Jewish Experience? We all Make Our Own...

Recently, I came across an excellent piece in the Jewish Forward on how we are all ultimately responsible for creating our own Jewish experiences and community. 

ForwardBlog/jewish-experience-you-got-to-make-your-own/

The main point that Joanne Seiff makes is that what each of us do as individuals -- in our own Jewish communities -- is what ultimately determines the character of that community.

Truer words were never spoken.

As a rabbi, I am incredible fortunate to be serving a synagogue Congregation Beth Shalom - Atlanta, GA that really understands and lives that idea every day. We have learned as Seiff writes that: "Finding a Jewish community and home does not happen on occasional high holidays, or when you have emergency kaddish minyan needs."

We who serve the community have always known that real Jewish communal life is what occurs day in and day out, and from one Shabbat to the next.  It's how all of us -- not just rabbis or staff -- care for each other in times of distress, and how we celebrate with one another during our simchas.  It's how we make the community a priority in our own lives, and part of the regular rhythm of our existence.

Our shuls, and in fact our entire Jewish community, will only "feel like home" when we make the effort to fully engage and immerse ourselves in its structure and dealings.

As Seiff wrote: "Put long-term effort into it and maybe you’ll be amazed by the results."

The Crying Need for Jewish Unity and Religious Pluralism at the Kotel

Shortly we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Our tradition teaches us that every Jew was in attendance for this magnificent, historic event -- including all who ever lived in the past, and all those yet to be born in the future.

The image is indeed a very touching one. We were all present at Sinai, and the entire Jewish people stood together as one.  The whole Jewish people standing together as agudah achat, one unified group has always conveyed a beautiful, inspirational lesson for us to emulate in every generation.

Yet sadly, that was not the scene at the Kotel this past Rosh Hodesh. Over five-hundred women came together to peacefully pray and read words of Torah together at a service organized every month by the group Neshot HaKotel, or Women of the Wall.  This time they had even more obstacles to overcome than usual.  

In a groundbreaking ruling, the Jerusalem District Court upheld an earlier decision that women who wear tallitot at the Kotel plaza are not contravening “local custom” or causing a public disturbance, and therefore should not be arrested -- as they had been in the past. The issue of equal prayer rights at the Kotel has become more prominent recently because of the frequent arrests of women participating in these special services held each month on Rosh Hodesh -- which has long traditionally been considered a special holiday for women in Judaism.

During the last Rosh Hodesh service at the Kotel, the scene was chaotic as a large police presence tried to keep the the protesters and women daveners separated.  Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) women had gathered in large numbers to fill the women's section in an attempt to prevent Women of the Wall from holding their monthly service.  Meanwhile Haredi men and children hurled stones and insults in the direction of these women, simply trying to gather in  prayer. Absolutely appalling.

I, like many of you have long supported Women of the Wall and their efforts on behalf of religious pluralism in Israel.  Yet when I expressed that support in the comments section of Jpost.com I was greeted with the typical barrage of delegitimizers, and those who deplore any expression of Judaism other than their own.

One such criticism is that these women are not committed to authentic Jewish practice. But let me say it clearly. WOW's actions are not at all contrary to halacha, (Jewish law) but haredim throwing rocks at people clearly is a grave sin in Judaism. There is no comparison. Halacha is dynamic, and there has never been only one authoritative interpretation of Jewish law.  Our Sages have taught us that there are shivim panim laTorah (seventy faces to the Torah) and many modern Jews who support WOW are also living according to Torah. So those who say WOW and their supporters don't accept the Torah are completely misguided. 

The Kotel belongs to all Jews; not just the haredim, not just the Orthodox, and not just Conservative or Reform either.  And while ethical and civil behavior should be expected of all Jews in all places – that is especially true in a sacred place such as the Kotel.

