A Jewish Idea- Auschwitz

Seventy years ago, the world gasped as the gates of Auschwitz were opened. The conscience of the world was stirred by the misery and heartlessness which was revealed as survivors, human remains and prisoners were revealed.

                 Tomorrow, the Mayor of Mobile and other dignitaries will recognize the 70^th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.  The Mayor will make a presentation to Agnes Tennenbaum who will share some personal remarks. Rickie Voit & Jerry Derring will share some brief perspectives. Professor Patricia Harrison of Springhill College will offer some brief remarks touching on the history of Auschwitz. All of us have are responsibility to stand as witnesses on this historic occasion.

                  In light of terrible and vicious attacks against Jews and others in Europe,we bear an obligation to remember all that as occurred.

                  Would you ever imagine the Mayor of Mobile making a presentation to a concentration camp survivor in the company of Jews and Christians devoted to eradicating racism? The programbegins tomorrow at 7:00 PM at Bernheim Hall in the Ben May Library. A reception will follow.                                               Ask yourself what will happen if you and I do not attend?

                 Shalom,

                 Rabbi Steven Silberman

A Jewish Idea- the Super Bowl

Last night many of us watched the Super Bowl. If estimates are correct we joined 114 million viewers in an act of communal watching; one of the greatest televised spectacles ever. If you are an avowed fan of Seattle or New England the game was very exciting. If you watched just for the sake of it, it was probably very enjoyable.

          There is something to be said that we joined with a community of people spanning the globe to enjoy a premier athletic event. There is pleasure and fun in such an endeavor especially if we shared the game and refreshments with family and friends. Now the Super Bowl is over and bragging rights will remain for year. What may we do now to become part of a community, enjoying a sense of thrill? How else may we become part of a community and remember where we were when something spellbinding occurred?

         On March 1-3, 2015, there will be a gathering of 14,000 people in Washington, D.C. summoned by the shared interest of supporting Israel. AIPAC, an organization with a very specific and concrete focus, brings together people of many different religious and ethnic backgrounds for the sole purpose of being energized to support Israel. The enthusiasm runs very deep. It is very exciting, perhaps, more exciting than the Super Bowl because everyone in the convention center knows that her or his energies actually has lasting impact. As a spectator of the Super Bowl each of us is a viewer; as activists in Washington DC we are networking and we are informing our legislators to maintain support of Israel in this very critical hour.

          Professionally organized, the sessions and meetings are eye-opening in scope covering American-Israeli strategic interests, collaborative research, diplomatic efforts technological innovations… The list goes on and on. Typically delegates enjoy many opportunities to hear from leading Congresswomen and Congressmen, Senators and usually the Vice –President and President, as well as the Prime Minister of Israel.

          On Tuesday, thousands of AIPAC delegates travel to Capitol Hill and meet with virtually every elected legislator in our United States government. It is thrill to take part in the democratic process that makes our nation great. The scope of this effort is extreme and the impact is essential.

          Please consider sharing two - three days with Israel and with a community of people who are much more than viewers. Plan to travel to D.C. Attend sessions at the AIPAC conference and meet with your legislator. You will be much more than a spectator. You will be a presence and you will make a difference.

          You may register for the conference by visiting www.aipac.org. I look forward to sharing an exceptional experience with you.

          Shalom,

          Rabbi Steve Silberman 

A Jewish Idea- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Today is .’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr birthday. For the nation and the world it serves as a reminder of the trans-formative efforts of one man which spawned a movement. Our nation, separated by race, was very reluctantly twisted, pulled and pushed in many directions leading to a new era which has yet to unfold.

 Years ago I came across the attached picture and was immediately struck by its intensity and strength. It remains a very important powerful mental image. The White man (second from right) is Rabbi Dr. Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the foremost Jewish minds of the past 200 years. During very turbulent times, Dr. Heschel and other Jewish people contributed their energy to a movement that belonged to all people- a movement for Civil Rights.

Recently, the new movie ‘Selma’ was released. Already different Jewish voices from across the spectrum have complained about and championed the film. Those complaining, criticize ‘Selma” for not highlighting enough the Jewish contribution to the Civil Rights marches and other elements of the movement. Well-tendered-voices from the other side of the divide assert that while Jewish people certainly contributed to the metamorphosis of modern America, the Civil Rights movement was not a Jewish movement, but a movement primarily for those Blacks who had been systematically, collectively and wholly oppressed.

 Respectfully, I disagree with both perspectives. Civil Rights were not owned by Whites or to be obtained by Blacks or shared by Jews or disseminated by those in power to the powerless. All humans deserve to be treated as humans. Our Jewish tradition loudly shouts this message through the description of the entire human race’s arising from Adam (and then again from Noah-post the flood). Twice Torah teaches that all people were and are personally created by G-d -in effect we all share a common origin!

As I consider Dr. King's famous speech, now nicknamed “ I have a dream”, I believe he would not see the movement as a Black movement, a White movement, a Christian movement or a movement wherein a small community of Jews held some or perhaps more disproportionate significance; rather it would be a human movement, an essential movement,a necessary movement,a just movement, the only proper and right movement, a movement of righteousness and a movement of vital concern to all people everywhere.

Today, I gaze upon this photo which I have attached for your attention and I've also attached a link to other photos. How can we best mark MLK day? By not seeking, with excessive pride to make Civil Rights something that Jews accomplished. By not closing off our ears to the needs of today simply because some Jews were active 50 years ago and other Jews were not. It is not enough to be proud of a well-respected rabbi who marched in Selma when the nation as a whole was sorely divided as to how treat all of the humans in its midst. We must do more to deserve this day, named in his honor. We must walk together.

Shalom,

Rabbi Steve Silberman

(P.S. The power of this photo comes from people of different backgrounds marching together in one direction and towards a common goal. Let us reflect upon a march which took place last week throughout France, wherein people of many different backgrounds joined together –hoping to open the minds of others to begin overcoming the harsh realities of religious intolerance.)

Shabbat Thoughts- Your experience is unique to you

When was the last time you experienced a sense of G-d?

Perhaps it was during an intense, exciting or critical moment in your life such as the birth, recovery from illness or the death of a loved one. It may have been when you enjoyed great natural beauty by visiting mountains, oceans, waterfalls or national parks. Perhaps you were captivated by a moment of great artistic beauty; creating or appreciating grand music, literature, art, drama or poetry.

All of these experiences share a common element; they are deeply personal in nature. Delight by one person over a beautiful sunset does not necessarily inspire a devotee of Beethoven in the same manner.

I think this is how and why Jews invented group worship- recognizing that if one of us may have not sensed G-d- at least we can gain uplift from others. The knowledge that you EXPERIENCED SOMETHING influences me. Without this support we could feel dreadfully alone.

In last week's Torah reading Moses encountered G-d at the burning bush. According to the text, G-d revealed G-d’s very self by name and by awesome spectacle. Yet, in this week’s reading, while Moses is commanded to announce to Pharaoh the impending Exodus, G-d reveals to Moses that G-d appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Why is it necessary to speak of a spiritual experience which occurred generations before? Isn't it enough that Moses encountered G-d in his own personal way?

We do not live in a vacuum. We are social creatures and we share all aspects of life. Just as we work, eat, play, celebrate and grieve together so must we FEEL holiness together. Spirituality is essential to us humans. This is why so many different religious communities have all developed congregations of one sort or another.

Why did Moses need to know that G-d had encountered Moses’s great-great-grandparents? Ask yourself why you need to know ancestors’ demographics or why it is so vital to visit the birthplace of your namesake. We all have an internal need to be rooted to something greater than our own individual self. And when we anchor ourselves to something not easily put into words we provide religious moorings for someone yet to come along.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman

Shabbat Thoughts- Family

Frequently, you share family stories with me. You show me pictures and recount tales of your ancestors; often giving life to the names of your loved ones whom I have heard over the course of our shared years. You share your family’s life with me and I discover the significance of current family member’s names.  Names occupy a significant part of our conversations.

Names keep our identities concrete. You yourselves have told me how important it is to name a descendant after an ancestor.

In your own memories and your family lineages, you bear names such as Shlomo and Mottel which have become Sol and Morris and now, two generations later, Chad and Mac. These are the names of immigrants journeying across nations’ borders and transcending time.

This week’s Torah reading begins the second volume of the Torah. It is known as Eleh Shmote which literally means “And these are the names.”  Many American Jews are more familiar with the term Exodus than “And these are the names.”

It is a bit sad that our Jewish people have become so assimilated that they have forgotten the Hebrew names of the books of the Torah and feel more comfortable with the English names. Each of the Hebrew names of a volume of Torah tells a specific story. The English names originate as a result of medieval non-Jewish European translators’ inability to contend with the Hebraic concepts reflected within the terms.

This week's Torah reading (Shmote -Names) describes a journey of the original clan of Hebrews which left Canaan and came to Egypt in search of food and restored family unity. The opening sentence reads as follows; “And these are the names of the Children of Israel, Jacob and his household, who are walking/coming to Egypt.”

The verb, which literally means ‘walking’ or ‘coming’, brings to mind a family which is leaving its home behind and journeying into an unknown future. We can envision these people sorting through belongings and hefting bundles up to their shoulders or placing them upon pack animals. This future is one of uncertainty, hope and fear. It is the immigrant experience par excellence. Powerfully, the emphasis is on the family’s collective experience.

We are children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of immigrants. Some of us continue to feel, more than others, a bond to Europe through our ancestral names and Israel as our original point of emigration. Others among us feel more bound to America than Europe. This Shabbat, ask yourself how you and your family still recognize your status as being descendants of immigrants. Then ask yourself how you continue to retain an essence of the identity of your namesake.

      Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Steve Silberman