Passover Day 1
When Moses had his experience with God at the burning bush he was reluctant to accept God's mission. Moses humbly yet defiantly said that he wasn't up to the task to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He asked God for signs and other assurances all as means of assisting him or delaying the inevitable decision. He even admited that he was "kevad peh" and "kevad lashon" - literally heavy mouthed and heavy tongued. Though commentators understand that unusual phrasing to mean that Moses stuttered, it could also mean that Moses just wasn't sufficiently motivated. Perhaps he felt that the spirit wasn't moving him and therefore he was at a loss for how to be inspired enough to be a leader.
During the March For Our Lives on Shabbat March 24 I found all the high school students to be inspirational. They had the wherewithal to speak eloquently and articulately in front of 800,000 people. Many spoke without notes and all spoke beautifully and movingly in ways that brought the crowd to a roar. One student particularly, Emma Gonzalez, was powerful. By standing silently with tears streaming down her face for the amount of time it took for the gunman to shoot in the high school, she effectively silenced the people. In rapt attention the audience became moved by Emma's power and presence.
As we move forward not just on the issue of gun control but on all threats to social justice issues how will we respond? Will we be like Moses and be heavy mouthed or will be like the students and feel immediately moved and inspired?
Passover Day 2
The events on Friday March 30 along Israel's border with Gaza were troubling indeed. I will be among the first to declare support for the State of Israel and its right to defend itself and protect its citizens and its borders. What we read in the paper and on line can be very misleading and Hamas is a master of manipulating the media to its advantage - which it did in that protest.
However as an ardent Zionist, one who wants to see Israel survive as a democracy, I also want to stand up and criticize Israel for issues that I find troubling.
A basic Jewish principle is to love the stranger "for we were strangers in the land of Egypt". At our core we Jews have always fought for the rights of the poor and disadvantaged and we have always welcomed the stranger into our community.
Over 35,000 Sudanese and Eritreans escaped civil war, famine and drought in their countries by walking through their land, through Egypt and the Sinai, and crossed illegally into Israel. Their mission was to seek safety and asylum. However, Israel wants to deport them because it views them as migrant workers, not asylum seekers. Most credible observers know that these refugees are legitimate asylum seekers and are now urging the Israeli government to reverse its decision. Hundreds of thousands have been protesting in Israel in support of the Africans and many in America have as well.
We must do all we can to convince Israel to live up to our Jewish mandate and not only welcome the strangers, but to also be a light unto the nations - to be an example of how we offer refuge and shelter.
When Moses had his experience with God at the burning bush he was reluctant to accept God's mission. Moses humbly yet defiantly said that he wasn't up to the task to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He asked God for signs and other assurances all as means of assisting him or delaying the inevitable decision. He even admited that he was "kevad peh" and "kevad lashon" - literally heavy mouthed and heavy tongued. Though commentators understand that unusual phrasing to mean that Moses stuttered, it could also mean that Moses just wasn't sufficiently motivated. Perhaps he felt that the spirit wasn't moving him and therefore he was at a loss for how to be inspired enough to be a leader.
During the March For Our Lives on Shabbat March 24 I found all the high school students to be inspirational. They had the wherewithal to speak eloquently and articulately in front of 800,000 people. Many spoke without notes and all spoke beautifully and movingly in ways that brought the crowd to a roar. One student particularly, Emma Gonzalez, was powerful. By standing silently with tears streaming down her face for the amount of time it took for the gunman to shoot in the high school, she effectively silenced the people. In rapt attention the audience became moved by Emma's power and presence.
As we move forward not just on the issue of gun control but on all threats to social justice issues how will we respond? Will we be like Moses and be heavy mouthed or will be like the students and feel immediately moved and inspired?
Passover Day 2
The events on Friday March 30 along Israel's border with Gaza were troubling indeed. I will be among the first to declare support for the State of Israel and its right to defend itself and protect its citizens and its borders. What we read in the paper and on line can be very misleading and Hamas is a master of manipulating the media to its advantage - which it did in that protest.
However as an ardent Zionist, one who wants to see Israel survive as a democracy, I also want to stand up and criticize Israel for issues that I find troubling.
A basic Jewish principle is to love the stranger "for we were strangers in the land of Egypt". At our core we Jews have always fought for the rights of the poor and disadvantaged and we have always welcomed the stranger into our community.
Over 35,000 Sudanese and Eritreans escaped civil war, famine and drought in their countries by walking through their land, through Egypt and the Sinai, and crossed illegally into Israel. Their mission was to seek safety and asylum. However, Israel wants to deport them because it views them as migrant workers, not asylum seekers. Most credible observers know that these refugees are legitimate asylum seekers and are now urging the Israeli government to reverse its decision. Hundreds of thousands have been protesting in Israel in support of the Africans and many in America have as well.
We must do all we can to convince Israel to live up to our Jewish mandate and not only welcome the strangers, but to also be a light unto the nations - to be an example of how we offer refuge and shelter.
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