The Generations of Isaac

December 2-3, 2016 / 3 Kislev 5777

Shabbat Toledot

Torah: Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 / Haftarah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7

“The Generations of Isaac”

Dear Friends,

The story of Jacob and Esau goes beyond sibling rivalry.  As important, if not more, is the element of parents favoring one child over the other.  For that is exactly what happened.  Isaac favored Esau.  Rebecca favored Jacob.  Ruth Brin so beautifully captured the pitfalls and lessons learned from this situation in her poem “The Generations of Isaac.”  I share it with you.

The Generations of Isaac

Genesis 27

It is written that Isaac loved Esau because

he brought meat,

but Rebekah loved Jacob, and for his mother’s

love no reason is given.

To Jacob, who had his mother’s love, his father’s

blessing was given,

but from Esau, who had not his mother’s love,

his birthright was taken away.

Jacob became at last a father of his people,

but not until he had run away in fear and

dreamed his dream,

Not until he wrestled with his angel and labored

twice seven years for the wife he loved,

for he who had deceived his blind father was

himself deceived.

Now while we have a measure of strength and

vision, Lord,

let us consider the birthright of our children.

Grant us wisdom to favor no child, and to be

deceived by no child,

Grant that we never weep the tears of Rebekah,

who had to send away her dearest son,

Grant that we never love a child for the gift

he brings,

lest we tremble with the tremblings of Isaac.

Help us give all our children their mothers’ love

and their fathers’ blessings from the beginning;

Help us give all our children their share

in the heritage of our people.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Thanksgiving – Giving Thanks

November 24, 2016 / 23 Cheshvan 5777

Thanksgiving – Giving Thanks

Dear Friends,

The Pilgrims knew their Hebrew Bible.  They knew of the Jewish harvest celebration called Sukkot.  Many believe that the first Thanksgiving was modeled on the Sukkot festival.  Yet, what makes Thanksgiving special is the blending of Judeo-Christian and Native American customs to form a new tradition here in the Americas.  The bringing together of different peoples to join in a shared celebration is unique to America.  It could only happen here at that time, not in Europe.  We Reconstructionists revel in our pursuit of pluralism within the Jewish world.  We celebrate the reaching between religious communities to create bridges of understanding and coexistence.

This year, as you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinners, I encourage you to take a few moments to offer prayers of thanksgiving for the abundance we share here in America.  Take a few moments to share readings and teachings of gratitude that come from the various religious traditions of those who may be sitting around your table.  Read the two pieces below, which come from the Hebrew Bible and Native American spiritual tradition.

Hodu L’Adonai ki tov / Give thanks for God for all God’s goodness

Ki l’olam chasdo / For God’s compassion is unending!  (Psalm 118)

L’Shalom (In Peace),

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Deuteronomy 8:7-18

7 For the Eternal your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with streams and springs and fountains issuing from plain and hill; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; 9 a land where you may eat food without scarcity, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper.  10 When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the Eternal your God for the good land, which God has given you.  11 Take care lest you forget the Eternal your God and fail to keep God’s commandments, God’s rules and God’s laws, which I enjoin upon you today.  12 When you have eaten your fill, and have built fine houses to live in, 13 and your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold have increased, and everything you own has prospered, 14 beware lest your heart grow haughty and you forget the Eternal your God - who freed you from the land of Egypt, the house of bondage; 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness with its serpents and scorpions, a parched land with no water in it, who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your ancestors had never known, in order to test you by hardships only to benefit you in the end - 17 and you say to yourselves, “My own power and the might of you own had have won this wealth for me.”  18 Remember that it is the Eternal your God who gives you the power to get wealth, in fulfillment of the covenant that God made on oath with your ancestors, as is still the case.

We Give Away our Thanks

We give away our thanks to the earth,

         which gives us our home.                         (All: We give away our thanks!)

We give away our thanks to the rivers and lakes and oceans,

         which give away their water.                    (All: We give away our thanks!)

We give away our thanks to the trees,

         which give away fruits and nuts.              (All: We give away our thanks!)

We give away our thanks to the wind,

         which brings rain to water the plants.      (All: We give away our thanks!)

We give away our thanks to the sun,

         which gives away warmth and light.         (All: We give away our thanks!)

All beings on earth, the trees, the animals, the wind and the rivers -

         give away to one another - so that all is in balance.

We give away our promise to begin to learn how to stay in balance -

         with all the earth.                                     (All: We give away our thanks!)

Native American Prayer

Relationship Power

November 18-19, 2016 / 18 Heshvan 5777

Shabbat Vayera

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24 / Haftarah Portion: II Kings 4:1-37

“Relationship Power”

Dear Friends,

The Sages would describe Abraham as an “influencer.” He had the power to bring the messages of faith and spirituality to the ancient polytheistic world. He changed the world by changing lives, one at a time. When the text relates that Abraham and Sarah left their home on their way to Canaan with the “the souls that they had gotten in Haran,” the Midrash explains that this refers to all of their followers. They brought them into their new community of Hebrews through relationship power – by building relationships and sharing friendship, by showing kindness and compassion, by listening with true interest and sharing wisdom in return, and by welcoming all those who came their way with open arms, respect, and honor.

As we settle into the new reality that this year’s election results bring, regardless of how you voted, the power of personal relationships will be very important.  Reach out to each other – to those with whom you agree and especially to those with whom you differ.  Listen to each other, share, understand, and grow.  Reach out to your elected officials at all levels of government and share your opinions.  Every letter and email message gets read and every opinion is considered. Elected officials really do listen to passionate constituents willing to make the effort to discuss an issue, especially if you can meet them in person. It may not be easy, and it may take effort and time, but Abraham reminds us that there’s no more powerful way to affect change in the world than by relationship power.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

The Hebrew

November 11-12, 2016 / 11 Heshvan 5777

Shabbat Lech Lecha

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

“The Hebrew”

Dear Friends,

Abraham, the founder of our people, was called the first “Hebrew” – or “Ivri.”  The great Bible commentator, Rashi, teaches that the word, ivri – spelled Ayin, Bet Resh – means someone who is ‘other.’ He derives this from the root word ‘avar’ which means to cross over or to be on the other side because Abraham had to cross to the other side of the Euphrates River when he left his home and headed from the Promised Land of Canaan.  Another commentary, Genesis Rabbah suggests that Abraham’s faith was different than what others believed.  We was apart.

What message can we derive from this?  We learn that like Abraham, we must remain strong in our convictions and resolute in our adherence to our Jewish worldview – even when others mock, jeer, or redicule.  We must be zealous for the truth and unwavering in the pursuit of justice and fairness.  We must be tenacious in our quest for compassion and kindness and we must be persistent in upholding our Jewish values and teachings.  For then can we fulfill our mission to live proud and productive lives and be a light unto the nations.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow