All in the Family



As we make our way through the book of Genesis Abraham comes to the center of the stage. We are told about his great faith, his amazing trust in an unseen and unnamed God, and his zeal to spread the message of monotheism in a world not yet ready for the truth.
While most commentators, rabbis, and teachers focus on the spiritual attainments of Abraham, I think we do our ancestors a disservice if we do not look at his story from a very human viewpoint. Abraham was a rebel and a free-thinker! To his contemporaries Abraham was positing ideas that went against the status-quo. He was teaching revolutionary ideas that countered everything that any of his listeners had been taught. We never think of Abraham in those terms- we tend to think of a kindly older man, maybe a grandfather type, who is urging people to do the right thing. We hardly ever see the real struggle that he faced as a proponent of a revolutionary new way of looking at the world. Abraham was a real hero but a hero who was little appreciated in his own time. He displayed a daring bravery to speak the truth in an age in which people had become all-too-accustomed to believing in the lies and myths of the past.
As Jews we take pride in being the descendants of Abraham. We boldly assert that we, the people of Abraham, have taught the world that there is only one God. We take pride in tracing the source of our religion back to a man who was but a single voice for truth. I would ask you to consider making another bold assumption about your “yichus” to Abraham.
If Abraham were alive today he would be considered the most politically-incorrect person alive. He would state what he believed without the fear that he would offend someone else and without the need to “qualify” his values and opinions. No, he would not try to offend other people or to detract or demean their beliefs but he would have no hesitation in standing for what he thought was right. Most of all he would never feel the need to apologize for his beliefs. If only we could have a little of his spirit now!
Very few of us will live up to that connection to Abraham. Far too many of us are afraid to say what we really think because we are afraid that it might be unpopular. The world we live in today seems to be one that discourages belief in anything- anything and everything is “fine.” You mind your business and I will take care of mine. Do realize that if you said “I am proud to be a Jew” some would accuse you of being ethnocentric or bigoted or worse. God forbid we should encounter someone who offers a value judgment concerning right and wrong. Such a person instantly becomes a pariah, a snob, a “hater.”
Abraham did make it possible for our people to be moral teachers, to teach about one God, and to teach that even God is subject to an absolute sense of morality and justice. Abraham also still challenges us by example- we fall short of that example any time that we do not speak up for our beliefs, any time we hesitate to speak because we are worried about what is “popular.” Find your voice- find your “inner Abraham.”

A Call To Heal

With this special issue of the Journal we are reminded of the many lives that have been impacted by Breast Cancer. We are reminded of stories of loss as well as stories of triumph. More and more women are now comfortable sharing their stories- the more we know the more we can join together to take steps to see that healing comes to all in need.
It is ironic that as I scan today’s news I am reminded of the inability of our leaders to reach a workable solution to the health care question- at a time in which public awareness has grown like never before we still face the same debate- how do we provide medical care for all of the people in our country. I have no magic answers but I do have faith that there is some solution that will work.
I think it would be hard to find someone who has not been impacted by the sufferings caused by Breast Cancer- all of us have family members, friends, and loved ones who have been plagued by a disease that has become all too common. This special issue of the Journal should spark a common reaction among all of us- “What can I do?” We put our faith in doctors, we try every form of treatment, and we still feel like we are not doing enough. There is nothing worse than seeing someone we love suffer and feeling powerless to help.
One thing we can all do is very tangible and will help everyone- let’s put politics aside. We already know that “business as usual” has crippled our nation. Whether you are on the right or the left you cannot ignore the truth- there has to be some way to insure (no pun intended) that all people can receive the medical treatment that they need. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the right time for all of us to focus on the needs of those who need healing. No one would disagree but no one has answered the call.
Judaism places an absolute value on every human life. You may have heard the phrase “He who saves a single life has saved the entire world.” Those words were never more meaningful than at this very moment. We now have the science and treatments to heal many diseases. We are growing closer to being able to eradicate more diseases but, at the same moment, we are locked in a battle about how to accomplish these goals. Yes, it is complicated. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it has brought our government to a total standstill. None of these facts mean that it can’t be done. What would you do to restore health to someone you love? Anything it takes? That’s what our leaders need to do.
If your life has been touched by Breast Cancer you know that it is not an abstraction- it is as real as real can be. It is the nightmare diagnosis that we all fear to hear. Let’s use what we have learned about the power of public awareness and public advocacy to a larger arena. The chances are that most of us will, at some point, need serious health care. We can’t allow that care to be beyond the reach of some of our people. Our government can’t figure out how to do this but I believe that, working together, we can.