No matter where we think we are, we are still in Egypt

13 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in American Jewish Life, American Politics and Life, Divrei Torah, Ethics, Jewish History, Jewish Identity, Social Justice

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With Jacob’s death, the Israelites found themselves in Egypt living in relative safety under the protection of Joseph and the Pharaoh. However, history can change in an instant, as we ourselves have witnessed since the November election.

This truth is confirmed in next week’s Torah portion where it says that “There arose a king in Egypt who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) and it is signaled at the beginning of this week’s portion.

The children of Israel had been protected by the benevolence of the Pharaoh through the agency of Joseph. But, after Joseph’s death, our people’s life in Egypt suddenly became a nightmare.

In Jewish memory, Egypt is synonymous with enslavement, injustice, and cruelty, which is, I believe, the principal reason that the mitzvah to welcome the stranger became so prominent in the Torah (it occurs thirty-six times).

We Jews learned early on that the way a nation treats the stranger, the foreigner, and the “other” who is unlike the majority of the population characterizes that nation’s morality, and our sages taught that a more welcoming, just, and compassionate community ought to be a core aspiration not only for Jews but for humankind as a whole.

True to that tradition, the Jewish people remains optimistic in spite of the history of antiSemitism. It’s significant that the Passover Seder attracts more Jews to the table in American than any other home-based ritual, and that it is celebrated at night, the only such night-time ritual in our tradition. When the ninth plague of blackness engulfed the Egyptians, Torah says that it was a darkness so thick that the Egyptians couldn’t see their own hands or the face of a person standing right in front of them. The fear that filled the hearts of the Egyptians and the disconnection between even members of their own families represent exile in its most stark nature.

To emphasize the timing of the ritual, we are reminded in the ninth plague that engulfed the Egyptians. Torah describes this darkness as so thick that the Egyptians couldn’t see their own hands or the faces of others standing in front of them. The plague of darkness inspired a fear of terrifying proportions. That state of disconnect with others is the precondition of exile (galut) which is precisely what Egypt-Mitzrayim connotes in Jewish tradition.

The beginning of this week’s Torah portion Vayechi alludes in a unique way to that exile in Egypt. The opening verse (Genesis 47:28) is closed – meaning that there’s no space of nine Hebrew letters separating this week’s Parashat Vayechi from last week’s Parashat Vayigash, an idiosyncrasy that occurs nowhere else in Torah except here.

Why?

Rashi (11th century France) explained that “…when Jacob our father died, the eyes and hearts of Israel were closed because of the affliction of the bondage with which the Egyptians began to enslave them.” (Rashi 47:28, based on B’reishit Rabbah 96:1)

Jacob wanted to reveal to his children the end of days, but nistam mimenu – “It was closed to him…” because, as the Talmud explains, “… the Shechinah (God’s presence) had left him….”. (Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 56a)

Despite the many blessings that we in America enjoy and that our people enjoys in the land and State of Israel, the vision of an end of days will always remain closed to us and we will remain in exile until we succeed in ending the sufferings and correcting the injustices in our society and throughout the world.

In this sense, we are all still in exile even if we live in the State of Israel.

On this Martin Luther King national holiday weekend, his words and vision remain an inspiration to humanity as a whole. Two thousand years ago Rabbi Tarfon taught that “It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either.” (Pirkei Avot 2:21)

Two thousand years ago Rabbi Tarfon taught that Jews have an obligation to the world as a whole: “It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either.” (Pirkei Avot 2:21)

Shabbat Shalom!

Israel’s High Court requires a “good cause” argument why a woman cannot read Torah at the holiest site in Judaism

11 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in American Jewish Life, Ethics, Israel/Zionism, Jewish History, Jewish Identity, Musings about God/Faith/Religious life, Social Justice, Women's Rights

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In a landmark High Court decision Wednesday, the State of Israel was given 30 days to find “good cause” why a woman may not read aloud from a Torah scroll as part of prayer services at the Western Wall.

A year ago the Israeli government coalition made an agreement with a wide range of Jews from around the world that included the Reform and Conservative movements, the North American Jewish Federations, and the Women of the Wall to create an egalitarian prayer space in the Southern Kotel Plaza under Robinson’s Arch that is equal in size and in access to the Northern Kotel Plaza that would be overseen by non-Orthodox Jewry and not the ultra-Orthodox.

This was a landmark decision that affirmed Israel as the great democracy that it is and that Jews around the world ought to have the right and freedom to pray according to their custom at the holiest site in Judaism.

The agreement was led by Prime Minister Netanyahu who had appointed Natan Sharansky, the Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel, to forge a consensus agreement that included the ultra-Orthodox administrator of the Wall and the non-Orthodox liberal streams of Judaism.

It took 3 years to reach a compromise agreement, and once that was done, the ultra-Orthodox members of the Israeli government dug in their heels and aggressively sought to undermine it that would essentially disenfranchise 80% of world Jewry that is non-Orthodox. These Orthodox politicians backed by their Haredi rabbis threatened to bring down Netanyahu’s government if the agreement was implemented.

At last – the Israeli High Court has ruled that egalitarian prayer and the rights of women to read Torah at the Kotel ought to be their democratic right. These reactionary forces have been given 30 days to make their case.

This is a limited victory and not the end of the struggle – stay tuned.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-sweeping-decision-high-cou…/

In landmark decision, High Court rules for women’s Western Wall prayer

Government given 30 days to show ‘good cause’ why women can’t read from Torah scrolls at the holy site

timesofisrael.com

Urge your Senators to vote NO on Senator Jeff Sessions becoming US Attorney General

10 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in American Jewish Life, American Politics and Life, Ethics, Social Justice, Women's Rights

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As the Senate of the United States prepares to confirm a number of President-Elect Trump’s cabinet appointments this week, among the worst nominations he has submitted is that of Senator Jeff Sessions for the position of United States Attorney General.

Senator Sessions is, of course, entitled to a fair hearing. However, it’s important to note that his many statements and actions over the course of his career are contrary to the values of and the positions taken and advocated by the American Reform movement.

Here are some highlights of Senator Sessions’ career that make this claim clear:

He voted to ban marriage equality;
He supports so-called “religious freedom” laws that would protect discrimination against LGBTQ people;
He voted against extending hate crimes laws to include gender and sexual orientation;
As a US Attorney in the 1980s, he persecuted civil rights workers who were helping to register to vote poor African Americans by bringing bogus election fraud charges against them;
He called the Voting Rights Act “a piece of intrusive legislation”;
He publicly applauded the Supreme Court’s decision in 2013 to gut the 1965 Voting Rights Act;
He opposed the bipartisan criminal justice reform bill in the last Congress;
He was rejected by a bipartisan vote in the US Senate in 1986 for a federal judgeship when Senators heard testimony that he had referred to a black prosecutor as “boy” and said that he thought the KKK was fine “until I found out they smoked pot;”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights notes that Senator Sessions received awards from groups designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as anti-Muslim hate groups.

The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) released today (January 9, 2017) through the Reform movements Religious Action Center (RAC) its “Statement on the Nomination of Senator Sessions for U.S. Attorney General (see complete statement at http://www.rac.org/statement-nomination-sen-jeff-sessions-us-attorney-general). Here are a few excerpts:

“The Reform Movement has significant concerns about the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General of the United States. As the nation’s top law enforcement officer, Senator Sessions would be responsible for enforcing key civil rights laws that he has demonstrated hostility toward over more than 30 years in public life. On issues of vital importance to the Reform Movement, including voting rights, women’s rights, LGBT equality, and immigration, Senator Sessions has a voting record and a history of statements that raise alarm.

On civil rights in particular, Sen. Session’s record is deeply troubling. The Reform Movement is fiercely committed to protecting the right to vote and reinstating the full strength of the Voting Rights Act, which was partly drafted at our headquarters in 1965. Senator Sessions has called the Voting Rights Act “intrusive” and hailed the Shelby decision that eviscerated it as “good news.”

Now is the time to stand up for justice, equality, and human rights by calling your Senators today in Washington, D.C. (phone – 202 224 3121) and urging them to vote NO on the confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions as US Attorney General.

Note: I do not speak for my synagogue or any other organization. I thank Rabbi Fred Guttman for compiling the list of positions as cited above that Senator Sessions has supported over his career.

When a beautiful young life suddenly ends

09 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in Tributes

≈ 3 Comments

nick-linesch Nico (Nick) Linesch, son of Debra and Steve Linesch, brother of Julia, and life-partner of Gene, was only 31-years old when he died suddenly in an accident last week.

In my nearly forty years serving as a congregational rabbi, few deaths have shaken me and my community as this one has.

I’ve known Nico since he was very small. He was the friend to many people of all ages, including my son, and he and his family are as beloved and admired as anyone in our community.

We rabbis face special challenges in helping people who suffer the enormity of the loss of a young person. This is why I am writing this blog – to offer some thoughts about how best to do this even if we feel completely inadequate for the task.

As I prepared to lead Nick’s memorial service, I struggled to choose the right prayers and poetry, the right words and music sufficient to comfort the nearly 600 broken-hearted young and old who convened at our synagogue to mourn Nico’s death.

Every rabbi I know faces this terrible challenge. We begin by recognizing and accepting our inadequacy to do what the moment requires and that we will likely fail because there is no comfort in a time such as this. Yet, we hope that something we say will enter the hearts of the bereft and provide a measure of comfort.

I began Nico’s memorial service by reciting from the prophet Jeremiah (48:17):

“Bemoan him, all you round about him
And all you that know his name;
Say: ‘How is the strong staff broken,
The beautiful rod!”

I suggested that what we do now as we confront the world without Nick (I knew him always as Nick – he took the name Nico in recent years but he was accepting of whatever we wished to call him) is our greatest challenge. Thankfully, there is a font of wisdom in Jewish tradition from which we may draw and take sustenance. In addition to the careful selection of Biblical text, I offered this poem by Mary Oliver:

“…when death comes
Like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
…I look upon time as no more than an idea,
And I consider eternity as another possibility,
And I think of each life as a flower, as common
As a field daisy, and as singular,
And each name a comfortable music in the mouth
Tending as all music does, towards silence,
And each body a lion of courage, and something
Precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don’t want to wonderIf I have made of my life something particular,
And real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
Or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
(From New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver, Beacon Press)

We sang Leonard Cohen’s Halleluyah after Kaddish not only because Cohen was Nico’s favorite poet and songwriter and this song was his most favorite song, but because the family wanted the mourners to leave the memorial service with the feeling of uplift as a tribute to Nico who lived his life so positively, productively, joyfully, and lovingly (he worked for the County of Los Angeles in the transportation department as a civil engineer with special concern for the environment. The photo of Nick was taken this past summer at about 9600 feet in the Sierras, one of his favorite places on earth).

Nico’s family asked me as well to read this poem by Laura Gilpin called “Life After Death.” We read this at Nico’s bar mitzvah eighteen years ago:

“These things I know:
How the living go on living
And how the dead go on living with them
So that in a forest
Even a dead tree casts a shadow
And the leaves fall one by one
And the branches break in the wind
And the bark peels off slowly
And the trunk cracks
And the rain seeps in through the cracks
And the trunk falls to the ground
And the moss covers it
And in the spring the rabbits find it
And build their nest
Inside the dead tree
So that nothing is wasted in nature
Or in love.”

Nick will live on in the hearts of everyone who loved him and who he loved.

Zichrono livracha – May his memory inspire blessing.

Flathead Valley of Montana Jewish Community’s Response to White Supremacist Anti-Semitism

05 Thursday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in American Jewish Life, American Politics and Life, Ethics, Jewish-Christian Relations, Social Justice

≈ 4 Comments

The rabbi who serves the Glacier Jewish Community/B’nai Shalom in the Flathead Valley of Montana, shared this letter with “T’ruah – Rabbis for Human Rights” and gave me permission to post it, but first a few words of context:

As a consequence of the Trump presidential campaign and election, hate speech and hate crimes have dramatically increased against minorities in communities around the United States. In the past few weeks, the small Jewish community in the Flathead Valley of Montana has been the target of threats from white supremacist anti-Semites. The organized Jewish community in the United States has come to their assistance, but many American Jews and others are unaware of what has been taking place. Hence, I am posting what the community’s rabbi sent to Rabbis around the country. At the end are a series of articles that have appeared concerning this matter.

The last several weeks have been difficult for us, but they have also reminded us of the essential goodness of our Montana neighbors and our fellow Americans.

We have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we have received from individuals and organizations around the country. We deeply appreciate all who have expressed concern about haters targeting us, disrupting our lives, and threatening to conduct an anti-Semitic white extremist rally in our community. We are especially grateful for our wonderful neighbors in Whitefish and the State of Montana, who have stood by our Jewish community here in the Flathead Valley every step of the way.

Many supporters have asked what they can do to help now. First, let us state what would NOT be helpful: There should be no effort to engage in a counter-protest rally should the extremists decide to come to our community.

We have been in constant contact with law enforcement and other government officials, and also with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, all of whom have significant expertise in monitoring and dealing with extremist individuals and groups. They are emphatic and unanimous in their belief that any such counter-rally would be counterproductive; a bad idea that would only serve to feed the extremists’ craving for attention and legitimacy. We live in a small town and creating a bigger conflict or larger demonstration is only disruptive to our lives.

There are things you CAN do – actions that would mean a lot to us. First, while at this time we do not believe that the hate rally will actually happen, you can support efforts such as the initiative that encourages people to pledge money for every minute the haters march should their rally materialize. The funds will go to the Montana Human Rights Network, which supports diversity throughout Montana. This is a wonderful way to turn lemons into lemonade. Indeed, even if there is no march, this organization is worthy of your support,

Second, you can use the Whitefish story as a way to engage individuals, organizations, and schools in your own communities in positive discussions on how to stand up to hate. We never expected to be the target of a hate campaign, but this experience has made it clear to us that today no one is immune from cyber terrorism, trolling, doxxing, and other manifestations of hate online. The good news is that there are also now many resources to help people address this, including these from ADL and the SPLC.

Thank you again for your concern, your support, and your willingness to stand up and not be bystanders when anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice, bigotry and hate surface. Our community is stronger because you have been there for us.

Montana Delegation Condemns Anti-Semitism … – Flathead Beacon

flatheadbeacon.com/…/montana-delegation-condemns-anti–semitism-white-nationalis… Dec 27, 2016 –

50 Faith Leaders Supporting Jewish Communities of Montana …

flatheadbeacon.com/2016/…/50-faith-leaders-supporting-jewish–communities–montan… Dec 22, 2016

Montana faith leaders speak out in support of beleaguered Jewish …

http://www.jta.org/…/montana-faith-leaders-speak-out-in-support-of-beleaguered-jewish–co…Dec 26, 2016

In Montana, Activists and a Rabbi Resist Richard Spencer, the …

forward.com/…/in-montana-activists-and-a-rabbi-resist-the-resident-white-supremacist… Dec 15, 2016

Christian Clergy Post Menorahs Against Neo-Nazi March · Jewschool

https://jewschool.com/2016/12/78455/christian-clergy-whitefish-neo-nazi-march/

Anti-Semitic march organizer tells ABC FOX Montana plans are ful …

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/…/whitefish-march-against-jewish–community-full-steam-ahe…

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists launch online attack against …

http://www.haaretz.com › U.S. News Dec 19, 2016 –

White Supremacists Threaten ‘Armed Protest’ In Montana Ski Town …

unofficialnetworks.com/2016/12/white-supremacists-whitefish Dec 27, 2016

White Nationalist Group Targets Whitefish, Montana – IREHR

http://www.irehr.org/2016/12/25/white-nationalist-group-targets-whitefish-montana/ Dec 25, 2016

Israeli Justice Upheld in Two Emblematic Murder Cases

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in Ethics, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish History, Social Justice

≈ 1 Comment

Two murders that captivated the people of Israel and divided the nation have been resolved in guilty verdicts, thus testifying to the strength and independence of the Israeli justice system.

The first was the murder of a 16-year old Jewish teen, Shira Banki when she participated in the 2015 Jerusalem Gay Rights Parade. She was knifed by an Ultra-Orthodox Jew and died of her wounds. This was the second time this particular Haredi had attacked gay rights advocates.

The second was the killing of a Palestinian terrorist by an Israeli soldier, Sgt. Elor Azaria, who testified that the terrorist “deserves to die.” Azaria was convicted of manslaughter for the lethal shooting. The shooting was “captured on video by a Palestinian human rights activist and widely distributed.” (see article) The video showed the soldier shooting the disarmed and incapacitated Palestinian terrorist who lay wounded on the street after he had attacked and wounded Israeli soldiers in the strife-torn city of Hebron. The soldier’s deed was immediately condemned by both the Israeli Defense Minister and Prime Minister. Now, Israeli politicians from both the ruling coalition and the opposition are calling for a pardon.

