To The New Year!

How will you remember 2010? It’s usually hard to remember one year from another- the effect of time seems to be to melt all of our memories together into that jumbled recollection that leaves us saying “I remember that but I’m not sure when it happened.” I don’t think any of us will be saying that about 2010! It has been a year to remember – economic crisis that touched everyone, continued polarization of our citizens- politics, policies, and division have taken their tolls on our land. It has been a tough year for everyone- we are more uncertain than ever about what the future will bring. I am not claiming that it has been a year without any good news at all but I think this year will stay in our memories as a time when we said to each other “things can only get better.”


I hope that those words will be the most enduring memory of 2010. It has been a year in which many of us, our families, and our friends have faced real problems and challenges The Jewish community has faced a hard year also- downsizing has become the key phrase in all of our institutions. That will have an impact of Jewish life for years to come. Many of our memories of 2010 may be things that we wish we could forget! That seems like a very sad statement to make but if you are like me you are ready to say goodbye to 2010 with a heartfelt “good riddance.”

As a Jew I am constantly amazed by the history of our people. No matter what history has tossed in our way, we are the people that declared “it can only get better” over and over. We have never given up or given in… the future has always held opportunity to make things better. I wish we had some magic way of sharing that optimism and hope with our fellow Americans. That fact is that, as bad as this past year has been for many of us, we have seen people respond in very heroic ways. Even in these tough times people continue to help each other. In this age of “less is more” and “no frills” we have been reawakened to the values that are most important. That is a very good sign. The lessons that we have learned have been very bitter but we have come out on the other side with a renewed sense of what really matters.

I will be very happy to welcome the new year as a new chance to make things better- to see people struggle less, to worry less, to get back to living with joy. I don’t know how quickly that can happen but I do know that if we reflect on what we have learned in 2010 we can welcome the future rather than dread it.

The Genie is Out of the Bottle


Most of us don’t really understand how the internet works. How is it that your kids or grandchildren can send you pictures or letters from anywhere in the world and (like magic) you see them on your screen! Does it work like TV? Well, maybe like a car- I don’t really know how it works either but when I turn the key it takes me where I’m going. For all of us who don’t really understand how those things work one thing is certain- the internet does work and it is a Genie that will never go back in the bottle! Yes, the internet does great things for us- human beings have never had access to so much information before. The only thing I worry about is how long it will take us to understand the difference between information and wisdom.

The flurry of stories about Wiki leaks is multiplying faster than I can read them. The details are pretty simple although the issues are much more complex. Does anyone have the right to steal secrets and then publish them? What pertains to governments also pertains to people. If we assert that the internet should not be censored then there is really nothing you can do if I decide to uncover and make public anything I want, like your credit card numbers or your social security number or anything else I choose.

Mr. Assange (the Wiki leaks guy) thinks he is doing the world a favor by revealing America’s “dirty little secrets.” In truth he is committing a crime against every American citizen (which, I believe, is closer to his intent.)His intentions have become even clearer as he states his threats against us- should he be arrested or killed there will be a flood of information that will be released. This is his “insurance policy.”

Does the age of the Internet mean that cyber-spying or cyber-terrorism should go unpunished and unanswered for the sake of “freedom-of-information?” I think not. We are now engaged in a war of wills- who will submit first? Those who have acted against Wiki leaks have seen their own websites attacked (MasterCard, PayPal.) Threats have been made to insure that these cyber-pirates stay in business. In one sense we are powerless- the internet has a life of its own somewhere out there in the flow of electric information- but behind that borderless flow of information are real people who choose to act as they do and should be held responsible. The Genie is out of the bottle but maybe a jail cell would be just the right size!

Don’t Underestimate the Power of One Candle




As we gather throughout the nights of Hanukkah one ritual draws our attention: the lighting of the Hanukiyah, the Hanukkah menorah. Each night we add a candle until we reach the last night and have all eight candles burning. In essence each day of the festival is represented by one candle, a rather meager representative by today’s standards!

Have you ever seen one of those space photos taken of the earth at night? What we see is an entire planet that seems aglow by electricity. Major urban areas can be identified by the big “blob” of light that can be seen even from space. In this age in which our planet is aglow with artificial light it might seem that one small candle doesn’t really mean much. Perhaps it doesn’t if the only measure we use is the amount of light that is added to the darkness of a winter night. In fact that one small candle adds much to the winter night – it adds the light of community. A sense of community in numbers- that one light that I burn adds to the light that you kindle. Then we can multiply that by the number of Jewish homes in which small solitary candles begin to add up to a massive number- candles are lit across the globe. No, you might not be able to see them from space ,but you can certainly see them as you pass proud Jewish homes in which a great miracle is being recalled and celebrated.

More importantly I think we might underestimate how important one candle can be if we failed to consider the impact of this very easy ritual. Our people have a long history, one that has defied the normal expectations of historians and the common life cycles of nations. Through the millennia nations have come and gone, empires have been won and lost; wars have brought destruction to cultures and entire peoples. Yet, through it all, our people survived. The occasion of Hanukkah begs that we ask the question. An often quoted verse is “Not by power, but by the spirit.” Those few words say volumes about our people and even more about the significance of “one little candle.” We have survived because of the power of our rituals. We have survived because of those special acts that unite us as a people, unite us as a community, and unite us to a past that we never experienced directly but is a part of our “sacred present.” It is the power of this very “small” ritual that ties us to the past and the future.

Often the word “ritual” is considered to be something bad- an empty act that is simply done because someone said you have to do it. Rituals are considered just empty actions but they are not- they are the symbolic actions that focus our minds and bodies on spiritual truths. Lighting one candle may shed a tiny bit of light but that same candle can light the spirit of an entire people.

Reprinted from The Jewish Journal, 11/24,2010

Readers of the Jewish Journal are very lucky. They are served by a Jewish newspaper that contains all the important Jewish news of South Florida. We should be proud of our paper and the staff that continues to keep the Jewish community informed about news, events, and accomplishments in our small part of the Jewish world. A few months ago the paper also launched its official website, “floridajewishjournal.com.” The website insures that you can read current news anytime you wish. The website also offers several features that are not included in print. Among these features is my “Ask the Rabbi” column. While this feature is usually only offered on line, I wanted to share a recent entry with you because I feel it is important for us, as supporters of Israel, to read. It is the kind of question that you might get in your workplace or from friends. I hope my answer will help you think about the issues involved. The following exchange appears on the homepage of The Jewish Journal and appears by clicking the “Ask the Rabbi” column.

Dear Rabbi Thompson,
I am a Christian Catholic living in Canada. I need to have better understanding of how Israel is conducting its disputes with the Palestinians. This past few years has caused my opinions of Israel to become negative. It seems we only get news of the negative Israel is doing. I understand the need of Israel to protect itself and how in the past the Palestinians were not recognizing Israel's right to exist, and, really why should I care. But I do. I really pray for peace in the Mideast and I also need to change my opinion on how I feel Israel has gone about protecting itself.
My problem is that I had a prejudice regarding the Jewish people because of what was happening and I want to change my attitude. What can you suggest I do in order to become a more forgiving person?



Regards,
John
Winnipeg, Manitoba



Dear John,

First let me say that I don’t think you need to be a more forgiving person- you only need to be a better informed person. Needing forgiveness implies that you have done something wrong. In my opinion you have not- you realize that your opinion of Israel has been shaped by a media that is overwhelmingly anti-Israel. One has only to look at the ridiculous resolutions coming from the UN to see the double standard that is applied to Israel. I take great pride in knowing that Israel is one of the most compassionate nations in the world. After the earthquake in Haiti Israel was first on the scene with field hospitals. Israel sends doctors around the globe and, yes, Israel gives Palestinian patients the best medical care available.

I am glad that you pray for peace in the Middle East. I hope you will do some reading. History will reveal to you that Israel has been fighting for its very existence since the moment of its birth. Terrorists continue to send missiles into civilian areas almost daily. Israel must live with the constant threat of war and terror attacks. While the Palestinian Authority continues to air its demand for peace it does nothing to curb violence. For those of us living in North America it is impossible to understand that fully.

