Sunday, January 29, 2017
Friday, January 20, 2017
Shabbat Thoughts- Guitar Shabbat & Candy -making and Havdalah
Tomorrow we inaugurate our President. We welcome him as a leader of these United States wherein many sense division and discord. Donald Trump has before him many opportunities and challenges; most importantly the task of unifying a nation which sees itself as divided . First and foremost, the challenge before Mr. Trump is to demonstrate respect for individuals and communities that previously felt disrespected and ignored.
None of us wishes to be ignored. It violates our sense of self. Regardless of our age or social standing we all expect to be respected. It is a human right and it is a basic Jewish value. Every morning we remind ourselves that each and every one of us is created in the image of the Divine. In short, every person deserves to be appreciated and recognized as incomparably precious.
This upcoming Shabbat we usher in a new reality as we begin to read the second volume of Torah. Its given English name, Exodus, immediately conveys the major theme of the book, but the significance of its Hebrew name is lost to most readers. Eleh Sh-mote opens with “these are the names” and slowly and deliberately reminds us of our origins; painting a picture of the significance of every individual by taking the time to include every descendant of Jacob by name on the march into a new future. Certainly every adult son of Jacob was different from every other son. Each merited inclusion. So, too, does every individual and each cohort deserve to be included in a respectful manner as we march towards our shared future.
The responsibility to respect others is not relegated to one man, no matter the esteem of his office. All of us are obligated to live our lives in the fullness of self-respect and respect of others. May our own individual names stand for the fulfillment of menschlichkeit.
Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Steve Silberman
Friday, January 6, 2017
Shabbat Thoughts- Parshat Vayigash, 5777
It's January 5 and echoes of “Happy New Year” remain in our ears. Some of us have taken it easy and remained at home and others have vacationed. Who would not enjoy a ski getaway in picturesque Montana ? We all might contact Sherry Spencer to rent a condo in a charming and upscale development. How many of us would refrain from doing business with her because her son Richard, whose National Policy Institute came to light last month when Spencer shouted “hailed Trump”, saluted in a manner reminiscent of Hitler ? Since Spencer lives part-time in Whitefish and he publicly called for a “minority free Ethno state” and is assertive of white pride, the small town of Whitefish has become home to a vocal anti-Semitism as well as a community-based effort to promote human rights ,diversity and tolerance . A gathering promoting “love, not hate “will be held in downtown Whitefish on Saturday, January 7 with refreshments being served remarks being made by local leaders of diverse backgrounds and music shared by local native American talent. People are stepping forward to claim their homes and community as a place of life and friendship. Tragically, people are stepping forward in support of Spencer and of man named Anglin who has established a website named the Daily Stormer.
Anglin charges that the “criminal Jews of Whitefish and their racketeering cartel“ are “running the town.” He also calls the Montana Human Rights Network and the organizers of Love Lives Here terrorists. He has publicly identified on his website local Jewish people and supporters of Love Lives Here as well as supportive merchants and requested that readers of the Daily Stormer call these people and these merchants and boycott them and pressure them. Anglin boasts he has made plans to import skinheads from as far away as San Francisco and is planning a march in two week; a march of 200 people with hunting rifles walking through downtown Whitefish ( Montana has liberal open carry laws).
Local members of LLH and the MHR Network are claiming harassment by readers of the Daily Stormer. Fear is raising a very real head in Whitefish Montana as racists are preparing to step forward against the Jews and their friends who are devoted to maintaining a presence of humanity, respect and openness. These are very real and frightening times!
This week’s Parsha, known as Vayigash, begins with the Hebrew word "and he stepped forward". Judah faces off with a masquerading Joseph, seated upon the Viceroy’s throne. Not knowing with whom he is speaking, Judah challenges Joseph to allow Benjamin to live in freedom and Judah even offers to accept slavery in Benjamin's stead in order that Ben be repatriated to Canaan. Judah must have been terrified but he stood his ground and ultimately, protected his younger brother. We have brothers, right now in Whitefish, standing with us and protecting us. We must remain vocal, and vigilant.
Shabbat Shalom,
Monday, January 2, 2017
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