an individual.  So, despite the incompetency, they respect a chain of command in service to something greater than themselves and not the whims of a person in power.  This ability to remain clear-headed in the fog that has been created is something we can all learn from.

Proud, courageous, and selfless individuals serve our nation. They look beyond the obstacles in their path toward a larger, more significant goal. Their leadership and commitment inspire us and serve as examples for everyone. Even in uncertain times like these, we can see past the immediate chaos and continue championing our cherished core values.

 

Thank you for your service.

Shabbat Shalom

“Tamid Ohev Oti”- Always Loves Me is a very popular song, covered by groups here like  Six13 to major performers in Israel.  Yair Elitzur’s original version is here.

Its an uplifting song of hope, love, and faith. I’ve share the translation below, but enjoy the music as we welcome Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom

Chorus
God always loves me
I’ll only be given blessings
And things will be better
Better and better. (5x)
And it will only get better.

Two questions to each of us

 

What do you stand for?

What are you willing to do about it?

Knowing who we are and the values we believe in is the first part of a critical two-step process.  The second step is knowing what you will do to realize them.

Sadly, we have grown accustomed to thinking we have done our part by voicing our opinions in public spaces. We have also shifted responsibility to the government without demanding accountability. However, only by engaging in the work can our opinions become a constructive force.

If you believe in feeding the hungry, for example, giving to a food bank in both time and money will help bring food to those in need.  Advocating for them by reaching out to those in power over the public funds is another.  Merely Saying you are against hunger on social media is a hollow gesture and a waste of time.

Decide what issues are significant enough that you will engage.  Most of us only have enough time to work on one or maybe two.  But in focusing and doing the work, you become a change agent. We are empowered to champion the values we believe in only if we are willing to commit in tangible ways to them.