Vote. Vote. Vote.

November 4-5, 2016 / 4 Cheshvan 5777

Shabbat Noach

Torah – Genesis 6:9-11:32 / Haftarah – Isaiah 54:1-55:5

“Vote, Vote, Vote”

Dear Friends,

Here is a piece I shared two years ago on the Shabbat before the last Federal election. I still applies to us today…

In last week’s Torah portion, Adam ate the apple, God found out, and Adam hid saying, “It wasn’t my fault.”  In this week’s portion, Noah was told about the upcoming flood that would destroy the world and he quietly built an ark to save his family, some animals, and himself.  In next week’s portion, Abraham will learn of the impending annihilation of Sodom and Gemorah, and he will voice his opinion and push back.  Abraham will argue with God to save the cities if there should be 50 or 45 or 30 or 20 or even 10 righteous individuals present.

Adam concealed himself.  Noah went along with the program.  Abraham spoke up.  Thus, our tradition honors Abraham, the founder of our Jewish tradition, because he argued and was willing to confront even God in his pursuit of justice.  Abraham voted! Democracy is not a value found in the Bible, Talmud, or traditional Judaism.  Moses, Joshua, King David, King Solomon and the great rabbinic sages never called for a referendum.  They never consulted with the people on issues of governance.  Only recently have democratic principles entered into Jewish life and practice. Citizenship first came to the Jewish world when Napoleon’s armies defeated monarchies across Europe in the early 1800’s, effectively ending the Middle Ages.  Voting came to Jews here in America after the great Jewish immigrations in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  It is a sacred right to be exercised with honor and great respect.

Adam hid and Noah went along.  Yet our tradition teaches that each of us has the responsibility to be like Abraham and express our opinion on matters of principle and justice.  Vote.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Judaism and Baseball

October 28-29, 2016 / 27 Tishrei 5777

Shabbat Bereisheet

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

“Judaism and Baseball”

Dear Friends,

So, the Cubs are in the World Series!

There are actually a lot of things that baseball and Judaism share.  First off, notice how the baseball season starts around Passover and ends around Sukkot.  For Jews, this represents starting out towards the Promised Land and arriving.  Same for baseball; the season starts out and finally arrives at the Promised Land of pennant races and the World Series.

Baseball has its own kashrut – hot dogs, peanuts, and Cracker Jack.  We have our Jewish foods, too.

Baseball has its own very special rituals, such as the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, the first pitch, seventh inning stretch, and standing for the last out.  We Jews have our version of all of that, too.

Baseball has lots of rules, as does Judaism.  Baseball places great significance on tradition, memory, and the accomplishments of its great players and managers.  Judaism also honors tradition and heritage, and celebrates its great leaders and rabbis.

In baseball, the game lasts as long as it needs to complete.  There is no clock.  Same with Judaism and our celebrations.  The bases are 90 feet apart.  When you add it all up, a player has to run 360 feet to round the bases, a multiple of 18.  And keep in mind that the objective of the game is to eventually ‘come home.’  Same with Judaism.

This week, we start reading the Torah again with the opening words of Genesis.  Remember that the first words are: “In the Big Inning.”

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Sukkot: The Value of Hospitality

October 21-22, 2016 / 20 Tishrei 5777

Shabbat Chol Hamo’ed Sukkot

Torah: Exodus 33:12-34:26 / Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:16

“Sukkot: The Value of Hospitality”

Dear Friends,                                                                                                      

While the Sukkot festival celebrates the harvest, it is also reinforces our Jewish value of hospitality.  A sukkah booth generally has no locks to fasten, no doors to close and no windows to seal.  It is open to all who want to enter.  Welcoming guests reminds us of the declaration we make at the start of the Passover seder, “Let all you are hungry come and eat.”

Our Jewish value of hospitality comes from the stories of Abraham and Sarah who welcomed travellers to their tent.  In one story, Abraham ran to greet three men and insisted that they come to his tent to eat and rest.  Instead of asking servants, Abraham himself did the cooking and serving, and even washed their feet. From this we learn that the host should welcome and serve guests in his or her home and sukkah!

When it comes to festivals (and truly everyday) the Jewish people is one huge family.  When we see travellers coming through our communities, we welcome them into our homes.  When we ourselves are traveling far from home, we instinctively seek out members of the Jewish community in the cities and countries we visit and enjoy the warm welcome we receive.  Sukkot reminds us that all Jews are responsible for one another.  We are one people.

Please come to our Shabbat Sukkot service this Friday evening, October 21st. Two nights later, experience our Simchat Torah celebration on Sunday evening, October 23rd, when we share dinner, dance with our Torah scrolls and unroll a scroll to read from the end and the beginning.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Why Evil Exists in the World

October 14-15, 2016 / 13 Tishrei 5777

Shabbat Ha’azinu

Torah: Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:52       Haftarah: II Samuel 22:1 - 22:51

“Why Evil Exists in the World”

Dear Friends,

This week, we read Ha’azinu, the final weekly portion in the Torah.  Moses gives his farewell address to the Children of Israel in beautiful poetry.  Then, he ascends to the top of Mount Nevo where he will see the Promised Land across the Jordan River before he dies.

In his address, Moses describes his understanding of God as:

“The Rock of Israel – God’s deeds are perfect,

Yes, all God’s ways are just;

A faithful God, never false,

True and upright is God. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

If this is so, then how can there be injustice and evil in the world?  What should we say when wars break out, when young people die, and when disease brings suffering?

The rabbinic sages taught that when God formed the world, both the good and the bad were created.  Both are part of this world. One midrash teaches that people possess both the yetzer ha’ra – bad inclination and the yetzer ha’tov – good inclination.

Harold Kushner, in his book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People,” suggests that God is the power that moves us to confront evil and promote goodness in the world.  Thus, when bad things happen, God cries along with us and then motivates us to confront the evil, bring healing and restore wholeness, kindness, compassion and peace.

Our tradition teaches that when we sit in our Sukkah booths in celebration of the upcoming festival of Sukkot, we are to ponder the mystery of life, existence, and good & evil in our world.  We are called forth to challenge immorality and wickedness in the world and resolve to be a force for good.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Same’ach – a healthy, joyous, and meaningful Sukkot celebration.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow