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How do we fight the rampant antisemitism that I discussed on Rosh Hashanah? On way is to be ambassadors for our people. When we hear about antisemitism we need to remind ourselves, and others, of the many great ideas that our people and our tradition have introduced to the world:
Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas, Rabbi Arthur Green
B’TZELEM ELOHIM – Humanity is created in God’s image. If God is holy and we are created in God’s image, then we are holy. The individual may never be sacrificed for the mass. The rich and poor, great and small, are equal before God.”
TORAH - Judaism is a civilization built around a Text. Torah literally means teaching. It is the story of God and the creation of the world and the Jewish people. But it is more than that. Torah is a guidebook on how to live a just and good life. Never lose sight of this fact. Every line of Torah has a message to teach and an idea to learn.
HALAKH: WALKING THE PATH - By studying Torah, the Rabbis established Jewish laws. We call these laws Halakha. Most translate Halakha as law. But its literal translation is “walking” and we morph that translation into “walking a path”. The path we walk is in God’s ways. We learn that just as God feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, visits the sick, and buries the dead; we should do these things as well.
TALMUD TORAH: TEACH THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN
In the Shema we learn that we must teach Torah to our children. It is the Mitzvah of passing the legacy of our tradition from generation to generation. Our lives are bridges between those who came before and those who will come later. We are the living link between our grandparents and our grandchildren. Passing on our heritage is a holy task.
TIKKUN OLAM - We usually translate this as “Repairing the World”. It is the recognition that the world in which we live, and the people living in it, are broken and it is up to us to make it and them better. Bettering the world, relieving human suffering, achieving peace and mutual respect among individuals and peoples, and protecting the planet from self-destruction.
But it also has to do with each of us….In our rush to survive, accomplish and excel, we have forgotten what it means to live in God’s world and to celebrate the sacredness of life.
SHABBAT - Before Shabbat, humanity made places holy. Shabbat made time holy. It sounds so simple. Take one prescribed day off a week. 24 hours of staying away from the mundane. It would be nice to just turn it all off for a day. But it seems to be nearly impossible.
TESHUVAH - Repentance or return. What a gift it is to know that if we have done something wrong, we can return back to our correct ways and be forgiven.
LCHAYIM! TO LIFE. - We sanctify life. We are taught to live by Torah. We are not taught to die by Torah. Every Mitzvah in Torah is superseded in order to save a life.
EHAD: HEAR O ISRAEL, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.
Why is this important? Because it means we all come from one place….One originator. In other religions and cultures, different Gods compete with each other. In the Jewish tradition , there are no competing interests.
Please also remember to be an Ambassador for Israel.
Unlike its neighbors, Israel has laws requiring the equal treatment of women and those living alternative lifestyles.
Israel is at the forefront of technological innovation. Israel helps other countries to farm more efficiently. Israel helps other countries to work on water scarcity by showing others how to desalinate water. Israel is the first to send rescue supplies and people to countries destroyed by natural disasters.
While it, like the US and other countries, is not perfect, it is still the only homeland of the Jewish people.
Finally, is there one thing you will be praying for this year over all others? If so, let me know what it is. Email me at mjayrab@gmail.com.
Shabbat Shalom – G’mar Chatimah Tovah (May you be inscribed in the Good book) – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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