Tragedy in Newtown

As names were called at the graduation of my youngest son from college last week, I could not help but think about the names of the 20 young children who had been killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School and whose names will not be called at a graduation ceremony.

I want to share with you below the passage from the Midrash which I taught at services last Shabbat morning.  Our rabbis in this beautiful text show that God is a compassionate God who shares our sense of loss at a time of tragedy.

 “The Holy One Mourns”

It is reported in the name of R. Joshua ben Levi:  The Holy One summoned the ministering angels and asked them, “When a king of flesh and blood loses a dear one and he wishes to mourn, what is customary for him to do?”  They replied, “He hangs sackcloth over his door.”  God said, “I will do likewise.”  Hence it is written, “I clothe the heavens with blackness and I make sackcloth their covering” (Isa. 50:3).

What else does a king of flesh and blood do [when mourning]?”  They replied, “He extinguishes the lanterns.”  God said, “I will do likewise.”  Hence it is written, “the sun and the moon are become black, and the starts withdraw their shining” (Joel 4:15).

“What else does a king of flesh and blood do?”  They replied, “He walks barefoot.”  God said, “I will do likewise.”  Hence it is stated, “The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust beneath His [bare] feet” (Nah. 1:3).

“What else does a king of flesh and blood do?”  They replied, “He rends his purple robe.”  God said to them, “I will do likewise.” Hence it is written, “After the Lord did what He purposed, He rent His purple robe (bitza imrato)” (Lam. 2:17).

“What else does a king of flesh and blood do?  “They replied, “He sits in silence.” God said, “I will do likewise.”  Hence it is stated, “He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he was taken away” (Lam. 3:28).

I wish for you, your family and the world blessings of health, safety, security and peace in the coming secular new year.

Report from Israel Solidarity Mission

It is an old adage that things change quickly in Israel.  That was evident when we started our day with the Minister of Tourism, who just before our meeting had announced that he was taking a leave of absence from politics and would not be running in the upcoming election. 

From there we went to a factory where we met a visionary CEO, Daniel Birnbaum, who has the energy, passion, drive and enthusiasm of Steve Jobs and Howard Schultz of Starbucks combined.  He took a company on the verge of bankruptcy and turned it around to be extremely profitable. We toured the Sodastream factory which is committed to putting out a quality product which is environmentally sound and goes out of its way to employ Arabs and have exemplary employment practices.  We were all blown away and impressed by what we saw and heard and the contribution it is making to Israel's economy. 

Ron Dermer, special adviser to the Prime Minister, is to Netanyahu what David Axelrod is to Obama and Karl Rove was to Bush.  In his meeting with us he spoke about the Pillar of Defense operation and said the success of Iron Dome, as well as the international support for Israel, saved lives and shortened the war. He spoke about the Gaza operation, the UN vote and other policy and security matters. In the course of an extended open-ended freewheeling discussion we raised issues pertaining to promoting tolerance for the streams of Judaism and rolling back infringements on religious expression by non-Orthodox. The inability to further this openness and other options for Jewish religious expression is thwarted by the Israeli political system which caters to the small parties and disproportionally increases their influence. 

More tomorrow. 

Report from Israel

I arrived in Israel yesterday (Monday) as a member of a delegation of conservative rabbis and lay leaders from the US.  I had not planned to be a part of this trip, sponsored by Masorti, the conservative movement in Israel.  However after the shellings in Israel and the Pillar of Defense campaign by the IDF, I decided as the Director of Israel Advocacy for the Rabbinical Assembly it was important to accept the invitation to join the group. 

On our first day we visited Conservative congregations in Beer Sheva, Ashkelon and Omer, all in the Negev, all places that were on the front line of the Hamas missile attacks.  Our group of 25 had the chance to hear firsthand of the impact of these attacks on the lives of ordinary citizens trying to go about their daily lives.  As one individual told us, "Every part of your life is taken over by the sirens."  Most impressive was seeing the after school programs in the congregations serving the southern population where children and families are introduced and exposed to a form of Judaism other than Orthodoxy. 

Part of the purpose of the mission is to bring support and to show our solidarity with the people of Israel, and part of the focus is to learn about the work of the Masorti movement in Israel.   For a number of reasons the conservative movement has an uphill struggle, not least of which is the disproportionate funding of Haredi, ultra-orthodox institutions. As we learned, unfortunately, many of these schools are non-Zionist, which means the students do not serve in the army and do not pay taxes.  The primary role of Masorti is not just to oppose this, but to promote a Judaism that is open, tolerant and pluralistic.  Support of these efforts and programs enriches and strengthens the Jewish fabric of the Jewish state, thereby reinforcing the partnership between the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora.  

Returning to security issues, we visited an Air Force base in the Negev where we saw an impressive exercise of fighter jets taking off and the skill of the Israeli pilots. 

More tomorrow.