Mourning the Dead

Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

November 2-3, 2018 / 25 Heshvan 5779

Shabbat Chayei Sarah

Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1-25:18 / Haftarah Portion: I Kings 1:1-31

“Mourning the Dead”

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, Abraham mourns the death of his beloved Sarah.  This week, all across America, we mourn the deaths of 11 Jews murdered at prayer in Pittsburgh.  Following are my comments at the prayer vigil held this past Monday evening:

Tonight, we stand against hatred.  Tonight, we gather for this memorial to the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life / Or L’Simcha Synagogue building in Pittsburgh, which included members of the Reconstructionist Congregation Dor Hadash, a sister congregation to Shir Hadash.  Tonight, we raise our voices against anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. Tonight, we express our outrage at this senseless killing and to say "enough" to the violence. Tonight, we stand for compassion, acceptance, open-mindedness and love.

In the face of hatred, we will forge understanding;

In the face of violence, we will build peace;

In the face of bigotry, we will breed tolerance;

In the face of discrimination, we will seek justice;

In the face of darkness, we will spread light.

 - Rabbi Michael Weinberg

The Jewish community is hurting this evening as we reel from one of the worst attacks on our community in American history. We grieve and weep for the victims and their families – both the dead and the injured, worshippers and police officers. We are horrified and heartbroken as we try to make sense out of the senseless slaughter of the innocents.  Unfortunately, this tragedy is not isolated. For we have come to know all too well mass-shootings at schools, night clubs, concerts, places of work, and more.  Live-shooter planning and drills are commonplace throughout America.  The atmosphere of hate and violence in our society is unbearable.

We in the Jewish community know that we are not alone in our grief. The outpouring of love and support from our friends of all faiths is a tremendous source of strength and comfort.  There is no better response to hate than a community coming together in love, unity, and prayer. So, I thank everyone who came tonight and everyone who has sent us messages of solidarity and hope.

As we begin this vigil of Solidarity, I offer this prayer: Eloheinu, veilohei avoteynu v’imoteynu, Our God and God of our ancestors, God of all humanity, give us the strength to move through these days of grief and shock. Help us help the Pittsburgh Jewish community, and all those affected by this tragedy. Help us to expose and put an end to the hatred and intolerance that abounds.  Help us to come together in unity, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and love. Amen.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Hospitality

Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

October 26-27, 2018 / 18 Heshvan 5779

Shabbat Vayera

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

“Hospitality”

Dear Friends,

Where does the mitzvah of extending hospitality to the stranger rank amongst our Jewish values?

A story should answer this question:  A young person once visited the famed teacher known as the Chofetz Chaim.  The guest had arrived at the synagogue just as the Sabbath began, having been on the road for many hours.  He was hungry and weak as they walked from the synagogue to the rabbi’s home.  To the surprise of the guest, the Chofetz Chaim skipped the singing of ‘Shalom Alechem’ (a song that greets the Sabbath angels) and, after quickly reciting Kiddush and the Motzi, began to eat.  “Why did you skip the singing of ‘Shalom Alichem,’” the young man asked his host. The Chofetz Chaim replied: “You were hungry.  A hungry person should be fed as soon as possible.  The angels can wait to be greeted.” (A Torah Commentary for Our Times. Harvey Fields. Volume 1, page 47.)

In this week’s Torah portion, three angels visit the tent of Abraham and Sarah and are welcomed warmly.  Thus, we learn that hospitality is one of the greatest of Jewish values.  In the coming weeks or months, find a Shabbat or Jewish Festival when you can open your home to welcome guests to celebrate with you. Enjoy the mitzvah of hachnasat orcheem – hospitality.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Our Best Selves

Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

October 19-20, 2018 / 11 Heshvan 5779

Shabbat Lech Lecha

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

“Our Best Selves”

Dear Friends,

How can Avram’s journey still inspire us today?  At 75 years of age, Avram heard God’s call to leave Mesopotamia and go to a new land, the Land of Israel. While we cannot be sure of what Avram actually heard, his journey was certainly one of self-discovery in that Avram founded a new religion based on the worship of the Eternal One. Over time, Avram’s name would change to Avraham, or Abraham, representing that he was the leader of a great clan and one of great influence.

The journey of Abraham serves as a model for each of us. Hiss quest was a model for us to discover the Divine spark within, the pintele Yid, and channel it into our hearts and minds. From this we learn that life is a search for meaning and faith. Our tradition teaches us to hear a God’s voice and receive the call to grow in our awareness and identity. We must continually seek ways of bringing healing and compassion to our world.

In this week’s portion, Lech Lecha, we learn to take risks in the pursuit of maturity, wisdom, and higher goals of leadership.  In searching for life’s highest ideals as become our best selves.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Noah, the Father of all Humanity

Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

October 12-13, 2018 / 4 Cheshvan 5779

Shabbat Noach

Torah: Genesis 6:9 - 11:32

Maftir: Numbers 28:9 - 28:15 | Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24 | Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

“Noah, the Father of all Humanity”

Dear Friends,

Who is our common ancestor? In this week’s text we find that it is Noah who is the progenitor of humanity.  According to the story of the Flood, everyone was killed, except for Noah, his wife and their three sons.  Shem became the father of the Jewish people, while Ham and Yafet became the fathers of all the other peoples of the earth.  Thus, everyone has a common relative in Noah and his wife.

Since we are all related, our tradition recognizes that all are in relationship with God and God’s commandments.  While the Jews received the Torah, all the other peoples are similarly bound to a set of ethics and moral principles.  Our sages compiled seven laws that are universal amongst all humanity.  Called the Noahide Laws, the are:

1. Do not worship idols.

2. Do not curse God.

3. Establish courts of justice.

4. Do not murder.

5. Do not commit adultery or sexual immorality.

6. Do not steal.

7. Do not eat meat torn from a living animal.

From these teachings, we learn that God expects the best behavior from everyone.

Zay a mentsch – Be a Good Person.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Valuing Creation

Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

October 5-6, 2018 / 27 Tishrei 5779

Shabbat Bereisheet

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

“Valuing Creation”

Dear Friends,

Did the creation of the world really happen in seven days?  Were the heavens, the stars, sun and moon, sea and sky, grasses and trees all created on different days?  Were fishes, bugs, birds, beasts, and humanity created on others?  Did it happen just as the Bible says it does? For fundamentalists and ‘Creationists,’ it did.  Creation rolled out exactly as the Bible says.  For them, the Bible should be read literally, as a newspaper, listing all the facts just as they happened.

Yet, many Jewish sages and scholars teach that the Torah has to be read between the lines.  The meaning runs deeper.  For, the Torah was not written to give a factual account as we expect history to be written, compiled, and redacted today.  Rather, its account was written to tell us more about the meaning of life itself.  It tells us to emulate the values that are presented.  Just as the creation account tells us about God’s creative energy and presence, so should we engage in creative acts to continue the unfolding of creation in our own time.  Just as the Torah account tell us of the responsibility of humanity to care for all living creatures and the very earth itself, so should we become stewards of the earth and all life.  Just as Adam and Eve repent for their misdeeds, so should we strive to better ourselves when we make mistakes. 

What concerns the Torah are less the facts of creation and more the values of creation. These values have the power to transform our lives and teach us to seek lives of morality, holiness and derech eretz (thoughtful behavior).

As we begin the reading of the Torah this week, from the very beginning, all possibility and opportunity for living a good and holy life are before us.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow