Rabbi's Annual Message for Temple Beth-El of Las Cruces, NM - April 30, 2013

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-asani b’tzelem Elohim - Blessed are You, Eternal One, Sovereign of the Universe, who made me in the image of God. In any congregation, this blessing expresses our basis for shaping relationships and community.    In his recent article, “Is American nonviolence possible?” Clemson University professor Todd May lamented that violence, self-interest and a desire to control and “win” permeate our nation to a point of a lack of concern for the welfare and humanity of others.    May presented a more peaceful approach regarding how people can relate to one another with better results. He said, “We must understand first that nonviolence is not passivity.   It is instead creative activity that takes place within particular limits….those limits are the recognition of others as fellow human beings...worthy of our respect, bearers of dignity in their own right.”  

     This is where we can and, often do begin at Temple Beth-El.  Each of us is created in the image of God and it is our ongoing task to recognize the spark of God in one another. That places upon us a moral responsibility to be patient, compassionate, kind, understanding, to the point where the words “love your neighbor as yourself” reverberate in our minds and our hearts within every interaction in which we engage as fellow human beings and fellow congregants.      

    So we are all partners with God and with each other.  I value, enjoy and relish my partnerships that chart the course of Temple life with the Board of Trustees, the Religious Practices Committee, the Religious School Committee, the Adult Education Committee, the Social Action Committee, Temple Beth-El Sisterhood,  Mensch Club, Beth-El Temple Youth, our Religious School faculty, our planners and participants in our now annual “Night with Judaism” AND with all of you!  In our new “Sharing our Stories” series, I have enjoyed listening to congregants  discuss their life journeys and the values they prize.   This past Shabbat morning, each congregant present recounted a special memory of celebrating Shabbat.   On Sunday, Religious School parents who had gathered to discuss future programming each stated a principle that they learned at home that continues to permeate their lives. Temple Beth-El is a place where we do discuss the essence of our lives with our tradition serving as our guide as we infuse each moment with meaning.

     Throughout this year, a number of us have met on Monday evenings to explore the gems of rabbinic insights contained in Pirkei Avot, the sayings of the founders and sages of Judaism going back nearly 2000 years. Many of us know that these time-honored teachings touch upon every aspect of life.   There is one saying from Rabbi Shimon Ben Zoma that, I believe, can serve us well as a guide for creating a caring and close community. He stated,  “Who is wise?  One who learns from everyone.  Who is mighty? One who controls his or her passions.  Who is rich? One who is happy with what he or she has.  Who is honored? One who honors others.”    

     The first part of Ben Zoma’s saying claims that it is one who learns from everyone who is truly wise, adding, as support, this quote from Psalm 119: “From all who would teach me I would gain understanding.”  In our study and discussions, there is so much that I learn from listening to your perspectives.  While I always meticulously prepare for the sessions I teach, it is really what you add that gives each discussion its depth and character. It is impressive to hear members of the Wednesday breakfast group speak about their areas of knowledge and expertise.  It is a m’chayeh, a live-giving joy, to note how each member of the Tanakh study group brings a unique understanding to ancient texts.   In fact, I view every conversation with anyone at any age as an opportunity to learn something new.  Ben Zoma reminded us and I agree that we reach our greatest potential to be wise when we simply listen and soak in the words of our fellow community members.

      Ben Zoma further declared: Who is mighty? One who control's one's passions.” He quoted the book of Proverbs to further his point: “One who is slow  to anger is better than one who rule's one's spirit and conquers a city.” Showing patience is still very much a virtue and even a personal victory.  Two books from the Harvard  Negotiation project, Getting to Yes and Getting Past No, suggest that, before we enter into a significant meeting with a large group or even with just one person, we should "go to the  balcony". That is, we should imagine that we are looking down at ourselves during that meeting and considering how we would want to see ourselves behave at our best. That “best practice” might include constructive criticism that supports the other person’s heartfelt efforts,  putting yourself in the place of the other person to try to understand his or her actions, and asking how you can help in  the future. As human beings, we have the possibility for great achievement, but we are not perfect – not yet, anyway. And imperfections, mistakes, and surprises lie at the very foundation of the humor that emerges from Jewish community and culture. We know how to embrace moments that don’t go the way we expected, turning them into something positive.  I tell Bar and Bat Mitzvah students and parents before their special celebration,  "Do the best you can to make this service go well, but even if it’s not absolutely perfect, what’s most important is that you make your simchah meaningful and memorable." The same goes for most everything we do in the course of our time spent together at Temple.

     Ben Zoma said in Pirkei Avot: Who is rich? One who is happy with what one has.  A quick anecdote: With two sets of families unable to attend training wheels on April 21 that were going to lead the session, I told the parent who ended up in charge for the day, "there is always a good result from using the talent available right at the moment- whatever  you do will be great!"  And it was!   At last Friday night's service, the  congregation was given the task of leading its own responsive reading, with  those on one side beginning and the other side responding.  When we came to  Shalom Rav, I sang harmony as the congregation sang the melody beautifully.  Each person who attends our Shabbat morning services has the chance to lead at least one prayer or reading.  At all sorts of gatherings at Temple, we enrich each other with our wealth of knowledge, ability, creativity and talent.  All that we need is often right here among us.   We also learn about being happy with what we have by sharing with those in need.   Our ongoing contributions and special donations offered to Casa de Peregrinos, the El Caldito Soup Kitchen, Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary and other organizations enable us to fulfill the mitzvah of giving Tzedakah and performing GMILUT CHASADIM, deeds of kindness.  Turkeys from Temple Teens and the December 25 Breakfast at Camp Hope were projects of generosity deeply rooted in our faith.   Our participation with CAFÉ, Communities in Action and Faith, of Southern New Mexico provides our congregation with a valuable avenue for putting into practice the timeless prophetic values of our heritage.

     Shimon Ben Zoma concluded his saying with this teaching: Who is honored? One who honors others, as it was said by God in the book of First Samuel, "I will honor those who honor Me.”  The medieval commentator Rashi explained that if God will honor those who honor God, then how much more fitting it is that we human beings should honor those who honor  us.   Giving honor to others means saying thank you to someone who completes even a small task.  That would naturally motivate us to thank those who lead a larger or more ambitious project or program.   In congregational and community life, we should accept honor as it comes. It may not come when we might expect, or in the form we anticipated, but it will come, especially if the honor you have shown others has been heartfelt and genuine and respectful.

    If you haven’t already done so, take a moment to look at the posters featuring photos and articles about our many Temple activities and programs held over the last year.  Peer into the faces in the photographs – find yourselves – know that your presence as part of the Temple community makes a difference.  Each of us adds something special to this congregation, and, together, we can be a source of blessing.  People from the greater Las Cruces community who have attended programs at Temple gain a sense of warmth and enrichment from being with us.   We often do just that for each other.

     A warm thank you to Mel Taylor for leading the congregation this year.  Our conversations, Mel, during your tenure, naturally flowed from discussions that we had already begun before you had any inkling you would be taking on this leadership position.  You have successfully served as President while being true to yourself, doing all  you could to set an example of balance, fairness, and dedication with an appropriate dose of much-needed laughter.  I know that Dia has strongly supported you over this last year and kept you grounded when you needed it most.   Rhonda, as always, you are a source of strength, insight, support, love, caring and creativity, and a sounding board not just for me but for many members of this congregation and community.  And to our son Adam, whom we hope all of you will get to know more in the coming years, both Rhonda and I appreciate words of wisdom and support that he offers from New York City that nurtures us and, in turn, everyone at Temple. 

    We began tonight with a blessing that acknowledges our common humanity.  Let us conclude with the words we know so well that express our joy and hope at times of new beginnings: BARUCH ATAH ADONAI ELOHEINU MELECH HAOLAM SHEHECHEYANU V’KIY’MANU V’HIGIYANU LAZMAN HAZEH.  Blessed are You, our Eternal God, Sovereign of the Universe, who keeps us alive, sustains us, and brings us to new vistas that we will face together with the shared vision of an all-encompassing presence and Oneness leading and inspiring us along our continuing journey.   And let us say Amen.

May we be consecrated - Shabbat, bread and light - D'var Torah for EMOR - April 26, 2013

Yesterday was the 9th yahrzeit for my mother, Ruth Karol.    As I thought about her 85 years of life, the celebration of Shabbat and holidays in our home came to mind.  My mom would light candles every Friday night by reading from a pamphlet that the Reform movement published around 1960.   After reciting the blessing itself, my Mom read this phrase and I can recall as if it was yesterday: “May our Home be consecrated, O God, by Thy light.  May it shine upon us all in blessing as the light of love and truth, the light of peace and good will. Amen.”

     I also remember one of the places we frequented in Kansas City in my earlier years to buy Challah. It was called Shankman’s, and it was about 2 miles from our house. In addition to our usual challah request was the order for a loaf of “Chicago Rye” that we loved so much.  The challah we usually bought was the squarish type of loaf. We had it sliced, probably for sandwiches during the coming week, including the cheese sandwich my dad took to work every day.

      These are common memories for many of us if we grew up Jewish – watching the candles being lit, the wine blessing – usually over Mogen David concord grape wine in our house – and the motzi over challah.  I learned about making braided challah much later, but even if our challah came from the bakery, it was still the hands of our family that put it on the table. 

     These are important memories to retain – for me, and for any of you who have similar stories to tell about Shabbat in your home, whether now or in the past.     The Torah portion for this week, EMOR, describes the ancient rituals related to light and CHALLAH that created the foundation for what we do today.    Leviticus chapter 24 records the commandment to kindle lamps each day from evening to morning.  It used the words LHA-A-LOT NEIR TAMID for that practice.  This passage directed Aaron the high priest to set up lamps on a pure lampstand – a MENORAH – for lights that would burn regularly.   Finally, on every Shabbat, choice flour was to be baked into 12 loaves – CHALLOT – set in two rows of six to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.  It noted that the loaves were to be accompanied by pure frankincense as an AZKARAH – a memorial offering for the bread.  

    The word for “memorial” – AZKARAH – is translated in our New Jewish Publication Society English text as a “token” offering, but that word in Hebrew leaped out at me after I did a search in my home computer files for the name of the Torah reading for this week – E-M-O-R.  What came up in my search was not only the title of this week’s parashah.  I was also directed to words like….

Commemoration  - Memorial – Memorable - Memory

It was that search that was really my beginning point for considering the verses I am about to read, and the Hebrew word AZKARAH brings them together.   Reciting blessings for Shabbat, including for light and for bread, enable us not only to perform a ritual in the here and now but also to commemorate our past with sights, sounds and tastes that serve as an important foundation of our Jewish experiences.

    But there is more, because light and bread are powerful symbols for us as a congregation and community.    Light often signifies for us hope, inspiration, wisdom, insight, and faith that we have inside ourselves.  If we share our light with someone else, they benefit from what we gave them while our light still burns – just as the lighting candle on the candle table is still lit after the two Shabbat lights are kindled.   Bread is a basic need of life, one that we bless before we eat by giving God all of the credit for making it.  Does God really bring forth bread from the earth?  No, and yes.  God made the raw materials, and we make the bread – it is a perfect partnership – where WE are God’s hands, even if we buy challah from a local bakery.   As the two rows of CHALLOT represented the entire Israelite people bound together, the challah that we share after our service each Shabbat also represents us.  It is our hands that slice it, and when I carry the challah around on the tray for you to take a slice, it demonstrates not only how I can serve you, but how we can serve each other.  

       Reading from this section of the Torah tonight can give us a new perspective on familiar and time-honored Shabbat traditions.  It is a call for us as well to be God’s hands and heart as we sustain our community.  Based on the Shabbat pamphlet my mother used so long ago, we can now apply these words to us right here, right now: “May our homes and our congregation be consecrated, O God, by Your light.  May it shine upon us all in blessing as the light of love and truth, the light of peace and good will, and may we share that light with each other and with all of humanity.”  And let us say Amen.

"42" and the original Golden Rule - April 13, 2013

    My wife Rhonda and I went to see “42” today, an excellent retelling of the important story of Jackie Robinson’s rookie year with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  It is gratifying to know that this film will serve, from now on, to educate people of all ages about the how Jackie Robinson caused a sea-change in American culture.    

    Over 20 years ago, after years of hearing about Jackie Robinson’s story, Rhonda and I felt that it was our responsibility to be sure that our son Adam (now 27), a sports fan from early on, would know this story as well.  Peter Golenbock’s book, Teammates, effectively portrayed for children an incident that offered one of the most poignant moments in “42.”   The Brooklyn Dodgers were playing the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field early in 1947, Robinson’s rookie year.  As the crowd (which reportedly included some of Reese’s family from Kentucky) yelled hateful epithets at Robinson, Pee Wee Reese ran across the infield to put his arm around Robinson’s shoulder, to show solidarity in a way that silenced the crowd’s hatred.   In November of 2005, a statue of this scene was unveiled outside MCU  Park in Brooklyn, home of the New York Mets’ minor league affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

    This image of Reese and Robinson standing together captures the spirit of “42.”   In the film, Branch Rickey, played so well by Harrison Ford, noted that the Bible says that we should “love our neighbors as ourselves” and that it was time for that rule to apply to baseball (and other arenas of life, by extension).    As we saw the movie today, I was mindful of the fact that the Torah reading in synagogues and Temple throughout the world for this coming week includes Leviticus Chapter 19, the source of the commandment cited by Rickey.  The film made its debut in theaters just several days after Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed this past Sunday night/Monday.  One reference to anti-Semitism in the film related to the treatment of Hank Greenberg.  Ben Chapman, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947, inaccurately claimed that Greenberg took the name-calling in stride in order to justify his verbal abuse of Robinson from the opposing dugout.  In fact, Greenberg approached the prejudice he faced in the same way that Robinson did, having the courage not to react or respond.

     It is ironic that, several days before “42” was released this weekend, it was reported in local news that the first base umpire serving at a high school baseball game between Gadsden High School and Alamogordo High School here in New Mexico threatened to eject any player who spoke Spanish during the game. The players were doing nothing wrong, and the home-plate umpire did tell his colleague that he had no authority to carry out his threat.  However, some of the  comments from readers of an online story about this incident were hateful, disrespectful and narrow-minded, including expressions that bore an uncanny resemblance to the prejudice that Jackie Robinson, Hank Greenberg, and others in other walks of life had to endure by holding their head high and not stooping to the level of the name-calling being thrust upon them. 

     “42” reminds us how far we have come in treating all people with dignity and respect and in acknowledging the strength of our diversity.  It also illustrates that we still have a distance to go when echoes of the racism and hatred portrayed in the movie are all too easy to find in some corners of our society.   The film portrayed Branch Rickey, in several instances, declaring that God would accept no excuses for our prejudice.  The commandments in Leviticus 19 that direct us to love our all people as ourselves can still guide us today as we seek to strengthen the moral foundation of our nation and as we continue to engender mutual understanding – and peace - throughout the world.  

Prayer for Difficult Days - Tazria/Meztora 5773 - April 12, 2013

Eternal One, our sustainer, our light, our source of comfort

We read in the Torah this week about the how the priests were called upon

To diagnose maladies that appeared on the skin of their community members

Or in the plaster of their homes.

Their prescription for healing, we learn, was not intended to be medical, but spiritual, with the intention of  ultimately restoring purity and holiness to the people and to their surroundings.

So it is with us.

We may be experiencing physical pain which leads to emotional distress.

We may be dealing with seemingly insurmountable challenges in our own lives.

We may be assisting family members and friends who find themselves in dire straits.

Whether our own affliction is visible or not, it is real, it is difficult, and it may persist all too much in casting a dark shadow upon our waking hours

or remain with us as an obstacle to rest and quiet as we lie down at night.

You, Eternal One, are our hope, our strength, our wellspring of knowledge and our path towards emotional maturity. 

You calm our spirits and enrich our souls.

Enable us to be a dominion of priests to one another

as we reach out in love and concern to offer much needed help and understanding.

Empower us to gradually and effectively turn signs of sadness, dejection, anger and bitterness into banners of joy, satisfaction, acceptance and kindness.

As we pray to You for wholeness and completeness,

Renew in us a sense of your Oneness that binds all existence together

so that we can bring into the world and into our lives

Healing, unity, compassion and peace.

Amen.