At the URJ Biennial: A Dialogue with Prime Minister Netanyahu?

At the URJ Biennial: A Dialogue with Prime Minister Netanyahu? It will be a great honor for the URJ to host Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Biennial next week, for many reasons.  Chief among them is that by his presence at our most important convention, we will be re-affirming our deep connection and commitment to the State of Israel as American Reform Jews, and that the State of Israel returns the expression back to us.  This is an important symbolic appearance for us all, and reason for celebration of our relationship.  We thank him for coming to the Biennial. At the same time, there is more than symbolism at stake in his visit to the URJ Biennial.  Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed some very strident opinions about Iran lately, and the peace negotiations with the Palestinians have been shaky.  It has clearly been important to him to try to influence public opinion by his statements, many of which have been at odds with the U.S. Administration, and with those of many American Jews and some key Jewish organizations, and one should expect that he will use the opportunity of the URJ Biennial to further try to convince his large audience of URJ listeners of his perspective. Personally, it is my hope that a respectful dialogue will be conducted with Prime Minister Netanyahu about these issues at the Biennial -- both on the interim Geneva agreement with Iran on the nuclear issue, and on the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Our URJ leadership would be right to express the opinions of the Reform movement to the Prime Minister at the Biennial in the spirit of mutual trust and exchange of ideas and values.  It would be a lost opportunity for the URJ should the Prime Minister's opinions be the only ones voiced on these subjects during his visit with us. Andy Vogel Brookline MA

for Shavu'ot - "The Greatest Teaching of the Torah"

What is the greatest teaching in the Torah?  As we approach the festival of Shavu’ot, when Jewish tradition holds the Torah  was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, (begins Tuesday night, May 14), it’s worth examining a famous disagreement between Rabbi Akiva and Shim’on ben Azzai, recorded in the Midrash and in the Talmud.

Akiva points to the verse, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18), and says, “this is a great principle of the Torah.”  But Ben Azzai, both teacher and pupil to Akiva, suggests a different verse is an even greater principle.  “This is the book of the descendants of humankind [for on the day that God created humanity, God created humans in God’s own image]” (Genesis 5:1).  [See Talmud Yerushalmi, Nedarim 9:4]:

What is the dispute between them?  Akiva’s verse requires that we treat our neighbor as ourselves, that we try to imagine how we would feel in any particular situation, and act towards others accordingly. 

But Ben Azzai is thinking beyond this.  He suggests that the concept that all people are created in the image of God is an even greater idea.  There are two points here:  First, Ben Azzai’s teaching requires sensitivity to every human being, not just one’s neighbor.  (Classically, one’s “neighbor” in Judaism was only one’s fellow Jew.)  Because everyone, not just those in your tribe or clan or ethnic group, is created in God’s image, this is a greater idea than Lev. 19.  Second, if a person were to humiliate or otherwise injure another person, doing so is an offense against God, not just “yourself” as in Leviticus.  In the Midrash’s version of this passage [see Bereshit Rabbah 24:7], a more elaborate explanation is provided by Rabbi Tanchuma: “If you act thus, know whom it is that you are humiliating: none other than the image of God that each person reflects.”

  - Rabbi Andy Vogel

See also:

http://www.on1foot.org/sourcesheet/mutual-love-and-respect-how-rabbi-akiva-and-ben-azzai-understand-ultimate-lesson-torah

Friday, April 19, 2013  -  3:00pm

Because of a continuing policy advisory in Brookline, and an order by the state emergency management agency that Brookline residents continue to remain indoors, we are cancelling tonight's Shabbat services at Temple Sinai.  We are sorry to have to do so, because we value the opportunity to come together as a community, and because tonight, our Israel Committee had invited a speaker to celebrate Yom Ha'atzma'ut, but we want to be helpful to the Brookline Police, and are concerned for the safety of our entire community.

As of now, our Shabbat morning schedule is unchanged, with services planned for 10:30 a.m., including the Bat Mitzvah ceremony for Frannie Kass, daughter of Marilyn Kass and Marty Teicher.  Unless you hear otherwise, we will hold Shabbat morning services tomorrow.  (And we wish Frannie and her family a quiet evening, and a wonderful celebration tomorrow!  Please join us.)

Most of all, we hope that everyone in our community will remain safe.  The unexpected events of this entire week, beginning with the Marathon and continuing last night until now, remind us of our vulnerability as human beings, and, ultimately, of the precious value of human life.  Our thoughts are with those who are mourning, including the relatives of those who lost their lives on Monday, and the relatives of the two police and security officers killed in the last 24 hours.  We also add our prayers for those injured on Monday, that they may be blessed with renewed strength and healing, healing of body as well as of spirit.

As Shabbat approaches, we pray for protection and safety.  The words of our prayer book guide us: "Spread over us Your shelter of peace, over all we love, over Your Jerusalem and ours."  May all that we love be safe, may we lie down in peace, and wake up renewed.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Andy Vogel

Sinai Update - Weds., April 17, 2013

Reflections on Our Jewish World – Rabbi Andy Vogel

We are all recovering in our own ways after the terrible events at Monday’s Boston Marathon. To start, I want to offer my prayer of gratitude that, as far as we know, all Temple Sinai members are accounted for as unhurt and safe.  Many of our community were running in the marathon, or cheering on family members and friends; others were overseeing medical stations, including some at the finish line, or were called into local hospitals to provide medical or psychological care once the explosions occurred.  A few of our Sinai members were at the scene and saw or heard the bombs explode.  Many others are deeply concerned about friends beyond Temple Sinai who were injured on Monday, and we offer our prayers for them.  But today, I am grateful to report that everyone in our community is physically safe.

   And yet, the stories and photos continue to be shocking and saddening.  As we continue to learn the details about the day’s horrifying events, as we learn more about who was hurt, whose life was taken, and how awful the scenes truly were, we learn about our own mortality and how fragile our lives are.  We learn about the unpredictability of life and how little control we have over life.  This is a traumatizing reality.  And yet, we also are hearing stories about the strength of the human spirit and our ability to overcome trauma.  Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav taught:  “The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid.”  Fear can paralyze us, or it can lead us off the course we envision for our lives, but we will not let it do so.  We are blessed with the qualities of perseverance – the true meaning in Judaism for the word “emunah,” often translated as “faith.”  As Jews, we acknowledge that the world is broken in many ways, but we are also a people that finds strength to keep moving forward.  

   Please also note that I am available to speak with you should you need rabbinic support; please just send me an email to set up a time to talk: rabbivogel@sinaibrookline.org.  

-       -

Rabbi Andy Vogel

April 15, 2013

Dear Temple Sinai community:

We are all shocked by today's events at the Boston Marathon, even while we continue to learn more about the situation. At this moment, I can report that, as far as we know, all Temple Sinai members who were runners in the marathon, their family members, or medical care workers in the area are all safe. Some Sinai runners who had not yet reached the finish line were escorted home and are fine, and at least one Temple Sinai member who was overseeing medical stations near the finish line has been evacuated to the Boston Common. Many are still waiting to return home, but, as of now, we can be grateful that, at least so far, all members of our community are unhurt and are safe.

We would be grateful to hear from those Sinai members who were marathon runners today, or who were near the finish line at the time of the explosions -- if you were in the area, please send an email to confirm that you are unhurt.

Meanwhile, our hearts ache for the victims of these terrible events on this day. Our thoughts and prayers turn to the them and to their families. We reach out to those who lost loved ones, and we offer them our heartfelt consolations, and we pray for those who have been injured, that they and their families will be blessed with strength.

We all need strength at a time like this. Our community will gather for a brief prayer service, an opportunity for us to offer support to one another, and to seek comfort with one another through prayer and music in a short service, tomorrow, Tuesday evening, April 16, at 5:30pm, in the Sanctuary at Temple Sinai. I hope you can join us to gather as a community tomorrow at 5:30pm. (Stay tuned for more information.)

Tonight, we ask everyone to follow the safety instructions of Gov. Patrick, to get home safely and remain home, and to be in touch with your loved ones.

May God bless us all with strength and courage, and allow us to affirm what is good in our lives and the world, as we continue to cope with today's events.

- Rabbi Andy Vogel