The media often says that Israel is heavy handed in its reactions to the Palestinian threats. The papers and news shows love nothing more than to show armed Israeli soldiers staring down “poor Palestinian children who are “only” throwing rocks.” Ask yourself this as a Christian and as a human being- which culture is it that teaches their children to carry bombs and blow themselves up to kill others? The answer to that question should tell you something about the enemy that Israel faces each day.

Has Israel ever made mistakes? Of course they have. But do these mistakes justify an endless war of terror? John, I don’t want you to forgive Israel, I want you to understand her.

Thank you for your prayers I would be glad to join you in prayer any day!

Rabbi Thompson

Let’s talk!


You might have forgotten to celebrate a big occasion! The UN recently observed “International Statistics Day.” Yes, before you know it Hallmark will come out with a “Happy Statistics Day” greeting card. I must say, it seems we already have enough statistics to keep us busy- I don’t know if we need a special day to celebrate the “too much information” age! In looking at the information I did, however, see a startling statistic that makes me worry about the future of human communication. The UN studied the current state to telecommunications and found that 1.6 trillion text messages shoot around this world every year. Let me break down the math for you: that number means that every second of every day there are 200,000 text messages being sent. Texting now has its own special language of letters and abbreviations that makes the punch-those-little-letters messages go even faster.

While it is amazing that we can communicate at the speed of light, I worry that maybe we get a little too used to shortcuts and the ambiguities of those short little messages. OMG, will we forget how to talk to each other! (For those of you not up on your texting language, OMG means Oh My God!) The technology we have today makes it possible to communicate in ways never dreamed of before. Remember when the goal was “reach out and touch someone?” Now we can reach out and touch the whole world in a nano-second! The only problem is that it makes me wonder how good we are at communicating anything of value.

People now joke about “snail mail” – we remember how it was waiting a week to get a letter or document you needed. E-mail was a revolution for business and personal use; no more waiting, no more missed deliveries! Texting is a revolution too but I wonder if it’s a revolution for the better – there is something I miss about actually hearing a person’s voice! A text message, while it may be fast, is a rather “flat” medium. Was that text supposed to be funny? Sarcastic? Angry? Hmmm…. Can’t really tell!

Yes, instant communication is great but sometimes I really need to hear a person’s voice to understand what he is saying. Just by listening you can tell if you are hearing a frown or a smile! 200,000 invisible messages flying through the air every second, just makes me wonder how many of them are really saying anything at all!

Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?

These days that is a question we all hear more frequently. Although the question is more likely to be “can you spare a buck?” Yes even those guys who stand at the traffic lights have to figure in inflation. You don’t have to go too far in any direction to find those who are in need of help. It might be those we call “homeless” or it might be those who are about to become homeless due to the economy. I guess its all relative- I recently read about a famous entertainer who was losing her home and is 50 million dollars in debt. It seems that even those who we think are rich are actually broke! I think it is safe to say that we are all a little worried; I heard a report on the radio recently that 53% of Americans are worried about making their next rent or mortgage payment. These are not good signs and point to something that we need to be serious about. Our country, our citizens, our neighbors, and yes we ourselves are in trouble. We need to concentrate on getting ourselves and our country back on track. We can’t sustain a society that is built on worry and mistrust.

I can’t think of anything more important that at this moment than restoring faith and confidence in our future. I would suggest that all of our national and individual efforts be focused on achieving that goal until we can say that we are “out of the woods.” With that in mind, I was really surprised by a recent news piece. NASA has just announced that it plans to spend 10 billion dollars in the next twenty years to send astronauts on a one-way mission to Mars where they will establish a self-sustaining colony.

Don’t get me wrong- I love science and there is nothing that fascinates me more than outer space. To me the idea of a huge universe waiting to be explored is an inspiration. I believe that it is a “religious” experience to better understand just how large the universe is- to me it contains a deep message about humanity. On a clear night I am the first one to take out my telescope and look up- I did it as a child and I still find it just as awesome! The difference is that now that I am a little older I begin to contemplate how much it costs.

It is great to think that we could achieve a Mars mission, it is astonishing to think that we could establish a colony for research, but I have to ask: “Where is the money coming from, how about we establish a self-sustaining colony right here in Earth, say, maybe in the United States?” I support science and research but I think our little blue planet is in a little too much trouble right now to look to the stars. 10 billion dollars makes for a lot of dimes and dollars that could do a lot of good right here on Earth.

From The Jewish Journal

Terrorism’s Saddest Victims

It is a far cry from Disneyland. It is a theme park for children but there are no rides, there are no cartoon characters in costume, there are no magic shows to amuse. (There are, of course, vendors who sell hats and T-shirts for the children to take home!) This theme park is in Beirut. It is called “Landmark for the Resistance.” This “park” was built at a cost of four million dollars by Hezbollah (with money from Iran, no doubt.) This park has no attractions other than destroyed Israeli military equipment. This park celebrates the war Hezbollah has waged against Israel. Children can be led through the displays of tanks, mortar shells, and machine guns where they can play out being soldiers in the war on Israel. It’s a sort of Wanna-Be city for little terrorists in training. I think all of us have trouble understanding how a parent could wish this for a child but, believe it or not, since the “Landmark for the Resistance” opened in May there have been over a half a million visitors.
In the last few weeks we have seen and heard many comments about the current peace negotiations. The Jewish community has been divided about Israel- some saying Israel needs to be more flexible, some saying that only a “hard-line” approach will accomplish anything. The government of Israel itself has been divided on the issue of the settlement freeze. It is clear that we all want peace we differ only on how to get it! If anyone has the answer to that please call me! In the meantime let’s take a lesson from the “landmark.” There are forces in the Arab world that have no interest in peace and it is folly to think that they do. Terrorists do not want peace, they want victory. We need to learn that lesson.
Hezbollah is a group that raises children to be fodder in the war on Israel. Taking your child on a visit to a terror park is one more step in indoctrinating an entire generation to commit terror for the sake of holy-war. Children are taught that the only victory is to destroy Israel. When children should be playing games they are being taught to glorify killing and their own death. A people willing to do this to their children is not a people looking for a peaceful solution. These children may be the saddest victims of terrorism and they may prove to be the generation that brings Israel’s saddest days.

What the Rabbi Learned from the Neo-Nazis


Ok. Admit it. With a title like that you just have to read on! It’s true; this week I learned several life lessons from a Polish couple who will be featured in a CNN documentary about Poles who have rediscovered their Jewish roots. Of special interest is a couple known as Pawel and Ola. They were childhood sweethearts and grew up to marry. As young adults they became Neo-Nazi skinhead “nationalists.” Ola speaks of their lives then as follows “I was 100% nationalist… back then we were skinheads, it was all about white power… that Jews were the biggest plague and worst evil in the world…”
So far it sounds like the typical hatred that is re-emerging across Europe. Sad but true, and I can’t tell you how many times I have heard survivors speak of Polish hatred for Jews. So far nothing remarkable here. Well Pawel and Ola’s story took a remarkable twist when they discovered that they were both actually Jews! Records in the Jewish Historical Institute showed that their ancestors had hidden their Jewish identities to escape the Holocaust. Imagine what a shocker that was for a nice middle class skinhead couple! So how does this twisted tale of hate and secrets end? Now both Pawel and Ola are 33 and live as Jews and are active members in their orthodox synagogue.
So what has this rabbi learned from this very strange tale? First, God has a heck of a sense of humor! Well he must if he made us, clearly the most curious species on the planet. Even animals learn from their mistakes but it seems like we never do! In the course of a mere sixty years we can get burned by the same fires that consumed us in the past. Next, the story reminds us that, sometimes, we are not who we think we are and there may be someone or something out there that knows us better than we know ourselves. There is always a divide between the part we play and who we are behind the mask.
Then this little fact- if you hate others you really only end up hating yourself. No matter what you claim to be the “worst evil” in someone you hate, it already exists within you. The only way you can respond to that discovery is to realize that none of us are without the “worst evil.” The question is what you do about it. Any flaw you see in your fellow human being is only a reflection of the one within you.
I also learned that it’s true what they say about the Jewish soul- a Jew can never stray so far away from God that he can’t find his way back. An important lesson for all of us when we are feeling so lost that we wonder if we remember the way home. Lastly, this strange story affirms a truth that anyone who grew up in New York knows, see… I told you everybody is Jewish!
I hope that God reads my columns… maybe if he reads this he will get a really good laugh out of it and feel a little more patient the next time we really mess up!

A Sukkot Reminder

This week we begin the seven day period of Sukkot. The holiday has several obvious symbols that we all recognize- the Sukkah, a temporary hut to recall the days of the desert wandering, the Lulav and Etrog, symbols that tie the holiday to the fall harvest and to the Land of Israel. If you attend services these are symbols that you can’t avoid. There are other symbols of the holiday that are not so obvious. Perhaps the most important is found within the Torah reading. The Rabbis called Sukkot “the holiday.” There was something so special about it that it was “the” holiday unlike any other. I suggest we look for the reason in the Torah reading containing the narrative of a series of sacrifices that were only brought during Sukkot.
The Book of Numbers commands that 70 oxen be sacrificed. Each one of the oxen stood for one of the peoples of the world. (In Rabbinic politics the world consisted of seventy nations.) As a people we were to offer a sacrifice to God for every nation of the world. This has to strike the modern reader as strange: why would we pray for the other nations? Surely, some of them could be our enemies, yet God commands that we sacrifice and pray on their behalf. To the Rabbis this was the seed of Jewish universalism. After spending Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur praying for ourselves and for the Jewish people God reminds us that we need to pray for all human beings.
Today we live in a world filled with tension and hatred. (So did our ancestors.) Our own country is more divided than ever it seems- we need to heal from all of the polarizing elements that plague us today. Can you think of a better time to pray on behalf of those that we might tend to dismiss as “enemies,” as “them,” or as “those people.” It is not an easy thing to do. It tends to challenge human behavior but that is exactly what the Rabbis wanted us to learn from Sukkot- at every turn, even on most sacred of days, we need to look at the rest of humanity and remind ourselves that we are all in this together.
Observe the lessons of Sukkot: visit a Sukkah and remember how very delicate the world is. Hold the lulav and etrog and remember the beauty that exists in this world. Pray for the well-being of others and hope they pray for yours!

For Yom Kippur

Ideas are Fireproof

One of the challenges of the print media is that you always have to work ahead—printing and distribution takes time. So I find myself writing about Yom Kippur on Erev Rosh HaShannah to reflect on events that may or may not have happened by the time you read this! Boy, this can get confusing, so what’s all the fuss? As I write today (Erev Rosh HaShannah) the big news is “will he or won’t he?” This question refers to the planned 9/11 Koran burning in Gainesville. By the time Yom Kippur comes we will know what happened but either way, I think the issue teaches us something about ourselves.
Erev Yom Kippur Jews will gather to hear Kol Nidrei. No matter where it takes place the service is pretty much the same and so is the congregation: a mix of people who represent the community. There will be Jews who pray every day, there will be Jews who haven’t prayed since last Yom Kippur, and there will even be Jews who won’t even be praying because they are still trying to figure out why they are even there! My point is that there is something that draws us together on Yom Kippur that may be beyond our ability to explain. The music, the mood, the desire to reconnect or to connect for the first time- all of these and more draw us to the idea of spending Yom Kippur in shul. But what in the world does this have to do with burning Korans to protest 9/11?
Let me first say that I do not support this “protest.” It is hateful and serves no purpose. Those of you who read my columns regularly know that I spoke out very early on about the Ground Zero mosque but the actions planned in Gainesville are not the way to react to that or any other situation, nor does it honor the victims of 9/11. There is a bigger issue that we should also learn from Jewish history: you can burn books but you can’t burn ideas.
Look at our history: The church burned sacred Jewish books in the streets of Europe. Torah scrolls, prayer books, manuscripts, and other Jewish literature were thrown into the flames to wipe out Judaism. Centuries later the Nazis would also try to destroy us and they started with the burning of our books. What did it achieve? Think about it when you are at services on Yom Kippur—the bonfires of hate could not touch what was most critical to our existence- our faith, our ideas, and our beliefs. To paraphrase a midrash “you can burn the scroll but you can’t burn the letters.”
The burning of the Koran will only produce more acts of hatred. No matter what you do to an object you can’t change people on the inside unless you change their ideas. Our books have been burned over and over but no enemy has ever been able to assault what we believe. Maybe that is the enduring idea of Yom Kippur.

Some Rosh HaShannah Thoughts

It's OK to fail!!


No, I am not making excuses. I am just asking you to think about things a little differently as we celebrate the new year. There are so many “sub- themes” to the High Holiday season—we speak of the passing of time, the concepts of repentance and forgiveness, and the acknowledgement that our lives really are in God’s hands. The holidays are also about self-evaluation, a task for which we usually make too little time or effort. As we begin the new year I share with you some thoughts about our need for such evaluations.
I have spent the last thirty years studying and teaching about Judaism but I still find it as exciting as ever. Not many people get to say that because after a certain time you can get bored with any job! So why am I still excited? I think it is because I am constantly amazed, intrigued, and inspired by our tradition and the insights that it has about God and man. Our tradition never ceases to surprise me—just when I thought I knew something I have to start thinking about it all over again—so too with the concepts of success and failure.
Our ancient teachers had an amazing gift of sympathy for the human condition- if religion preaches ideas about how people are to be “perfect” what do you say when they fall short? How can any religion (ours included) try to teach and instill moral perfection in the face of human imperfection? (Hence the art of the sermon- a message made to remind you that you aren’t perfect. Maybe the Jewish twist to that idea is… you aren’t perfect yet.) The important part of the message is that you are not free to stop trying! I think that idea informs Judaism’s concept of man. A human being may be imperfect but what makes us human is our determination to keep trying.
So is it a mitzvah to fail? No, not at all. We live in a society that is driven by the idea of success. It might be expressed by the job you have, or the money you make, or the car you drive. Our society is also driven by the idea that failure is bad, if you fail you are second rate, if you fail you must be lazy, if you fail you are “bad.” At Rosh HaShannah we should really confront the ideas of success and failure. In the realm of religion it is about moral perfection (or at least meager progress.) In the realm of our own self-evaluation it is about renewing our resolve to keep trying. Yes, it’s OK to fail, welcome to the human race. It’s not OK to stop trying. As we stand before God we don’t offer excuses (failure) we only confess and acknowledge our humanity. If we do that there is only one place to go—back to the drawing board for another try. Have a sweet year and try your hardest!

Rosh HaShannah: Some Personal Observations

The High Holiday season is a hard time for rabbis. Understandably, it is the busiest time of the year: after a lazy, quiet summer you have to hit the ground running! As the holidays approach it is time to make Rosh HaShannah “happen” for everyone else. Sermons, logistics, planning, honors, participation, and more must all be done so that services flow smoothly. All the “behind the scenes” work has to be completed so that all is ready when the crowds begin to gather. You can’t say “come back later.” It is a time during which the rabbi gets “one chance” to touch people, to get the message across, to set the stage for the year ahead, and to create a spiritual framework for the season.
Through all of this the role of the rabbi is to make sure that everyone gets to reconnect with the traditions of Judaism. This is all well and good. It is, after all, the reason that I and others become rabbis . Although it is a big task I always feel that it is a great privilege to stand before a congregation and have the opportunity to speak about our traditions. It is an honor to lead others in prayer and one by which I am always humbled.
With all of these tasks to do at Rosh HaShannah it is often hard for me to make a spiritual time for myself. I liken it to cooking for a crowd but the cook never gets to eats! Allow me to share some of my personal thoughts about the holidays that keep me going (and, yes, sneaking a snack for myself.)
I believe that to live as a Jew you must live with passion- passion for our traditions, passion for life, and passion for the beliefs that make you who you are. That’s a very big order—the daily grind of life often steals our passions. Our daily struggles rob our energy, our time, and our passions. The High Holidays serve as a time to step back from the daily grind to rediscover and recharge those passions! It is often impossible to live in the world of the spirit—the holidays are like a mini vacation for the soul. That fact alone makes Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur the very best time to reconnect to your Jewish heritage and to yourself.
Although I might have the chance to speak to a thousand people over the course of the holidays I can only do that if I take the time to speak to myself first. I can only remind others about those things that I remember myself.

Back On Track: Rosh HaShannah

There is a ritual that we observe on the first day of Rosh HaShannah called Tashlich. The word means “casting away.” It is a part of the celebration of the new year and our preparation for Yom Kippur. (We perform Tashlich the second day if the first day was Shabbat.) The custom observed by most communities is to gather at a spot where there is free flowing water (pretty easy in Florida) and, after several Biblical verses are read, we cast bread into the water to symbolize the “casting away of our sins.”
There are communities that don’t include “the bread” but make Tashlich an oral declaration only. However one does it, it is clear that Tashlich is a symbol of what we hope to achieve during the High Holiday period—to rid ourselves of all those traits that we wish we could “throw away,” and retain the parts of our personalities that are the noblest!
If only it was that easy! We often make plans to change our behavior, our attitudes, stop bad habits, and improve ourselves. Of course we know how that usually turns out—we have great goals but most often fall short of what we planned. How great would it be if getting rid of all our bad habits or problems were as easy as throwing some stale bread into the water!! Wow – the world could be a better place pretty quickly! From experience we all know that the only thing that is really that easy is to make another mistake! Things don’t change by just wishing for them to be different.
With this said, should we despair? Should we give up on bettering ourselves by using the excuse that we “will probably just fail again?” One enduring message of this holiday season is an answer to that question: No, it is not easy to change, it is not easy to break old habits, and it is not easy to change one’s behavior. Often it is a slow process with ups and downs, with success and with failure. Nothing comes as easy as Tashlich—but by performing this one small ritual we are reminded of the message of Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur—getting back on track is always possible.
As we head into the holiday season it is not too early to start our spiritual preparation – we may dismiss rituals like Tashlich as “silly” – a simple act that really doesn’t change anything. That’s true on one level but the larger truth is that sometimes such rituals can serve as a reminder of what is possible. It’s been a very tough year for all Americans so a little reminder about “what is still possible” couldn’t hurt anyone!

Will Israel be Forced to do America’s Dirty Work?

Looks can be deceiving. Relatively calm water can hide great dangers below the surface. While that might be a good weather forecast for hurricane season, it is an even more accurate forecast for conditions in Israel. We have been focused on American problems for months and, since the flotilla confrontation, the news from Israel has not been that alarming. I remind you, however, looks are deceiving. The American press has been under-reporting events in the Middle East to such an extent that we have been lulled into thinking that things are “normal” (What ever that would mean for Israel.) The truth is that tensions are growing every day. Last week Israeli and Lebanese soldiers exchanged fire with deaths on both sides. Recent rocket attacks from Gaza have struck Israel again. Arabs leaders have gathered to urge restraint and ask Turkey to serve as a messenger between Israel and Arab states. Some signs seem to indicate that Turkey may no longer fill that role.
Of course there remains the most dangerous state in the Middle East—Iran. While other Arab states seem to sense that an all out war would be bad for everyone, we have to face the ugly reality that Iran is just waiting for the ability to turn Israel into a mushroom cloud. Likewise there are forces in the Arab world waiting to destabilize Saudi Arabia, poison its oil, and, in that way, bring America to her knees. It is also frightening that our administration is doing little to discourage any of these scenarios. Both to placate the Arab world and the American Left our administration shows little serious intent to confront Iran.
T hese factors seem to be putting all the conditions in play for a real catastrophe- even Time magazine has recently described the current situation as the most dangerous set of circumstances in years despite the “relative calm.” Is this the calm before the storm? Only time will tell but I, for one, will be holding my breath for a quiet holiday season! Netanyahu has already remarked that any attack will be met with immediate and full response. That is code for: should war come, it will be full force and fast. Israel has learned that it can’t afford the luxury of hesitation.
Just one last observation: I think very few of us have been happy with the current support that America gives Israel. Too ambivalent. There has been a recent development you may not have heard about- House Resolution 1553, sponsored by Representative Louie Gohmert (R, Texas) and 46 other US Representatives. Resolution 1553 both condemns Iran’s threats against America and Israel and “supports using all means” for Israel to deal with that threat. This resolution is the “green light” for Israel to strike. While that may be Israel’s only choice at some point, I only hope that this will not amount to Israel having to do America’s “dirty work” at a time in which every decision can ignite a regional conflict. Pray for Israel!

Cordoba House Revisited but not Reconsidered
Several weeks ago I wrote an op-ed piece titled “Chutzpah Redefined” in which I argued against the building of a 13 story mosque/community center adjacent to Ground Zero, the former site of the World Trade Center. I stand by my comments made then and, based upon the feedback I received; I believe I gave voice to what many of my readers believe. You can find the original piece on my blog “yaakovthompson.blogspot.com.”This week I revisit the issue in answer to a recent op-ed in the Miami Herald.
On July 21 Leonard Pitts, a columnist for the Herald, argued against what I had said and quoted passages from my original piece. I have met Mr. Pitts a couple of times and respect his work but I must respond to his criticisms of my position. Mr. Pitts accuses me of opposing the building and “condemning” its supporter. He writes “… the rabbi still demands New York tells them No. In doing so, he blithely legitimizes the idea that tribe is destiny, that you and I are each individually answerable for the crimes of those who merely look like, talk like, or pray like, us.”

To answer Mr. Pitts, my comments did not “condemn “any one. I did not condemn any individual but, rather , what I consider to be a bad idea. I do not consider Muslims to be a “tribe” with corporate guilt- I made it clear that the supporters of Cordoba House are not terrorists—I did not accuse them of anything. My argument is that the building of a mosque at Ground Zero is more “chutzpadik” than common sense can explain. Why create a confrontation that is unnecessary? Mr. Pitts wrote that the new mosque would be “unavoidably painful and provocative.” What? It is avoidable… just don’t build it at Ground Zero! Why would one advocate for an action that is, by his own words, “painful and provocative.” (To quote a phrase, “Just say No!”) In a rhetorical question to me Pitts challenges, “aren’t Muslims Americans too?” Yes they are. But as Americans can we not ask of them some sensitivity and awareness that the planned action would be (avoidably) painful?
Mr . Pitts wrote that he fears “a nation where a rabbi can blandly condemn someone, not for his crimes but for the crimes of his tribesmen. Speaking of tribesmen Mr. Pitts, what does it matter if I am a rabbi or a plumber? Am I not an American either? I am not faulting a tribe as I said before nor am I defending my “tribe.” I am merely asking, as an American, why should we allow/support an action that is simply in-your-face- upsetting to so many? Do we have to build the mosque just to prove what a good, gracious, and loving people we are? I, for one, think that America and her people have demonstrated that many times.
Mr. Pitts concluded his column with the following, “So yes, putting that building in that place might be painful… but it would be a reminder of the very values the terrorists sought to kill.” I don’t think we need a mosque at Ground Zero to affirm American values. I would appeal to the national values, of healing and reconciliation. How can Cordoba House, if built at the proposed site, contribute to those goals?

Anybody Home?

I can’t believe it… Congress finally did something right! My regular readers will know that a statement like that is unusual for me so let me explain: After the hypocritical outrage of the world community following Israel’s flotilla “incident” stories appeared about these reactions. We do not need to recount the self-serving lies of the UN or the President’s total refusal to stand with Israel and affirm her right to self-defense. It was all one more well orchestrated deception to condemn Israel for actions that were legal and moral to anyone willing to look at the facts (and the video!) Nonetheless it became one more chance for Israel’s enemies to appeal for help against the “terrible aggressor.” That was nothing new, the only new element was the lack of support from America. I would like to place that failure on the White House where it belongs. There is one more element to the story that has been tragically under-reported by the media- it has remained so far “below the radar” that it seems many people are not even hearing about it.
Congress has taken a definitive stand in support of Israel by writing a letter to President Obama stating that it is “in our national interest to support Israel at a moment when Israel faces multiple threats from Hamas in Gaza, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the current regime in Iran.” This letter was signed by 87 senators. Four days earlier the House sent a similar letter signed by 320 members of the House of Representatives. The House letter included a call to the President to use the veto power of the US in the UN Security Council to block “one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions.”
These numbers indicate that at least three-fourths of American law-makers recognize Israel’s right to protect herself and her on-going importance to American security. That is an important number—it should remind us that most Americans understand the realities of the situation even if they seem to be too hard for the White House to grasp.
Congress has gone on record to support Israel and to call attention to the fact that the flotilla and its sponsor, the IHH, are nothing more than the puppets of organizations that the US government has already identified as terrorist groups. Still the White House prefers to be silent. I applaud and thank the Senate and the House for their support. I am sorry that the story is not getting more coverage. I thank these lawmakers who have sent a “special delivery” message to the White House. I only wonder one thing…. when the mailman came to deliver was anyone home?

Redefining Chutzpah

Remember when chutzpah was a Jewish attribute? Remember when chutzpah was a bad thing as in “how could you have the chutzpah to say such a thing?” I think chutzpah used to be a good thing also- it explains the “nerve” of the Jewish spirit to survive despite all the obstacles that we have faced as a people. Well, I think chutzpah has now been refined by a Muslim named Feisal Abdul Rauf, an Imam from New York. Rauf is the spiritual leader of a group of Muslims who have taken chutzpah to a new level! He and his group are behind the Cordoba House Project, a proposal to build a 13 story Islamic center at ground zero. The development would include a mosque, an auditorium, a swimming pool, restaurant, and bookstore. To put it in simple language- this group wants to build a mosque on the ground on which 3000 Americans died in the World Trade Center! If that isn’t chutzpah I don’t know what is!
As I have been following this story there is only one thing that shocks me more than the project. Mayor Bloomberg has publicly supported the building of Cordoba House. How can the mayor of New York City have the chutzpah to say such a thing? I would like to hear him explain his actions to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. How can any American endorse covering the scars of 9/11 by the building of an Islamic outreach center? If I didn’t know better I would think that this is just a bad joke.
While I realize that those behind Cordoba House have no connection to terrorism, I do wonder what happened to common sense. How could Mayor Bloomberg be so short sighted in this insult to the victims of 9/11? If this is about “forgiveness,” or “plurism,” or some misguided attempt to show how very inclusive our society can be than I must miss the point. To me this is a shameless, suicidal betrayal of the American people. Beyond this I am angered by the limitless chutzpah of anyone who would even think to suggest this proposal. There comes a time to say no. There comes a time to stand up for yourself. I believe that the building of an Islamic center at ground zero should be seen as an insult to the American people.
While we discuss the new limits of chutzpah I would ask you to consider one new way to express chutzpah. How about a little chutzpah for Americans? How about a little self-respect? How about a little common sense? Americans died at ground zero. Americans continue to be threatened by a hostile minority within the world Muslim community. Yes, I ask you to remember that not all Muslims are terrorists- most are wonderful people who should be free to practice their religion in peace and security. But the other side of that argument is that Americans also deserve peace and security. To me the building of a mosque at ground zero will be a distasteful, insensitive, chutzpadik reminder of the murders of innocent Americans. It is time to say no to Cordoba House.

Oil and Water




As I write I am listening to the latest radio report about the oil spill- it has, unfortunately, become a daily ritual. The latest bad news is that the oil is spreading and may touch Florida’s shores for the first time today. I am sure that all of you share my frustration and bewilderment—why is this still going on? I don’t really want to watch more videos of the oil gushing into the water a mile below the gulf’s surface; I just want to hear that someone has found the answer. The proportions of this accident are so huge I don’t think any of us can really grasp it. The worst part for me is that all I can do is stand by and watch- no matter how much I would like to help there is nothing I can do. It reminds me of that very powerless feeling I get when I know that there is a hurricane coming and all any of us can do is watch, wait, and hope for the best. That sense of “powerlessness” is the worst feeling of all- when you know there is something wrong but you can’t do a single thing to stop or prevent it. We always like to feel that we are “in control” – when events remind us that we are actually very seldom in control the world becomes a hostile, threatening place. We don’t like unpredictable. We don’t like random. We humans seem to prefer a world in which we can makes plans and have some idea of what tomorrow will bring.

I think there is, in this circumstance, a certain irony to the old saying that “water and oil don’t mix.” It reminds us that even the forces of nature sometimes do battle with each other and we stand on the sidelines as observers. That sounds so simple but it is such a profound truth to grasp. Our daily lives are lived in the microcosm of our daily needs – how easy it is to forget that there is a huge world out there! How easy to forget that this huge world runs by its own rules, not by ours!

Faced with these uncertainties there are things that, nonetheless, always remain in our control. First and foremost is our ability to choose how we will react and respond to a world that does not always run the way we would like it to. We can run or we can fight. We can despair or we can hope. How we react to the unexpected is our choice as human beings. As human beings we can never be satisfied merely to observe- every observation should be a call to action. Even when the forces of nature threaten it is our ability to respond to and for each other that can lift humanity above the power of nature itself. Gushing oil is a blind force- it does not choose to flow or stop, to run onto land or into water, to cause harm or provide benefit.

While the world around us works by its own rules, our choices are always our own. While this is a lesson to be learned it comes at a very dear price. Stay tuned- make the right choices- be ready to help.

For Shavuot

Well Worth the Trip!




How often do you plan to go somewhere or plan to attend an event and find yourself wondering if it’s “worth the bother?” That’s what we call a schlep- time and energy to do something about which we aren’t sure. We often feel that way about the trivial things in our lives, the “small” journeys. It is even harder when we start a long journey with mixed feelings. It does, however, happen. We might need to change jobs, or relocate, or make a major decision about our life. We just can’t help but wonder “is it worth it?” or “is it the right thing to do?” That terrible middle-of-the-night feeling that fills us with doubt no matter what we decide. It is a part of human nature. We always tend to wonder “what if…” If it’s any consolation we can at least be assured that we share these little doubts with everyone else. We can also be comforted by remembering that even a luke warm decision is better than no decision at all!

As we read the chapters of the history of our people that began with the exodus we see over and over again our ancestors asked “is it worth it?” How many times did they confront Moses complaining that they would have been better off if he would have left them alone and let them stay in Egypt? In retrospect we can’t imagine how they could have felt that way. It is hard to imagine that anyone would prefer slavery to freedom. I think the truth is that, in those moments of doubt, our ancestors were voicing their fear of the unknown. Better the “security” of slavery than the wide open, empty, uncertain, wilderness that stood between them and the land of promise.

Why was Moses so sure but the people were constantly riddled with doubt? Moses had his eye not on the journey but on the destination- as a leader he knew the trip would be long and hard but he never doubted that it was worth it. To Moses the trip was not just about getting to Israel but rather the trek to Sinai. On Shavuot, May 19th and 20th, we celebrate the greatest journey that any nation has ever made. Leaving slavery, our ancestors arrived at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. Their doubts would persist but now they would be a nation- a people reshaped by a Divine law. Was the trip worth it? I think Jewish history holds the evidence- thousands of years later we are here still fulfilling the mitzvot, still participating as partners to bring holiness to a world terribly in need. We are still the living link to that unique conversation between man and God. We have given the world a code that has never been superseded- I would say the trip has been more than worth it!

Our journey through history is still a schlep! It is never easy to walk in the footsteps of Sinai. The journey of the Jewish people continues to take us into unknown territory, through hostile places, through the valley of doubts. But keep your eyes upward- on Shavuot we celebrate the destination. Each time we remember who we are and why we are, we stand at Sinai again.

Who Can You Trust?

This week I share some recent poll results that makes me ask, “who can I trust?” An investigation by the Pew Research Center yielded some poll numbers that should make all of us take note. The poll noted: “a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government- a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.” With that said I can’t think of much good news. It seems that we, as a nation, have lost confidence in those whom we have elevated to leadership. The Pew poll reveals some shocking news- only 22 percent of American citizens say that they trust the government to do the right thing “just about always or most of the time.” While most of us might react “I could have told you that!” it is a very sad commentary on the current situation. According to this poll we have to conclude that 88 percent of Americans don’t trust the government to do “the right thing.” What should we make of these numbers?

The first thing we have to conclude is simple- there is a wide gap between what the government does and what Americans want. No matter what your political ideas are, it is hard to refute these numbers- we have become a nation that lives in distrust. Those of us who believe that the government should represent the people have become disappointed with our leadership. As a side issue I think that one other fact emerges- we do not trust those who should be watching out for us. We do not believe the constant “spin” that we hear on issues. We do not assume that what we hear or read is true. As sad as this sounds we have a real crisis of trust. It is good to be skeptical but it is not good to live with the knowledge that the vast majority of Americans have no expectation of our leaders “doing the right thing.”

With this said I answer my own question—who can you trust? Trust yourself! It takes a lot of work but trust yourself! Read, think, question! Remember when self reliance was a value that people treasured? Remember when people were willing to be responsible for their actions rather than waiting to be “bailed out?” Remember when debate used to be described as “healthy?” Remember when people used to say “if it’s in the paper it must be true?” Remember when people thought for themselves? All of these things now seem like just “memories.” Sometimes it seems we have become too lazy to think for ourselves but I think it’s time to get “back in shape.”

There are so many issues facing America at this moment: terrorism, the economy, energy, deficit spending, immigration, and the list goes on. Every day the news is just too much to absorb! We are overloaded with challenges and overloaded with people telling us what we should do about them! Take a deep breath…. decide what you think …. trust your own opinion. If we can’t be a nation that trusts its government let’s try to become a nation of people who trust themselves.

A Jewish Mulligan


I don’t play golf but I have heard about this strange term, “mulligan.” Having researched the term fully (thanks Google,) I learned that history cites three men named Mulligan who have been credited for creating this now-famous do-over rule. If your first shot is not so great you get a second chance. It seems that having left the realm of sports jargon nowadays any kind of second chance can be called (for better or worse) a mulligan. You know that we Jews never like to be left out so, yes, there actually is a Jewish mulligan!

The Jewish mulligan began in the wilderness as our ancestors celebrated their second Passover. There were those among the Israelites who had been unable to make the Passover sacrifice. They appeared before Moses and asked if there was something they could do. Taking advice from God, Moses instituted Pesach Sheni, meaning “second Passover.” The law was that one month after Passover, the 14th day of Iyar, would be the day on which anyone could make the Passover offering if they were unable to do so in Nisan. (This year Pesach Sheni is on April 28th.) Today, although there is no sacrifice to “make up,” many people have the custom of eating a piece of matza as a reminder of this ancient law.

The Jewish mulligan gave everyone who needed it a do-over to be a part of celebrating Passover and the exodus from slavery to freedom. While in ancient times this law applied only to Passover I think we need to be reminded that sometimes life is one big mulligan. Yes, it is true that sometimes we only get one chance at certain things, but there are other times when life grants us the luxury of a do-over to make up for something that we missed. We really only lose that second chance if we fail to take it. Think about it… let your mind wander… if I had another chance… a second shot. Makes for a pretty interesting proposition doesn’t it? As I mentioned, a lot of times life never gives us a mulligan but I am very happy to report that a play by play analysis of Judaism shows that life is full of them!

I can’t tell you how often I hear people say, “If I would have learned Hebrew,”” or “if I had the chance to do this or that.” Guess what… you still have the chance. On the field of Jewish living you are never too old to be a contender. The law of Pesach Sheni is our reminder- if you missed the mark the first time around use your mulligan! I’ll even volunteer to carry your clubs (well, at least your Siddur.) Passover may come and go but there is something worth celebrating every day as a Jew.

Make your own Pesach Sheni- do a Mitzvah you never did before. Don’t ever think that it is too late to try again. A Jewish mulligan? Who would have guessed!

Told You So!

A year and a half ago people looked at me like I was crazy. My own daughter was among those who were angry at me for voicing an opinion that I had at the time. All this uproar was caused by several statements that I had made concerning my feelings about the upcoming election. Having been interviewed by this paper and others as well as TV and during what I thought would be a non-political radio broadcast, I repeated my belief that one of the reasons that I would not support candidate Obama was my mistrust of his future policies concerning Israel. People told me that concern was ridiculous: “democrats always help Israel,” “the whole Jewish community supports Obama, it will be OK.”


None of those arguments changed my mind. Now I am sorry that my concerns were well founded. Events last week prove that our President is much more concerned in courting the favor of the Arab world than in the security of Israel or the simple recognition that Israel is America’s only ally in the Middle East. Obama slips Netanyahu in the back door to avoid pictures, tries to tell him how to run his country (sorry threats don’t work like they do in American politics,) and then leaves him sitting like a scolded school boy while the President goes to eat. I think Ed Koch said it best in an editorial that he wrote last week. Koch noted that Obama treated Bibi like a third-world dictator, while he treats third world dictators like honored heads of state.

I am saddened by the widening rift in our country. The “great uniter” is tearing our country apart. While many hail this time as a “rebirth” of a new, better America, I believe the short presidency of Obama has already done more damage that we can even measure. That is an American problem that we will deal with in the next election. That will be the debate that we will hold until the next election. What I hope is that all Americans and, in particular, all Jews will agree on right now is our need to support Israel. Democrat or Republican, you must affirm that Israel is America’s ally for peace not, as the administration has said, the road block to peace.

Obama’s shameful break of trust comes at the worst possible time. It weakens Israel and emboldens terrorists everywhere. All this at a time when Israel may be the only one to stand up to Iran. Now we know that if Israel is forced to act they can’t count on our President for support. That is the greatest insult of all. If you love Israel I ask you to think about these events and share your feelings with others.

Finding Answer?

Looking for Answers




I don’t understand it. How can some Americans be so filled with self-hatred and anger? I refer specifically to the case of “Jihad Jane.” Colleen LaRose looks like just about anyone you would pass on the street or wait behind in a line at your local store. Somehow she decided to become an enemy of our country and to offer her very life to kill others for the sake of Jihad. I understand that she was a convert to Islam and obviously has deep religious feelings. How did those feeling turn into the desire to kill others? I don’t understand it—as a Jew I want to live for my faith not die for it. I want to live to teach and help, to learn and share, to use the time that I have on this earth as a chance to make it a better place not to destroy it. I firmly believe most people (regardless of their religion) feel the same. I guess that it why it remains so hard for us to understand this obscene twisting of faith into the praise of martyrdom and the call to kill others.

For me it is doubly inexplicable that an American can feel this way. I know that our country is not perfect. I know that we have made mistakes and that our democracy is still a work in progress, but I also know that this is the greatest country in the world. We are the most generous. We are always the first to help others. We are always the first to fight for those who have no one to protect them. Yes, all in all, I am proud to be an American and am not at all apologetic about it. We may not be perfect but we are the best society to ever exist on this planet and I believe it will be the models that we have produced that will serve to point the way to that time when a society will finally “get it all right.” Should that ever happen it will in no small part be due to the example set by America.

So how is it that an American could be convinced that we are the “worst” – that our country should be attacked, innocent lives taken, our society torn apart by the sword of “holy war?” I can but offer the following: We often take what we have for granted and, thereby, belittle it. We often choose to dwell on what we do not have rather than what we do have. We often tend to forget that most of the world would be happy to have the freedoms that we squander. Sometimes we start to believe the rhetoric of those who hate us. I believe that Colleen LaRose thinks this way. She does not understand or appreciate what it means to be an American. I am not even sure she understands what it means to be human. To be human you must feel a common humanity with others. You can’t feel that when you are plotting murder.

What can we do? I make one small suggestion: Let’s not forget to remind ourselves of who we are. As Americans we can serve to bring light to this world even in these moments when there is so much darkness. Our society is not perfect but we have not given up on the ideal of perfection. Such perfection would be a moment in which every person has freedom, justice, and opportunity. Yes, it is a big dream but that’s why it’s called the “American dream.” We are the first people to dream so boldly. “Jihad Jane” is what we look like when you stop dreaming.

Tamarac Community Center Photo Exhibit

Please stop by at the Tamarac Community Center, 8601 Commercial Blvd, during the month of March. My photos will be on show for the month.

Looking Ahead to Pesach

Why is this night different?

On Monday evening, March 29th, we will begin the holiday of Passover. It is a unique opportunity to bring the realities and treasures of our tradition into your home. I can’t think of another holiday that is so based in the home and in the family unit. It is one holiday on which the synagogue takes second place to the individual home. While we come together in the synagogue for prayer, it is the individual Seder that really tells the story of Passover and reminds us that we are connected not only to every other home in which Passover is observed but to every generation that has come before us.
Through a series of questions and answers scripted to be meaningful to all ages, the Hagadah leads us through a reenactment of Yetziat Mitzraim, the exodus. As hard as we work preparing for Passover, the cleaning, cooking, and planning become anti-climactic as we reach the moment that everyone is seated around the table to begin a “back-to-the-future” journey through Jewish history. If you think of the Seder as a play then it is every one of us who becomes the starring actor- we all have lead roles to play in the retelling of the history of our people. This retelling is not just for the sake of telling “an old story that we all know,” but a chance to be reminded that we are a part of a community that has brought hope and faith to this world for thousands of years. This begs the question of just how we did this. How did we survive and flourish under the most impossible of conditions? How did we maintain an identity and spiritual message in a world that changed over the course of history? How did we beat all odds and become “the eternal people?”
In part we have survived by creating multiple institutions to insure that our children are educated and involved in Jewish life; we have youth programs and camps to teach Jewish values. We have social, cultural, and philanthropic organizations to promote our heritage that do an amazing job of bringing our community together. Unfortunately we are now in a situation that is unprecedented- many of our institutions are struggling to survive, the economy have taken its toll on our institutions, and those of us in leadership roles are faced with the challenge of creating a new vision of the Jewish future that we will create on the other side of the current crisis.
At this Season of Freedom I offer one insight that is not new but deserves repeating. The abiding message of Passover is that Jewish life begins at home! As our institutions are revamped and reshaped for the future, it will be the Jewish home and the lessons and priorities taught there that will give shape to the future. Our leaders are not created in a vacuum, nor are their passion and commitment created by institutions. Jewish leaders are Jews who have grown up in homes that were passionate and committed.
As you sit at your Seder take that time to look around at your friends and family? Are you helping to ignite their love of Judaism? Are you providing a role model for some future Jewish leader? The Seder may seem as though it is all about the Jewish past—the reality may be that it is all about the Jewish future!

Sun-Sentinel, 2/7/10 click to see full size

Article from Sun Sentinel- Click to see full size

Low Tech Security May Be Best

Eye to Eye

Wouldn’t you know it! Once again Israel comes up with a break-thru technology! Forget about the cell phone, the computer, and the advances in medical treatments. What is of interest to us right now is much more pressing—airport security. Since the attempt to blow up the Christmas day flight and the subsequent political finger pointing we have been reminded that it only takes one mistake to bring catastrophe. The security scrutiny that has followed has been even more discouraging because the more we look the more flaws we find in the system that we thought was keeping us safe. Even the “no-fly list” seems to work too slowly as evidenced this past week when an individual on the list (this time because of illness) boarded a plane with no problem.
With all this renewed concern for airport safety one of the many reports that I heard stayed in my mind and actually contains a lesson for all of us. One reporter wonders why the obvious flaws in our way of doing things are not found in Israeli security efforts. When asked why El Al has such a good security record an Israeli spokesman gave a very simple answer. He said that Israeli security agents do one thing that Americans omit- when people come to the gate and security inspection the Israeli agents make sure to look them in the eye to “see” their intent.
Reflecting on this simple method the reporter noted that on his last flight the TSA agent looked at his belongings, looked at his documents (to the extreme of examining his driver’s license with a jeweler’s loop,) and searched his carry-on. The TSA agent never looked at him though- he was focused on the property and never looked at the person. In retrospect we see how useless this approach can be- remember all the murderers of 911 had valid documents. Sometimes you do need to look at the person!
It seems strange to us to depend on such a low-tech method. We spend millions of dollars to build machines that do more and more sophisticated imaging. Perhaps you have heard about the new full body X-ray that literally produces a picture of you as if you were naked- while an image of that resolution can certainly guard against a lot of threats it still can’t see into the eyes of a terrorist. I guess we should be reminded that no matter how amazing the machines are that we build, they pale in comparison to the human mind that created them. That’s a very good lesson to remember—in this age of e-mail, text messages, twitter, blogs, and more there is still nothing that tells you more about what a person really means that the tone of their voice. The same is true of the human eyes—they are still the portals to the soul. Who is your friend and who is your enemy? You need to look eye to eye to be really sure. Low-tech but reliable!

One Nation...... Indivisible?

Like many of our basic institutions, the Pledge of Allegiance only seems to draw our attention when there is controversy. We have all witnessed the changes in our society in the last generation. More and more our public “rituals” are scrutinized for the sake of political correctness. This faulty theory seems to be that “inclusiveness” is better than commitment and that we should not express any feeling that might offend someone else. Hence, dozens of lawsuits have been brought that insure that our public life is stripped of any association with anything that looks or sounds like a belief in something! I understand that this is the consequence of freedom- a person does not have to do something (like recite the Pledge of Allegiance) just because other people want to do so. The most recent objection to the Pledge has been that it mentions God—an offense to atheists.
Today I argue on behalf of the Pledge because it contains a word that we, as a nation, need to hear now more than ever… indivisible. The Pledge has undergone changes in the past. First penned as a recitation for a student assembly in 1892, the most recent change was in 1954 when the words “under God” were added. In every version, including the first draft, the word “indivisible” has been included. Perhaps this was still an issue less than 30 years after the Civil War. Perhaps people needed to be reminded that families had fought each other over this very principle. Now tragically I think we need to revisit that word and the idea it represents. As Lincoln said “We are now engaged in a great battle…;” I am not predicting that we are on the verge of a civil war but we are engaged in a battle in which the only victory can be to make the word “indivisible” the battle cry of both sides.
If you are like me you watch the news every day and ask “when will this all stop?” The fight over health care, the fighting over the budget, the deficient, the right, the left, blue dogs. These are all conflicts over our different visions for the future. Whatever side you are on you must affirm that this is the democratic process for better or worse. I accept that but what I can’t accept is the divisiveness that these public debates are causing. Every issue becomes “us and them” without the reminder of the “we.” There is a war going on- it is the war of words and the war of politics. It is a war that we all will lose because each day we stray further and further away from the idea that this is one country… indivisible.
We are too quickly losing sight of the things that unite us, we are being buried alive in the flood of rhetoric, attack, counterattack, and (maybe worst of all) over analysis. Take the time to consider these words that express a vision for our nation over 100 years ago… one nation, under God, indivisible.

No Presumption of Innocence

It was with regret, disbelief, and bewilderment that I listened to the announcement of the Attorney General. As he explained that the 911 terrorists would be tried in a civil court and that this would show the world the “power of the American judicial system,” I failed to understand the purpose of this trial. There are so many cogent reasons not to do this that it is hard to know where to start. I reject the idea that these men (I use the term loosely) have “civil rights.” They are not citizens of our country, they are not white-collar criminals, they are terrorists. They are soldiers in an army without uniforms. They came here to kill us- it is that simple. So why should you and I spend millions of dollars on this trial (we will, don’t doubt it, it’s called tax money)? Why should the citizens of New York City and New York State carry an even bigger burden? Why should we give these men an open stage and limitless air time to preach hate and murder?
All in all I fail to understand what will be accomplished by this trial- we will waste millions of dollars just to listen to the defendants put America on trial. We will be the villains, we will be the terrorists. I have no doubt that the weak-minded among us will end up apologizing to these killers because we are “the bad guys.” Yes, only in America! This stage show for hatred will be paid for by you and me so that our administration can claim some kind of moral victory. It will be a hollow victory. It is an empty gesture that only shows our hesitancy to protect ourselves and our own self-defeating policies. Is there no common sense left in Washington?
I understand that we can’t appear to have no rule of law. I also understand that there is military law which has now been rejected. All of this has to be viewed by what is perhaps the boldest act of hypocrisy ever; when questioned about the trial members of the government have stated (no, they have promised) that the defendants will be found guilty! If this is the promised outcome- again I ask, why must we suffer through this trial?
Please understand that there is a fact here that should guide our thinking and our judgment. It is a premise of American law that you are innocent until proven guilty. It is one of the things that make our system better than any judicial system that ever existed. But what should we do when there is no presumption of innocence? These men have confessed their crimes with pride and arrogance. There is no need to prove that they are guilty, so why put on the show? We have gone too far in our quest for justice – we try the victims and protect the criminal.
It is time that we learn that justice is a two way street. When there is no possible presumption of guilt what purpose does a trial serve? Think about it.

Sunrise Forum, 1/27/10- Click to see full size

Let's Rethink Government

Democracy for Sale

As of late I have been very worried about this country. Like many of you I am concerned about the direction we are taking. All the recent talk about those who have a new vision for this country has left me very fearful. Socialism, government ownership, and big government spending are not the answers to our woes. The last couple of weeks have, however, made me see that there is indeed hope for us – I don’t know why people are worried about socialism. Recent events have shown that the current administration and the congress are confirmed capitalist! The recent vote on health care shows that we are, more than ever, a capitalist country. After all, when you can buy as many votes as you need to pass a law, how can you worry about socialism? I am not an economist but I know an open market runs on supply and demand. That must be true because the senators who held out got more money than anyone else. I guess when every vote counts the value goes up! Rather ironic that money paved the way for a set of laws that will, if left unchecked, move us closer to the failed social systems of Europe. I guess money can even buy the workers’ utopia!
At the end of the day I think we should all be embarrassed by our leaders. Hundreds of millions of dollars were promised to those who pledged their votes at the eleventh hour. It should make us all angry. We see that bribery is a part of political business, and deals are made that border on the illegal. This is all done for the sake of reforms that, according to polls, do not even have the support of a majority of citizens. There is something very wrong here. I guess that is just the way things work in the new vision of America. Since I want to be a good American I guess I get a seat on the “change train.”
That being said I have come up with my own strategy to support our country. We all know that mid-terms elections are being held this year. So to show what a good American (and supporter of capitalism) I am), I have decided to put my vote up for sale just like they do in Washington. So here is my official notice: My vote is now for sale to the highest bidder- I don’t care what party or policy you support. Just show me the money and you can be sure that I will cast my vote for you. As long as you spread a little subsidy my way you can count on me. Of course it would be nice if you also gave something to my friends, and my kids, and maybe a new house, and maybe college money for my grandchildren and maybe a nice no-show job for me during my golden years. Would it be too much to ask if I could also be exempt from income tax? That’s all I ask, not much for something as precious as my vote.
So that’s my new policy to help our country. Am I a great citizen or what! Remember, it’s not bribery- it’s just democracy in action. Now I have only one more decision to implement this crucial contribution to the American way- should I sell my vote on E-bay or Craig’s list?

Created Equal- a New Biblical Study

Created Equal, Dr. Joshua Berman, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Having earned a doctorate in Biblical studies I have read a lot of books about the Bible. One of the things that I learned along the way is that you are often better off reading the Bible itself! Scholarly books can tend to be very dry and too specialized to be of any interest or value to anyone but the “experts.” Unfortunately, every academic field is like that as we tend to produce studies that are more and more specialized. With that said, Dr. Berman’s book is more than a breath of fresh air—it is a windstorm of fresh ideas that will interest the general reader. Moreover, it presents a fresh and very important way for us to look at the history of our people. Perhaps most importantly, while this book discusses Biblical society and politics it is a book that demonstrates just how very much we need to hear the message of the Bible for the twenty-first century.
In Created Equal Berman uses his broad knowledge of the Bible and Ancient Near Eastern studies to demonstrate that along with the Bible’s radical theology (monotheism) there existed a radical view of humanity- that all men are equal. (yes, the usual caveat, women are not included nor are slaves or minors.) That caveat aside, the Bible presents a world view in which all people are created in the image of the Divine. It creates a plan for a society in which all people have an equal economic basis and equal value. Berman makes a cogent case for suggesting that Biblical Israel was to be a classless society.
When entering the world of politics Berman looks at other near eastern societies. He documents the view of other societies in which the king reigned by divine rule. The citizens existed for the sake of the king who represented the gods or (as in Egypt) actually was worshipped as a god. This meant that the citizen existed for the sake of the state. All his efforts, his very body and soul, were the king’s property. In contrast, the Israelites worshiped no king- in fact the first experiment in kingship with Saul was a terrible disaster. Even with the rise of David the king is nothing more than a leader who can be openly chastised when needed. More than this when Solomon would inherit the throne the vast majority of the kingdom would turn their backs to him and the nation that David had forged would become the split kingdoms of Israel and Judah. By today’s standards these may sound like small things but in their historical setting they were of monumental importance. In ancient Israel all men were created equal by the act of God’s creation- their lives were to be equal by their ability to care for and rule themselves. Even those who fell short of this goal were to be helped “back to their feet” according to the social theory of the Bible.
Again, the critic would say that this “equality” is an illusion because it did not embrace woman or children, but I remind you that as recent as the founding of this country equality was a relative term. Even the founding fathers of this country some four thousand years later would have, in our eyes, a very limited view of equality. What remains for us to appreciate is that Berman’s short and easily read study gives us a whole new insight into the history of our faith and culture. People were no longer to be the “mules” of the state but the full partners in a creative process.
I can’t imagine a time in which a study such as Created Equal could speak with more authority to our present moment. We still debate social theory. We still are in the process of trying to create a society based on equality. The current social and political debates are still revolving around some basic questions that we have yet to answer. Created Equal is certainly an affirmation of the Jewish worldview- the worth of the individual can never be compromised. Neither societies nor governments exist for their own sake- they exist as the common will of the individual and for the sake of the individual who is created in God’s image as we all are.

Conquering Fear

Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain Time, by Rabbi Harold Kushner, A.A. Knopf, New York, NY, 2009.
Reviewed by Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Thompson
In his new book Rabbi Harold Kushner confronts an age old human problem with which man still struggles in the twenty first century: the fear of uncertainty. While we live in a time in which technology makes our lives more comfortable than ever, we, like those before us, live in a time in which there is little that we can take for granted. Today’s “sure thing” can still become a bad decision. We can predict the weather but remain helpless in the face of nature. We have better medical care than ever but still worry that illness may strike us. More profoundly, Kushner’s monograph reminds us that it can take very little to shake our faith in the future. Should that happen we are destined to live with the worst disease that can strike the human heart- deep personal fear of what tomorrow may bring.
While “fear” may be a rather nebulous “boogeyman,” the author reminds us that some of our fears are unfounded and irrational. These can be dealt with by a simple dose of logic. After all, air travel really is safer than car travel, natural disasters are actually “rare” in their occurrence, and sometimes we are just afraid of being afraid. There are, however, some real fears that we all share. Some are specific to this moment. Terrorism is a fear that we, as Americans, have never had to face before. It is the twenty first century version of the fear of the dark. The fear of the unknown that threatens us without warning- we just can’t see it coming. We conquer this fear when we go on with our daily lives, while we continue to travel, while we reaffirm that, in the end, evil will consume itself.
Moving to fears that touch us more intimately, Kushner notes that many of us may fear change. Now, more than any time in history, the world moves faster than we can fathom- invoking the now rather mild image of “future shock,” he notes that many of us are suspicious and fearful of new technologies. The new possibilities for good make us worry about the new possibilities for evil. To live boldly is to embrace and recognize change. We are comfortable with the present moment but to live as if nothing changes is not realistic. None of us can function at our best when we feel the ground under us in constant motion – but we can boldly claim those things that are unchanging: the human need for mentoring, parenting, and love.
Writing just last year, Kushner also reflects on the economy, corporate downsizing, and the fear of job loss. He reminds us that some of these fears are larger than life itself because we sometimes confuse our jobs, our economic worth, with our human worth. To lose a job is not to lose one’s identity or one’s humanity. In fact, he poses, it might be a new chance to rediscover one’s worth. Living with courage means seeing past the grief and anger of loss. It means having a vision of who you will be when you emerge on the other side.
As a Jew I find Kushner’s work to be a great resource. In very human terms it reminds me that “living boldly” is a mitzvah. God intends for us to live with courage not with fear. Over and over again our sacred literature affirms that life is a process that unfolds between the polarities of human experience. We all live between moments of hope and moments of despair, between moments in which we feel connected to every other life in the universe and moments in which we feel desperately alone. In every circumstance it is within our power to conquer fear, to choose hope, and to create a future as we envision it to be.