Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
During the recent weeks, columnists David Brooks and Christopher Hitchens set their sights on Chanukah in a way that focused on the immediate aftermath of the Chanukah event. The Maccabean/Hasmonean dynasty, they pointed out, did not feature the most benevolent of rulers (for example, they were not too fond of the rabbis/Pharisees, whose inquisitive approach to Jewish texts and traditions posed a religious and political challenge). Both Brooks and Hitchens, in one way or another, sang the praises of Greek culture and science while nearly whitewashing the negative costs of Greek military, political and cultural dominance. Hitchens, especially, claimed that the Maccabees deprived Judea of the best (science, philosophy, and reason) that the Greeks had to offer. Rabbi Michael Lerner (Tikkun Magazine), in responding to both columns, noted that he and his fellow spiritual progressives would not have rejected the strides in science and reason offered by the Greeks. I am not certain that the Maccabees totally rejected Greek culture even after they had come to power, and they certainly did not totally curtail its influence. The next 200 years of Jewish life and thought following the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees included interpretations of Judaism that reflected either a Greek/Hellenistic influence or, at least, a need to cast biblical figures (as Philo of Alexandria did with Moses) in terms that the Greco-Roman world could understand.
Lerner’s best point was that what Chanukah – and Judaism – mean to us today is what is most important. As early as 1700 years ago, the rabbis shifted Chanukah’s message from celebration of a military victory to marveling at a miracle. We see something very special in the lights of the Chanukiah that warms us more and more with each passing night. The values that Chanukah inspires in us were reflected in lists developed this past Wednesday by our 2nd-3rd Grade students (values and gifts to the world for the 8 days of Chanukah) and our 7th Graders (a “consensus” list of the fundamental values of Judaism)
Menorah/Chanukiah of Gifts to the World
2nd-3rd Grade Class taught by Rhonda Karol, Abby Heisler
and Lilah Cherim
*Love *Reduce/Recycle/Reuse *Niceness *Happiness/Hope *Peace
*Laughter *Joy *Health *Appreciation
Ten Basic Jewish Values
7th Grade Class taught by Rabbi Larry Karol, Erin Sandler, Owen Shepcaro and Andrew McDonald (Thanks to Maria Rubinstein for assisting on Wednesday)
*Monotheism *Peace * Education (including Torah study, Bar/Bat Mitzvah)
*Selflessness (Tzedakah) *Freedom *Respect (of all religions, equality)
*Responsibility *Hebrew (how Jews understand their history and each other)
*Tradition *Music (expressing emotions and feelings)
These are just some of the gifts and values that emerge from our study of the Jewish heritage and from building community together. May all of these special lights be with us in the year to come!!!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
What We're Fighting For - December 11, 2009
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
When I saw that President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech was going to be aired yesterday during the time that I normally watch a network morning show, I decided to tune in to CNN, the only network airing the ceremony. President Obama’s words, in many ways, spoke to the roots and development of our celebration of Chanukah, which first marked a military victory and, eventually, became a festival whose lights, which increase every night, would signify hope for generations to come.
As I perused a text of the speech, this passage caught my eye: “I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please; choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.”
This theme is central to the Chanukah story. King Antiochus IV, at first, tried to unite his empire under the banner of Greek customs, culture and religion through what we could call “peer pressure,” and, due to the fascination of many Jews in ancient Judea with the Greek way of life, it nearly worked. Some Jews resisted because they had a feeling that pressure would turn into coercion or even oppression. That view was proven to be correct once King Antiochus made the Temple in Jerusalem a Greek house of worship and forbade the practice of Judaism, under penalty of death. Even Jews who had become enamored with Greek customs realized that their fascination was misplaced if their Syrian Greek ruler could so easily turn to tyranny to impose his will. The peace and unity Antiochus sought was unstable and, furthermore, an illusion. The Jews who fought back against the Syrian Greeks, led by the priest Mattathias and his sons, knew what they were fighting for: “the right to speak freely or worship as they please, to choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.”
The Jews of Judea did have to fight a war to win back their religious freedom. Still, the words of Peter Yarrow’s song, “Light One Candle,” offer us a dose wisdom regarding war and peace: “Light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemaker’s time is at hand.”
It is important that, as we gaze at the lights of Chanukah, we remember what we are fighting for – freedom, hope, and peace – and that we allow these goals, shared by Jews around the world and all humankind – to unite us as we gather today on Chanukah and throughout the year!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
When I saw that President Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech was going to be aired yesterday during the time that I normally watch a network morning show, I decided to tune in to CNN, the only network airing the ceremony. President Obama’s words, in many ways, spoke to the roots and development of our celebration of Chanukah, which first marked a military victory and, eventually, became a festival whose lights, which increase every night, would signify hope for generations to come.
As I perused a text of the speech, this passage caught my eye: “I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please; choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.”
This theme is central to the Chanukah story. King Antiochus IV, at first, tried to unite his empire under the banner of Greek customs, culture and religion through what we could call “peer pressure,” and, due to the fascination of many Jews in ancient Judea with the Greek way of life, it nearly worked. Some Jews resisted because they had a feeling that pressure would turn into coercion or even oppression. That view was proven to be correct once King Antiochus made the Temple in Jerusalem a Greek house of worship and forbade the practice of Judaism, under penalty of death. Even Jews who had become enamored with Greek customs realized that their fascination was misplaced if their Syrian Greek ruler could so easily turn to tyranny to impose his will. The peace and unity Antiochus sought was unstable and, furthermore, an illusion. The Jews who fought back against the Syrian Greeks, led by the priest Mattathias and his sons, knew what they were fighting for: “the right to speak freely or worship as they please, to choose their own leaders or assemble without fear.”
The Jews of Judea did have to fight a war to win back their religious freedom. Still, the words of Peter Yarrow’s song, “Light One Candle,” offer us a dose wisdom regarding war and peace: “Light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemaker’s time is at hand.”
It is important that, as we gaze at the lights of Chanukah, we remember what we are fighting for – freedom, hope, and peace – and that we allow these goals, shared by Jews around the world and all humankind – to unite us as we gather today on Chanukah and throughout the year!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Positive Challenge December 3, 2009
In families, in congregations, and in communities, there are people who become sources of positive challenge for us. Sometimes it can be a friend or a family member. It might be an ideological ally or a person in the “loyal opposition,” where disagreement does not result in disengagement. We grow from such challenges, whether they are the result of a clash of opinions or a partnership that teaches us a new approach or perspective. In order to grow, it is best that there be an atmosphere of respect that fosters trust and acceptance even when common views are not shared.
In the Torah reading for this week, Jacob discovered that his long-lost brother Esau, his lifelong adversary, was coming to meet him with several hundred men. Of course, Jacob, at first, thought that his brother’s objective was murder or capture of his family. He sent gifts to placate Esau, sent his family across the nearby stream, and engaged in a wrestling match with a being – perhaps a man, or an angel, or Esau’s angel, or Esau himself, or an external representation of Jacob’s inner struggle to overcome his past. He won “the match,” which left him with a strained hip, and Jacob emerged with a new name, Israel, for, as the “being” told him, “for you have striven with beings divine and human and have prevailed.” Jacob/Israel then went to greet Esau, hoping for and receiving the best, as they reunited with an embrace. Esau suggested that Jacob follow him on his journey and remain together. Jacob indicated that he might consider join his brother, but he chose to go his own way instead (without letting Esau know). Jacob/Israel grew from this experience, having successfully triumphed in meeting an internal challenge that was signified on the outside by his brother Esau. Where there had been only suspicion, at least on Jacob’s part, there was now a cautious but very real respect between brothers, enough that they could leave the past behind and start anew.
In our world, there are all too many examples of growth out of a challenging time that must take place in the midst of bitter contention. We have the ability within us to keep our comments and actions constructive and positive, even when agreement may not be possible, as we realize that there are many ways of reaching our common goals and as we teach each other through sharing our respective ideas and the varying paths we have chosen. May we serve as partners for one another so that our challenges can lead to peace within ourselves and with each other.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
In the Torah reading for this week, Jacob discovered that his long-lost brother Esau, his lifelong adversary, was coming to meet him with several hundred men. Of course, Jacob, at first, thought that his brother’s objective was murder or capture of his family. He sent gifts to placate Esau, sent his family across the nearby stream, and engaged in a wrestling match with a being – perhaps a man, or an angel, or Esau’s angel, or Esau himself, or an external representation of Jacob’s inner struggle to overcome his past. He won “the match,” which left him with a strained hip, and Jacob emerged with a new name, Israel, for, as the “being” told him, “for you have striven with beings divine and human and have prevailed.” Jacob/Israel then went to greet Esau, hoping for and receiving the best, as they reunited with an embrace. Esau suggested that Jacob follow him on his journey and remain together. Jacob indicated that he might consider join his brother, but he chose to go his own way instead (without letting Esau know). Jacob/Israel grew from this experience, having successfully triumphed in meeting an internal challenge that was signified on the outside by his brother Esau. Where there had been only suspicion, at least on Jacob’s part, there was now a cautious but very real respect between brothers, enough that they could leave the past behind and start anew.
In our world, there are all too many examples of growth out of a challenging time that must take place in the midst of bitter contention. We have the ability within us to keep our comments and actions constructive and positive, even when agreement may not be possible, as we realize that there are many ways of reaching our common goals and as we teach each other through sharing our respective ideas and the varying paths we have chosen. May we serve as partners for one another so that our challenges can lead to peace within ourselves and with each other.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Larry
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