A Blight on our Houses

April 4-5, 2014 / 5 Nisan 5774

Shabbat Metzorah

Torah: Leviticus 14:1 – 15 / Haftarah: II Kings 7:3 - 7:20

“A Blight on our Houses”

Dear Friends,

Dawn and I just returned from an exciting spring break trip to San Diego.  There we took in the sights and sounds of the beautiful beaches, tide pools, seals and sea lions, parks, and of course, the San Diego Zoo.  The Gaslamp Quarter has special historical charm with its lovely restaurants and galleries. But, amidst all the splendor and delight, the large number of street people in the San Diego area - the hungry, the needy, the homeless, and the poor - caught our attention.

While I am sure that the local officials are doing what they can to help, there is obviously more assistance that is needed.  The same goes for our own communities, both in Chicago and the suburbs.  Throughout America, there are huge numbers of the homeless that need our help.

This week’s Torah portion speaks about the plague of tzara’at or leprosy that can affect both the body and the home.  It is a blight that rips into both healthy flesh and plastered walls and turns them to rot.  The Torah teaches that treatment can be found in bathing, cleaning, as well as sunshine and fresh air.  The most important teaching here is that we are commanded to do something to heal the affected person or house.  We cannot let tzara’at fester and get worse.  We must act.

When I see street people, I think of this Torah portion.  The fact that there are so many homeless sick, poor, and hungry all over America is a blight on our ‘home’ that is akin to the plague of tzara’at.  It is something that cannot be ignored, but must be addressed.  Now, the Torah recognizes that tzara’at-leprosy will probably never be totally eradicated.  The Talmud teaches that there will always be the poor and the hungry to help. Even though both will always be with us in some form, our Jewish tradition does not allow us to surrender and walk away from our obligation to help.  We are commanded to heal the sick and lift up the fallen, even though others will become ill and fall later on.  We are commanded to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, even though there will surely be others who will need food and clothing.  We are commanded to help, even though others will need additional help later.  That’s the nature of tzedaka – righteously commanded acts of compassion.  We help even though there may be no end to the need.

So, whether it is tzara’at of the body, of the house, or of our society, let us be ready to assist those who need our help.  Let us engage in tikkun olam – repairing the world one step at a time.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

The Best is Yet to Come

March 21-22, 2014 / 20 Adar II 5774

Shabbat Shemini – Parah

Torah: Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47 / Maftir: Numbers 19:1 - 19:22 (Parah)

Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16 - 36:38 (Parah)

“The Best is Yet to Come”

Dear Friends,

Now that we have moved from reading Exodus to Leviticus, there is a break in telling the story of leaving Egypt and moving towards the Promised Land.  There’s a break in all the complaining, too… “Where is the water? Where is the food? Where is Moses? How will we live out here? Shouldn’t we pack it in and return to Egypt?” There is so much fear, anxiety, struggle, fracturing of our people in the book of Exodus.

So, along comes Leviticus to advance the topic of holiness, asking - How will we become a holy people?  How will we bring our holy sacrifices of thanksgiving to God?  How will our actions in fact become a statement of the holiness that we hope to bring to the world of tomorrow?

With the break in the narrative, the Torah is making a point. It says, now that we are out of Egypt, now that we have received the Torah at Mt. Sinai, now that we have a taste of freedom and independence – we are never going back!

On our way to the Promised Land, we have shown ourselves to be alive, independent, and relevant.  Those around us have noticed us.  We are the up and coming next best thing.  We are on our way to the Promised Land. We are players on the world stage; we are a people; we are a nation; we are Israel!

That message should resonate for us today at Shir Hadash. For we, the Shir Hadash family, we have gone through a most dramatic transformation over the past year from a wandering shul to our own building.  We have offered our sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. Our members have contributed so much – money, effort, energy, time, love, and more.  We are bringing added holiness through our vastly expanded program. And look where we are. We have our own synagogue building and our own sanctuary.  Do not take this moment lightly.  This is a wonderful miracle. Lots of hard work has gotten us this far.  And lots more holy work will move us forward to the next stages of our Shir Hadash journey.

And that’s the message of Leviticus:  As we take the next steps in the growth and development of Shir Hadash, there is no need to look back.  Rather, we will look forward with confidence and determination. Our future is bright and the best is yet to come.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Zachor - Remember

March 14-15, 2014 / 13 Adar II 5774

Torah: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

Maftir: Deuteronomy 25:17 - 25:19 (Zachor)

Haftarah: I Samuel 15:2 - 15:34 (Zachor)

“Zachor - Remember”

Dear Friends,

There are bullies on the playground.  Russia has just made a grab for Crimea.  Iran edges closer and closer to attaining nuclear weapons. North Korea is sabre rattling. The Chinese are flexing muscle in the South China Sea. Syria's Assad is murdering his people.  Hamas, Hizbullah, The Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaida, and other terrorists are waiting for their chance to hurt, maim, and kill the innocent.

