Take me home to the truths I believe in

During the month of May this year, the celebrations of Lag Ba’omer, Yom Y’rushalayim/Jerusalem Day and Shavuot offer us opportunities to come together as a community and explore our Jewish identity and further our dedication to our heritage. All of these observances highlight our ties to Eretz Yisraeil (Land) and Am Yisraeil (People) and our commitment to learning about how our tradition brings land, people, and faith together.
Last year, we held a “Shavuot Evening Seder” at Temple Israel in Dover, discussing several classic texts from the Jewish heritage. Our conversation yielded this listing of values that flow from those passages from Jewish tradition:
• Share what you have with those in need by supporting food pantries and other institutions that offer crucial assistance.
• Give to others in any way you can, including time, talents and spirit!
• Be happy with what you have.
• Be a good parent and/or teacher to members of the next generation!
• Protect the earth’s resources through recycling and other actions and strategies.
• Being members of a community means showing empathy and respect, making outsiders feel like insiders, finding a touch of God in each other, and engendering fellowship, unity, acceptance, love, reverence, and mutual support.
• Truly listen to people who seek your support and respond thoughtfully to their concerns.
• Send a portion of leftover food from public events to shelters, children’s homes, and other similar agencies.
• Be present for people in moments of joy and at times of sorrow.
• Making peace between people can include constructively dealing with conflicts at work or at home in a way that can bring resolution.
• Volunteer for agencies and causes that will enable you to live your values.
One of my favorite quotes that embodies central Jewish teachings comes from Psalm 85, verses 10-14, a passage quoted by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin when he spoke to the Knesset in the presence of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in November, 1977: "Mercy and truth shall meet, justice and peace join in a kiss. Then shall truth sprout up from the earth and justice look down from heaven. As well, the Eternal will bestow goodness upon us and our land will give forth its produce. Justice will go forth before the Eternal, making a path for the footsteps of the divine."
My own interpretation of those words yielded these lyrics (in a song honoring Israel's 61st anniversary of statehood) based on the entire message of Psalm 85: “Take me home again to the truths I believe in, take me home again to the peace I once knew. Let mercy and justice come together as I walk along their way!”
Our celebrations in May – or at any time of year – can inspire us to walk the path of justice and peace, to act with mercy and kindness, and to explore the truths that can lead us to promise and hope. May we continue, individually and together, always strive to live the values we continue to teach, study and prize!