This week is like no other in recent memory. Thousands of high school students from many and varied walks of life have propelled themselves into the nation’s limelight. No longer content to passivity, these students are marching on the halls of legislature- state and federal alike- demanding that their voices be heard. To see students , terrorized by wickedness and brutality, standing up and proclaiming the centrality of life and safety is compelling. As parent, I am both proud to witness such maturity and passion and also ashamed that we parents, as a class, have failed to protect our nation’s children. We can argue the Founding Fathers’ intent, and indeed we must structure our daily lives in accord with our Constitution but most importantly, we are the adults of America and our children are telling us we have failed them in the most important way; to preserve their safety .
This Shabbat has two Torah readings. The ordinary Parshah is called Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) and describes in inordinate detail the construction of the sacred altar and Aaron’s priestly garments to be used in the portable tabernacle during the Wilderness trek of the Israelites. Details matter. If one stitch is improperly sewn then the most important garment of all of Israel may fail. If one piece of sacred furniture is misaligned thousands of people will be disappointed. So too, if one detail is improperly implemented as we build our school systems our children will suffer.
The Second torah reading comes from Deuteronomy and is specially read because of the approaching holiday of Purim. We read it to announce the upcoming holiday and to call to mind Haman and the Persian Jews. Shortly after the Exodus from Egypt a warrior tribe named Amalek attacked the weak and defenseless Israelites who had fallen behind the main camp. Those who had no means to defend themselves were slaughtered until the main camp learned too late and finally turned about to offer assistance. The parallel to Purim and to today’s frequent school shootings is eerily obvious.
We are the main camp. Both the adults who make laws to govern our nation’s body ,and the adults who elect them, have not done enough to safeguard our vulnerable ones who cannot keep up with the main group. We read the section of Deuteronomy on Shabbas and we name it ZACHOR- REMEMBER. The time has come to do more than remember. The time has come to learn from our children.
May this Shabbat bring some potential to lift up the families and communities who are in torment because of school shootings.
Shalom-Rabbi Steve Silberman
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