Others object saying that this is none of our business, it's a complicated issue, and that the sensitivities in Israel are different than they are here in America. I couldn't disagree more. This is not at all complicated.  I have davened at the Kotel many times over the years, and twenty years ago I could lead an egalitarian Kabbalat Shabbat service in the Kotel plaza without incident. But today there are haredi thugs who can't accept that anyone has a right to any interpretation of Judaism other than their own narrow definition of Judaism. 

The article on Jerusalem Post's website where my comments appeared was titled: "Western Wall rabbi: I am hurting and crying".  Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz told the Post: It wasn’t for this Kotel that we prayed. We don’t want a Kotel of disagreement."  

Well I certainly agree. The Kotel should indeed be for all of us, praying together in harmony, each in our own respective way. The Kotel belongs to all Jews, not just those who delegitimize us. We modern Jews who identify with more progressive streams of Judaism are tired of having our voices shouted down. And refusing to even acknowledge our observance of halacha is an insult that we should no longer tolerate.

So I encourage you all to add your support to these brave women who are liberating the Kotel for the entirety of the Jewish people.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman
Congregation Beth Shalom

What Re-Living the Exodus Teaches Us

What Re-Living the Exodus Teaches Us

It’s a typical day. Things are going along just fine. Then something happens that dramatically changes everything and turns your world upside down. A child gets injured, a parent falls suddenly ill, or you have a car accident.  Suddenly, your whole life is put on hold.  The small things you thought were important are now completely irrelevant, as you now must struggle to attend to the pressing matters at hand.

Rabbis often get those kinds of phone calls from others who suddenly find themselves thrust into crisis mode.  Part of our seminary training trains us to remain calm and assume the role of – as one of my Pastoral Psych professors used to call it – the “un-anxious presence”.  Such a crisis requires us to remain strong, calm and empathic while helping others to cope with whatever the stressful challenge might be. 

But when an emergency strikes you personally, much of that training is to little avail.  I remember back when my son Avi and I were in a serious car accident.  It was quite horrible. For the man driving the car that hit us, the accident proved to be fatal.  But at the time of impact, all I knew was that I was injured, had difficulty breathing, and felt I was going into shock.  I struggled out of the vehicle to help free Avi from the car, but there was nothing I could do until help finally arrived. 

In a matter of moments I heard the wail of sirens. Help had indeed come, and thankfully, everything turned out alright. Broken bones healed and the trauma subsided.  But what made the whole dreadful experience bearable, was the familiar faces of friends who came to the hospital and comforted us during our time of need.  Before that day, I don’t think I truly appreciated how helpful it is when a friend or rabbi simply shows up and stays with you during a period of crisis – but since that day, I understood much better. 

We all experience rocky times in life.  But when a friend shows up to take our hand and help us through, that load is significantly lightened. 

In discussing the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim (visiting the sick), the Talmud teaches us that each visitor removes 1/60th of another's pain. This act of kindness is actually a commandment incumbent on each and every Jew, not just rabbis. And especially in our day, where texting is more common that making an actual phone call, that "human touch" can be indispensable.  So even making a phone call to let someone hear your voice can be a great comfort to those who are going through a difficult time.

In our Passover Haggadah, we read a passage which states: b’chol dor va’dor chayav adam lir’ot et atzmo k’ilu hu yatza mi-mitzrayim, in every generation a person is to see him/herself as if they personally left Egypt. While it is not possible to actually experience the pain and redemption of our ancestors, we are supposed to try and feel as if we ourselves experienced the bitterness of slavery, and took part in the Exodus.  This exercise helps us to better understand the enormity of those events. 

Likewise, when we try to empathize and comfort others in their time of need, we go a long way in helping to make the world a much more pleasant place.

Part of what makes our shul such a wonderful community (and every shul carries this potential) is not just how we come together to celebrate each other's simchas, but how we support one another in times of need as well. That is an important lesson that Passover teaches us, namely, that when we identify with the struggles of our past, we are better capable to face the challenges that lie ahead, and to create the kind of caring community that will make our lives worth living and even more rewarding.

On behalf of Linda and our family, we wish you all a meaningful Passover holiday, and a Hag Kasher V’Sameyach with wonderful friends and family.

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman

The Problem With Being Spiritual But Not Religious

My Colleague, Rabbi David Wolpe wrote this insightful piece about the problem of people who claim they are spiritual but want nothing to do with religion...  Well done article!

http://ideas.time.com/2013/03/21/viewpoint-the-problem-with-being-spiritual-but-not-religious/

Conservative Movement Examines Its Future

This is a fascinating article about the future of our movement. I hope you will take the time to read it. Please feel free to share your feedback by clicking the title above...

What does being a member of a Conservative shul mean to you? What direction do you believe we should take in the future?

 Link to the article here:

Conservative Movement Examines Its Future

Why the Appalling Silence on Syria?

Here is the speech President Obama should be delivering on horrific slaughter in Syria:

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/president-obamas-appalling-silence-on-syria/

Israel Under Fire

Chaverim,

Israel has faced an unceasing threat from rockets emanating out of Gaza ever since they pulled out of the territory back in 2005. And instead of using Israel's disengagement to build trust and work towards peace, Hamas has turned Gaza into a forward base to relentlessly attack Israel with its increasingly deadly rocket arsenal.

So finally, after months of incredible restraint, Israel launched “Operation Pillar of Defense” on Wednesday, and in a targeted assassination eliminated Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari (who was responsible for many attacks, including the abduction of Gilad Shalit).  The latest barrage of rocket attacks left Israel with no choice but to respond and to do what every government is charged with, namely, protecting her citizens from harm.

Predictably, Israel is not only having to defend itself from the rocket barrages aimed at her civilian population, but also from the ongoing PR attacks attempting to delegitimize Israel in the public arena and to erode US support. 

Therefore it is very important that we mobilize as a community and not remain silent.

There are several concrete steps we can all take to support Israel during this trying time which I urge you to consider:

1) Stand up publicly and state you support for Israel's defensive efforts in light of sustained rocket attacks that are terrorizing 1/7th of the Israeli population.

2) Contact your Senators and Congressmen.  Senators can be reached by phone through the Capitol switchboard at : (202) 224-3121.  You can also use the following link: http://www.capwiz.com/aipac/issues/alert/?alertid=62157761

3) Write Op Ed letters to newspapers

4) Actively support Israel on social media like Facebook and Twitter.  (On Twitter use the hash tag #israelunderfire )

Here are some main messages to help you be a more effective Israel advocate:

• The goal of Israel’s operation is clearly defined and is aimed at removing a strategic threat to Israeli citizens. Israel is not interested in a deterioration of the situation.

• Israel has demonstrated great restrain for a long period but cannot stand for the recurring attacks on its citizens. No other state would accept a similar reality.

• Israel is acting in self-defense and out of its duty to protect its civilians from terrorist attacks.

• Hamas rules the Gaza Strip and is responsible for all that occurs in Gaza and all that is launched from there.

• It must be noted again that Israel disengaged completely from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The result of Israel’s disengagement is that Gaza has become a giant ammunition dump. In addition, it provides a breeding ground for terrorist groups to organize and to operate, including groups associated with al-Qaeda and Global Jihad. All this under the rule, responsibility and sponsorship of Hamas.

• Weapons smuggled from Libya, Iran and Sudan accelerated the process of Gaza turning into a terror base. These weapons also increased the danger posed to the Israeli population.

• Hamas and the other terrorist organizations hide among the civilian population of Gaza. They also deliberately direct their fire at the civilian population of Israel. These acts constitute a double war crime.

• The targets of the Israeli operation are all military. Israel will make every effort to prevent harm to the civilian population of Gaza, and regrets any injury to civilians.

• The border crossings from Israel to the Gaza Strip remain open, allowing for the routine passage of goods and humanitarian aid.

• The international community must act to stop the attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and should not wait for an Israeli reaction to act. Time and again, Israel has warned that it would not tolerate these attacks.

Together let us all make our voices heard in support of Israel at this difficult time.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman