Last night over 30 community members joined together to learn with Rabbi Francine Roston about her experiences with anti-semitism as rabbi in Whitefish, MT and strategies for building resilience. Rabbi Roston's family relocated to the Flathead Valley to enjoy the beauty of the land and its surroundings and as respite and realignment of the rhythm of their lives. The term we plan, Gd laughs could not have rung more true, sort of, as they found themselves face to face with the origins of the AltRight, white supremacists and cyber terrorists. Rabbi Roston's presentation of her family's
and community's narrative, emphasis on safety and self-care, demonstration of the importance of allyship and insistence on living as proud Jewish participants in the world reminded us that the Holy One does not laugh at our pain but instead comes to lift us up as we face trying times.
The presentation was fitting for the waning hours of Shiva Asar b'Tammuz, the day on which the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem in 70CE and launched into the 3 weeks leading up to the destruction of the 2nd Temple that we commemorate on Tisha B'Av. 17 Tammuz marks the loss of a civilization, the reframing of memory, and, as the date on which Moses broke the tablets of the law according to the Mishnah, a time of stopping to take stock and clarify the way ahead. What might that mean for us today as the fabric of our society continues to fray - with anti-semitism on the rise, deep seated racism coming to the fore, reproductive freedom under attack. I invite you to add the topic that moves you the most here.
Yesterday was also the anniversary of my father's death. (I invite you to join me as I remember him on his yarzheit at our Tuesday morning minyan on July 14/22Tammuz; register here; zoom information in our weekly email). My father always, always emphasized the need to vote. He saw the responsibility to raise one's voice and build the future as an obligation as a Jew. His words abstention is a no vote ring in my ears to this day. I have powerful memories of joining him in the voting booth as a child and he helped me negotiate the logistics of an absentee ballot when I was living in Israel so I might have my say in a Presidential Election.
It is no accident our tradition teaches, A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted (BT, Berachot 55a). We have been given a voice, it's on us to use it. Especially in this year that marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote, it is incumbent upon us to educate ourselves, advocate for the expression of values that drive us as Jews - among them justice, equality and truth - and continue to build the world that will sustain us as sacred humanity.
The Talmud teaches that Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai's students come to see him on his deathbed. The Rabbi begins to cry. In response to his tears, the students request a blessing. With what does he bless them? He replied, May it be the Divine will that you have a fear of Heaven equal to your fear of flesh and blood. Rabbi Yohanan charges them with the duty to live in the presence of the eternal all the time. This spiritual practice calls us to live with intention, to take our status as community members seriously and to be good neighbors and allies.
May we all be blessed with a sense of awe and commit to a world that is safe and sacred.
Shabbat Shalom rg
Congregation Habonim 103 West End Ave New York, NY 10023