The reaction by Israelis across the country to these two events reflects the deep schisms in Israeli society itself. The verdicts affirm that Israel is a nation ruled by law and the court system.

Life sentence for Jerusalem pride parade stabber who killed teen girl 16-year-old Shira Banki – Jerusalem Post, June 26, 2016
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Life-sentence-for-Jerusalem-pride-parade-stabber-who-killed-teen-girl-457749

Guilty as Charged Israeli Soldier Convicted of Manslaughter for Lethal Shooting of Wounded Palestinian Assailant – Haaretz, January 4, 2017
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/1596916fb75a7ac9

2 States for 2 Peoples – Secretary Kerry, American Jews, Israelis, and why it hasn’t happened?

01 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by rabbijohnrosove in American Jewish Life, American Politics and Life, Ethics, Israel and Palestine, Israel/Zionism, Jewish History, Jewish Identity, Social Justice

≈ 3 Comments

There is no more intractable conflict in the world as that between Israel and the Palestinians. When one attempts to understand the conflict historically, ideologically, nationally, tribally, religiously, morally, and contextually, the result is necessarily confusion, anger, exhaustion, frustration, and cynicism.

Why does this conflict continue unresolved? What options are there going forward that will preserve what Israel most needs – security, democracy and the Jewish nature of the state; and what the Palestinian people most need – security, sovereignty, and a state of their own?

When I stand in the Old City Southern Kotel Plaza, look down to the ancient Roman street and see the boulders that were knocked down by the Romans two thousand years ago, I recall the Talmudic explanation for the catastrophe: “Why was the Second Temple destroyed? Because of sinat chinam, senseless hatred of one Jew for another.” (Bavli, Yoma 9b)

There is one antidote to senseless hatred – ahavat chinam, senseless love of one Jew for another, which, of course, will not come easily in today’s polarized environment.

What we Jews so desperately need today is to be able to communicate directly with one another. We need to listen more intently and not presume nefarious motives lurking in the other’s heart. We need to understand what the other says and believes and the merits inherent in his/her position. Even when we disagree we have to resist being disagreeable.

Though we Jews have always had our share of conflicts, this past month President-Elect Trump’s designated US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, exacerbated the polarization by slandering a very large segment of the pro-Israel American Jewish community by calling them “worse than kapos!”

This comment should disqualify Friedman as US Ambassador and earn a solid rejection by Republicans and Democrats alike in the US Senate. If you agree with me, I urge you to contact your Senators and let them know your view.

Mr. Friedman’s sinister disrespect for fellow American Jews has given license to others to do as he has done. This past week, I myself received an email calling me a “kapo.”

Such myopic demagogic pronouncements are destructive to the fabric of the American Jewish community and to the Jewish people as a whole.

In the spirit of educating ourselves and being current with current thinking by American Jews and Israelis, I recommend the following:

1. Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech at the State Department – https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/12/266119.htm

2. American Jews Divided Over Strain in U.S.-Israel Relations – By ADAM NAGOURNEY and SHARON OTTERMAN – NYT, December 29, 2016

While some Jewish groups have applauded the administration’s efforts in regard to Israel, others have seen the steps taken by a departing president as a mistake. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/us/american-jews-john-kerry-israel.html?_r=0

3. In ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Israel, Separate Lives and Divergent Narratives, by PETER BAKER – NYT, December 29, 2016

The reactions to international criticism of Israeli settlements made clear that Israelis are just as polarized as Americans.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/world/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-john-kerry-speech.html?ref=world

4. The Two-State Solution: What It Is and Why It Hasn’t Happened, by MAX FISHER, NY Times, December 29, 2016

The two-state solution has for decades been the primary focus of efforts to achieve peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here’s a basic guide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-two-state-solution.html?ref=world&_r=0

Note: I represent only my views and not that of my synagogue or any Jewish organization.

I invite you to follow me on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/RabbiJohnLRosove

Op-Ed Columnist

By PAUL KRUGMAN