“They shall all sit under their own vines, and under their own fig trees, with none to make them afraid.”
This verse from Chapter 4 of the biblical book of Micah follows a familiar passage that also appears in the book of Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nature, nor shall they learn war anymore.”
Temple Beth-El’s Tanakh Study group (Tanakh is an acronym for the three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures: Torah, Prophets and Writings) is currently studying the book of Micah. This group has engaged in discussion of selected biblical books for the last twelve years. Father Gabriel Rochelle of St. Anthony of the Desert Orthodox Christian Mission, and several of his members, along with Temple Beth-El congregants (including me), are the current participants.
The famous passage from Micah about safety and security, often quoted by President George Washington in speeches and letters, followed chapters of pronouncements against the leadership and the people of the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah for failing to follow the right path in their behavior. Judges took bribes, undermining the integrity of their decisions. Community prophets (other than Micah) said what the people wanted to hear. Priests, the religious leaders of the time, offered service and instruction only if it led to personal gain.
Most societies face times when people lose their moral bearings, leaving them wondering if they can ever find their way back.
There are rituals of all types in which individuals might engage to facilitate their own return to where they want to be.
In my tradition, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, bookend a ten-day period of introspection that can enable individuals and communities to reinforce the ethical foundation that has engendered compassion and continuity for generations. Prayers of confession of wrongdoing, stated in the plural, remind worshippers that they are human, that they are not alone, and that they can support each other in their attempts to do better in the future.
Those prayers are echoed in the saying of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav: “All the world is a narrow bridge; what is most important is not to be afraid.”
Our feelings of connection with family members, with friends, and with our neighbors are supposed to help us to overcome fear by creating partnerships based on mutual respect and understanding. The admission that we sometimes err in judgment and action necessarily instills humility in each of us. In a synagogue, at this time of year, that humility, in turn, leads to empathy and patience towards others.
In most any community or organization, leaders are at their best when they apply the depth of their wisdom to their service, and when they are able to recognize their missteps and offer repair and restoration. Some leaders may be afraid to acknowledge when they chose a path that was unwise. In most cases, honesty and a sense of responsibility will allow them to demonstrate how personal improvement can model, on a larger scale, positive societal change.
Change is something that we know all too well during these last few months. There may be fear, but there can also be compassion, support, and generosity that can bolster a shared sense of optimism. May we truly unite in mind and heart, so that nothing will make us afraid.
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