As we Jews approach the joyous and raucous celebration of the Purim festival this Sunday, there is a very sobering message to be read on Shabbat morning.  Zachor – remember!  Lo Tishkach – do not forget! Remember what? That the tribe of Amalek once tried to destroy our people on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land.  Amalekites lay in ambush and picked off the slow, the weak, and the stragglers.  What should we never forget? That Amalek returned time and time again throughout Jewish history to attack us when we were at our weakest.

With Purim, the festival of our deliverance from the hands of genocidal Persians 2,400 years ago, comes the message that we must be ever vigilant against those who seek our destruction.  The story of Amalek must keep us ever alert to the forces that will enslave, steal from, oppress, and destroy the weak and off-guard.  The story teaches us that freedom comes with strength.  Life comes with those united against evil. Hope comes with faith.  Love come with… love.

Kol hakavod – all honor to the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 special forces on the capture of an Iranian weapons ship carrying missles to Hamas in Gaza.  Amalek lost this battle because Israel was alert and awake.  May all freedom and peace-loving countries take note.  There are powerful evil forces that will strike if not caught and stopped by those who seek good and justice.

Let us celebrate our Purim.  Let us cheer Esther and Mordecai and curse Haman. However, heed our Torah’s warning.  Zachor - let us remember what Amalek did to us.  Lo tishkach – do not forget for a minute that Amalek is still here.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy

March 7-8, 2014 / 6 Adar II 5774

Shabbat Vayikra

Torah: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 / Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23

“Modern Sacrifices Make Life Holy”

Dear Friends,

I am attending the AIPAC (America-Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference in Washington DC.  The first two days offer a series large event and small workshop sessions about the Land and people of Israel and the fostering of a strong connection between Israel and the United States.  On the third day, the more than five thousand delegates will head to Capital Hill to meet with members of Congress to discuss our views on how important it is that the United States stand with Israel through both the best and the most challenging of times.

People come to AIPAC from all over the United States.  Delegates include Jews and Christians, White and African-American leaders, and even university student  leaders.  We come together from the political right and left, Democrat and Republican.  We are united in our love of Israel and our desire to see her succeed amongst the family of nations and to see the bond between the United States and Israel grow ever stronger and closer.

Each delegate comes from a unique place in life - bringing something different to the table and the convention.  Yet, what unites us is our love of Israel.

It is much like this week’s Torah portion - Vayikra, the beginning of the third book of the Torah.  As the portion opens, Moses asks all the Children of Israel to come together bringing gifts to the Temple in Jerusalem as offerings to God.  These sacrifices (meaning, gifts that elevate the ‘sacred’ and the holy) were signs of thanksgiving for the beauty and power of Jewish tradition and of connection and solidarity with the Jewish people.  While the Israelites were each unique individuals of the twelve tribes with differing backgrounds, all were united is their love of God and the Children of Israel.

Like our ancestors in ancient times, and like the delegates to the AIPAC convention, the members of Shir Hadash come to our synagogue.  We come from different backgrounds and vastly different experiences – many born Jewish, others who converted to Judaism, and even some who are not Jewish.  At Shir Hadash, we find a spiritual and community home that nourishes the soul, connects us to our heritage and tradition, and unites us with our Jewish people here and throughout the world.  Like our ancestors and the AIPAC delegates, we too bring sacrifices that elevate our Jewish experience and strengthen Shir Hadash as a whole. What are those sacrifices?  Shir Hadash needs your involvement.  We need you to participate in our various community gatherings – prayer services, adult education, community activities, social action programs, fundraisers, religious school, youth group, committee meetings, and more. Your participation not only strengthens Shir Hadash, it strengthens your Jewish neshama, your Jewish soul and identity.  Shir Hadash needs your donations of money and time.  No organization can run efficiently without the money to support its operations.  As we enter a new phase with our beautiful new building and vastly increased program offerings, you financial gifts are critical.  Shir Hadash needs the time you can invest as leaders, too.

Let us offer our participation, our money, and our time towards the strengthening of our special, creative, and caring Jewish community.  For what unites us is our love of God, our love of Israel, our love of Judaism, and our love of Shir Hadash.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow