Some people like to camp and hike in the great outdoors. They find camping to be a means of connecting to God, nature or unlocking something deep within the self. Instead of seeing camping as a pleasure, though, imagine that you faced catastrophe and had to evacuate your home. Picture striking out in search of a new home, hoping against logic that the new home would be safer than the one you were leaving. Alone in the middle of enemy territory without modern conveniences, you would be at the mercy of the elements and perhaps hostile forces. You would like to believe that strangers might be inclined to help you but the need for self-preservation overrides hope and you continue on your own way.
What a dreadful experience it would be to not trust passersby! Yet, just hours ago a Jewish teacher walking near his own neighborhood in Marseille, France was stabbed and injured by three passersby. One of the attackers had a T-shirt expressing support for the Islamic State. All three of them shouted anti-Semitic phrases as they attacked him. He was stabbed three times, not critically, and managed to get away. Thankfully, he survived.
We are not supposed to live in fear. We are supposed to greet each day and imbue it with meaning, purpose and life. For the past 2,000 years, even as we survived the Roman destruction of our Temple and our society, we have recited a small, daily blessing of appreciation of freedom. In our own minds we see ourselves as created by God to be free! It is fundamental to our very makeup as humans.
We are not supposed to live in fear. We are supposed to greet each day and imbue it with meaning, purpose and life. For the past 2,000 years, even as we survived the Roman destruction of our Temple and our society, we have recited a small, daily blessing of appreciation of freedom. In our own minds we see ourselves as created by God to be free! It is fundamental to our very makeup as humans.
Freedom is a core Jewish principle (think of the importance of Pesach and Chanukah) just as it is a bedrock principle of American life and society. How are we to respond when we feel alone in the wilderness, bereft of shelter?
In this week's Torah reading we learn that Jacob runs away from a vengeful brother. With nowhere else to go he must fend for himself, avoiding his brother's wrath and many other potential threats. At one point, with nothing of his own, Jacob uses a stone as a pillow. Later on, after working hard for 20 long years, it appears that he will lose his long-delayed wages. At his lowest ebb, he encounters God and it is during this exhausting struggle that his new name emerges; Yisrael –‘struggle with God and man and prevail.’ This name becomes our shared name.
We are children of immigrants-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as well as Hirschel, Chanah, Harry, Annie and the names which adorn the Yahrzeit alcove in our Shul. Collectively, we are named after this man and called the children of Jacob and the children of Israel.We bear the imprint of ancient and recent immigrants within us. As we witness our modern world contending with the dilemma of welcoming migrants and preserving our security I ask "How did our immigrant ancestors survive?"
When they didn’t have a pillow, they used a rock. They did what was necessary to survive and flourish. So shall we all. May we continue to be blessed with the ability to differentiate between the helpful and the antagonistic passersby.
May we and the people of Paris be blessed with Shalom. Please include a silent prayer for all of the people of France in the quiet and private prayer of your own Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Steve Silberman
No comments:
Post a Comment