Clergy Sermons

I have turned to a line from Psalms this year – Psalm 27 said throughout the High Holidays this year. Chazak v’amotz libecha – Let your heart be strong and courageous.  Amidst intense polarization, a hair trigger readiness to write off those who disagree with us that has created a climate of anger and contempt – coupled with unfathomable antisemitism - strength and courage can feel distant and elusive. Today, I will explore how we might look for strength and courage together.

Let’s begin with a great story of strength and courage. It is February 2013, Ruth Calderon, a newly elected Knesset member and a secular Talmud scholar was asked to deliver the opening speech. She ascended to the podium with a large volume of the Talmud. Yitzchak Vaknin, the speaker of the Knesset from the Ultra-Orthodox Shas party looked at her with skepticism.  

The ultra-Orthodox do not believe secular Jews and especially women should study Talmud. Undaunted, Ruth Calderon began - sharing a troubling story: Rav Rachumei’s wife is waiting for her husband to come home from yeshiva studies in another town. It’s Erev Yom Kippur and this is the one day of the year he allows himself to return home. But he is so engrossed in his studies, he loses track of time. His wife waits and waits. When he doesn’t arrive, she sheds a tear. The Talmud continues that at that moment, the roof where he is collapses, and he dies.

It is a dark and distressing story.  Ruth Calderon explores the stories within the story to see the possibility of opposing groups in Israel coming together. She explained Rav Rachumei: He bears the weight of tradition and therefore devotes himself to full time study. Torah study holds us up. Of course he loses track of time. Ruth Calderon uses story to enter the haredi world of devotion to full-time Torah study foreign to her own - with compassion.

Then she explored Rav Rachumei’s wife – desperately wanting her husband home as secular Jews like her. She explains: “Sometimes we, the secular Israelis, feel like the waiting woman, serving in the army, doing all the work.”  And then she added: “both sides feel solely responsible for the wellbeing of our national home. Until I understand this, I will not perceive the problem properly and will not be able to find a solution.”   

This is a story of strength and courage. A strong and courageous heart knows its values and acts.  Ruth Calderon passionately believes and works for haredim to serve in the army and at the same time, enters the story of those who may see the world differently. Entering another’s story with curiosity, empathy, complexity and respect opens doors to different solutions.

What happened?  Speaker Vaknin interrupts her. Is he going to respond angrily? No - the teaching resonated - he adds his own insight to her teaching, to which she replies: “Yasher Koach!”  It was an unexpected moment of connection reminding us that we might create something different from our current realities of polarized anger.

Yet, let’s be realistic. It’s hard to imagine something like this happening now. Since 2013, breaches, anger and trauma have grown.  Ongoing war – there is so much loss; hostages remain in captivity – 718 grueling days.  Intense division defines this moment for Israelis and American Jews:  many angry at the government – protesting in large numbers, while others stridently defend the government.  As soldiers serve hundreds of days of reserve duty, resentment grows toward those who do not serve. People are tired! In addition to all of this, here in America the Jewish community feels overwhelmed by the surge of antisemitism that we know will not abate. Compassion, empathy and nuance get lost when each day brings new layers to the suffering, fear and rage. And it feels like it gets worse each day.  

How do find courage and strength at a moment like this?  

It begins with knowing who we are. As we clarify what we believe, a humble path forward begins to emerge. For me, strength has come from grounding myself in sacred Jewish values and courage comes from struggling to apply them to current realities.  Today I want to share the values that drive me, the strength it provides, the activism it demands and the questions it leaves me with.  I put them on the service folder to make it easier to follow. The values you see on the handout lead me to multiple interpretations– which I believe is the Jewish way.

This is not easy to share.  People often want to hear only their truth – and turn a deaf ear, get angry and sometimes storm away when that is not preached. I know there are times I too have reacted that way.  This is not easy because I feel conflicted. At times, sacred truths seem to offer contrasting paths forward.  Imperfect truths emerge. For me, courage is the hard work of struggling; finding the space to say, “I don’t know” or this is the best I can do amidst honest struggle.  This is not easy because boiling down values, interpretations and actions often neglects the complexity and nuance that requires far more analysis than a sermon allows.  And this is not easy to share for another reason - because I intensely feel the pain of the gap between sacred truths and current realities.  Courage means accepting and sharing that discomfort – feeling all of the emotions: anger, sadness, confusion, pain.  That is this moment.

As you look at the values I have brought, let it open discussion. Some may resonate and motivate - grounding you as they do me in sacred values which lead to activism.  This is our starting point. Disagree. Dispute. Talk. Act. Each voice matters. Discussions about values and activism allow hearts to remain linked and common cause to be found.  Ground yourself in curiosity, empathy and open hearts. While this sermon focuses on Israel and American Jewish response to Israel, each of these values also speaks to what is going on in America.

I believe in Klal Yisrael – Peoplehood.  I am connected to my fellow Jew. From the earliest of times, we are called a nation, connected to a land.  Jewish peoplehood drives me.   I feel loyalty and connection. Hineni – Here I am – present, responsible, relying upon am Yisrael – Our people. We need each other.  Amidst the angst and upset of this year, community has strengthened my heart. Hold onto one another.  Set aside labels and try not to allow divergence to create disconnect.  Let community strengthen your heart.

 Peoplehood provides historical perspective – reminding me that we have gotten through tough times. That strengthens my heart.

Peoplehood demands I find the courage to face and respond to our people’s suffering. When a Jew suffers, I suffer.  When antisemitism rears its ugly head, I fight.  Let’s respond together.

Peoplehood drives me to teach the pride that comes from knowing the values, language and obligations that define us as a people.  Join me in committing to excellence in Jewish education. This is a call to pride in peoplehood which brings strength and courage.

And yet, so many difficult questions within this value emerge:

Can I stay connected to that fellow Jew who might reject that which I believe is my ethical, Jewish core? 

How can we stay connected amidst such fundamental differences amongst us?

I believe in Ahavat Tziyon – Love of Israel - Zionism. The State of Israel is the place my ancestors yearned for, felt connection to, built and re-built.

We thrive because Israel is a Jewish state – art, literature, culture, Jewish holidays, values, time come alive each day.  I can disagree with the government, and love Israel. 

Ahavat Tziyon – Love of Israel means that I viscerally feel the trauma of Israel’s losses.   My Zionism embraces democracy and Jews and Arabs living side by side with dignity.  My Zionism is aspirational – seeking to bring Jewish values to life throughout the country. My heart celebrates when I witness this and it breaks at how distant these aspirations feel. I am passionate about activism that allows us to partner in what might be.

I believe Israel has the right to defend herself from enemies who will do anything to destroy her.

Yet so many questions as a passionate Zionist:

What does self-defense entail and not entail?

How do I share my disagreements with government policy without undermining Israel – especially in the eyes of those who seek to destroy her?

How do I respond to my anguish that some leaders wish to turn Israel into an ethno-religious government that may turn a blind eye to settler violence.

How do I teach love of Israel at a time when connection is fraying?

How can I stay connected with those who reject Zionism?

These are hard questions. The hardest questions come from the place of deepest love.  A strong community, like I hope we are, has the courage to grapple with these questions.

I believe that each human being is created B’tzelem Elohom in the Divine Image and is of ultimate worth.  I cry for all innocent victims of war.  Too many civilians are suffering.  The scenes from Gaza tear at my soul. I urge humanitarian aid be supplied by many countries to mitigate a terrible situation.  Have we become too coarsened to see this?  Yes – Hamas bears much responsibility for and exploits this crisis. Yet the crisis is real, and my activism seeks to address this suffering.  

What is the best way forward? What might make a difference?

Connected to tzelem Elohim - the value of human life is the mitzva of pidyon shevuyim – redeeming captives. I carry the agony of the hostages and their families.  My activism demands we keep the hostages and their families in the forefront of our communal activism seeking their release.

What activism and policies best helps free hostages?   

Let’s struggle together.  

I believe in Emet – Truth.  The truth is often frustratingly evasive and purposely denied. In recent years, truth has come under attack in shocking ways.  I have come to expect lies, half-truths and distortions - and those lies have a profound impact on what people believe.  Because we have become so polarized, truth is whatever best fits your narrative and then anyone who disagrees with you is lying.

Let’s seek truth. For all I embrace multiple truths - sometimes there is only one truth. Facts exists. Science exists. Realities are real.  Acting on that truth is our calling.  Discerning when that is and when there are multiple truths need to be lifted up may be one of the most important things we do.

Let’s seek truth together - reading from various points of view, questioning what we read, discerning the most reliable sources. Let’s not allow competing truths to turn us from each other – except in those rare moments where evil cannot be countenanced.  

Finally, I believe in Shalom – peace. Every Jewish prayer ends with a call for peace. We have a moral mandate now for visionary peacemaking. I yearn for leaders with the vision and heart to move us toward peace.  Yet peace feels so distant. On Yom Kippur I will share small steps that I pray will plant seeds of peace that will grow.  What are those seeds for you?

Sacred values ground and motivate me at this moment.  The call to strength asks that we turn toward them, wrestle with their demands and act.   The call to courage allows us to sit with complexity and the different paths emerging from our sacred texts with openness and heart.   Let’s be a community that digs deep into our heritage, holds multiple truths, listens to each other, discerns truth, treasures each human and pursues activism. Know as you move forward that you are never alone. That is the beauty of our people.  Hold onto the call of Psalm 27 – chazak v’amatz libecha – let your hearts be strong and courageous.