Time for Torah: A Short Video on Sh'lach Lecha

A Short Video on this week's Torah Portion, Sh'lach Lecha!  The 12 Spies were fearful about the inhabitants of the Land of Israel.  As they return back from the land, the spies rile of the people and a revolt occurs.  Rabbi Andy Gordon looks closely at this story and asks: What happens when we lose sight of our capabilities, skills, and strengths?  

Mazel Tov Temple Beth Ha-Sholom of Williamsport for 150 Years!

This past Sunday, Temple Beth Ha-Sholom of Williamsport, Pennsylvania celebrated it's 150th Anniversary.  At the Taber Museum, there was a reception and an exhibit on Jewish life in Williamsport.  I served as the student rabbi of the Temple from 2005 - 2007 during my time in rabbinical school.  Every other weekend, for two years, I traveled down to Williamsport to lead services, teach Hebrew school, and learned how to become a rabbi.  These were some of my most formative experiences in rabbinical school.  It was truly a pleasure to travel back to Williamsport to visit with old friends and to celebrate their accomplishments.  Below is a excerpt of my remarks at the gathering.  It was truly an honor to represent the over 30 student rabbis and rabbis who shepherded the congregation during a century and a half of Jewish life.  Mazel Tov!

Temple Beth Ha-Sholom (photo credit to Richard Karp)

150 years ago, the Ulman siblings and the other Jewish pioneers from Germany settled in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and established a synagogue: Temple Beth Ha-Sholom.  These founders and their friends and neighbors built a Temple where the Jewish community could gather, and worship, and teach their children the values of their faith.  They named their synagogue, “Temple Beth Ha-Sholom” – “A House of Peace” because they wished to create a home where Jews and non-Jews could learn from one and celebrate with one another and together bring peace and compassion to Williamsport and Central Pennsylvania.

One of the quintessential values of our Jewish tradition is the significance of learning and teaching.  We are after all called “The People of the Book” and nothing more defines our trajectory as a Jewish community than learning and teaching.  As a congregation, Temple Beth Ha-Sholom is truly a community of teachers.  For over thirty years, you have been teachers of student rabbis and rabbis to be.  Ten years ago, you welcomed me, a shy and timid rabbinical student who was navigating the path towards the rabbinate.  I joined you for services that first Friday evening and I heard someone say, “Rabbi” – I thought to myself, “oh, there’s a rabbi here?” and I realized at once that the person was talking to me!  Before coming to Williamsport, I didn’t feel like a rabbi, but under your tutelage and being welcomed with open arms, I became YOUR rabbi and I became A Rabbi.

Preaching at Temple Beth Ha-Sholom in 2006

This Temple has welcomed over thirty student rabbis.  Each year or two, a new rabbi enters your community and you guide him or her… helping all of us learn how to give sermons, to teach Hebrew School, to lead services, and be a pastoral presence.  Every generation has been guided by your wisdom and knowledge.  There is no mitzvah, no commandment, greater than being a teacher of rabbis.  You are truly our teachers.  Dozens of rabbis, scattered across our country, learned what it means to be a rabbi from their time here in Williamsport.

 

Visiting with old friends at the Taber Museum

L'dor va’Dor – from Generation to Generation, young and old, founders and leaders, adults and children, have learned and lived their Jewish lives here at Temple Beth Ha Sholom.  Each generation from the Ulman siblings till today have built and rebuilt the Temple, helped thousands of Jewish people find a spiritual home, a Jewish connection, a sense of community.  Thank you for your leadership, thank you for your guidance, thank you for your friendship.

Sermon: Healing After Orlando

Healing After Orlando: Our Cries Can Change Us and Our World

A few weeks ago, I woke up, excited about the day ahead.  It was a sleepy Sunday morning, but more importantly, it was the Jewish holiday of Shavout!  In just a few hours, we’d gather in our sanctuary for Confirmation.  Our 10^th grade students would don their white robes, lead us in prayer, and share stories about their Jewish journeys.  As I jumped out of bed, I grabbed my phone, and that’s when I saw the news that stopped me dead in my tracks: 49 people dead, countless others injured.  It was like a punch in the stomach.  Another shooting, another terrorist attack, another massacre.  In the last few years: Columbine, Boston, Sandy Hook, and now Orlando.  Too many killed, too many maimed, too many hurt, physically and emotionally.  

Long ago, the Israelites felt a similar punch in the stomach.  Miriam, one of the leaders of the community, and Moses’ sister, was struck with a terrible skin condition.  Without warning and very dramatically, Miriam encountered a horrible and debilitating disease.  It was a shock to all and it was devastating to Moses.  Like the attack in Orlando, this moment seemed incomprehensible.  His sister was struck with a terrible illness, unlikely to get better.  The world that he knew was upturned and nothing felt normal.  He felt powerless to do anything at all, so he did what he could do, he prayed to God with these words: El Na Rafah Na Lah, “O God, please heal her!”

This prayer is one of the shortest in Jewish tradition.  It consists of only 11 letters, five words.  Each of the words, except for God’s name, ends with a vowel.  It’s as much a cry as a prayer: El Na Rafah Na Lah, “O God, please heal her!”  Moses felt like we did after the attack: an unease, feelings of mourning, a brute sense of fear and misery.  He asked the same questions we did: “How could this happen?  What can we do to move forward?”

It’s been almost two weeks since the attack at the Pulse night club.  For many of us, we’ve moved passed the feelings of shock and fear.  We’ve moved on to another phase of mourning: of longing for the past; of anger that these attacks continue to happen in our country.  We might even feel a willingness to move forward, to do something.

The Torah teaches that the Israelite people did not travel forth until Miriam was fully healed.  They waited in the camp for over seven days, until she was reunited with the community.  Only after time and healing, could the community move forward.  We’ve lost too many innocent men, women, and children who are no longer able to rejoin us.  They’ve been taken away from us by hatred, by violence, by bombs, by bullets.  How can we move forward without them?  In many ways it’s easy to allow these moments of violence to become the status quo.  After an attack, we rush to social media to update our profile picture or to post on facebook or twitter.  That is helpful, but is it enough?  A few days later, everything fades away, our sadness disappears, our anger dissipates, and then we continue on with life.  These moments of bloodshed become the new normal and that is terrifying!

Moses cried out to God.  His cry was blunt and from the heart.  El Na Rafah Na Lah.  “O God, please heal her!”  His cry rose up to the heavens and God heeded his request.  Our cry must be heard too.  We must not remain silent or indifferent after these terrible tragedies.  We can’t allow ourselves to settle in to the status quo and allow these massacres to continue.  Our cries must reach up to the heavens, but they also must reach towards the halls of our state capitols and Washington DC.  May our cries change us and may our cries change our world.

The Rainbow: A Prayer for Orlando

O Holy One, Creator of all Living Creatures,

Our hearts are broken after the carnage and devastation of Orlando.

Fifty innocent people murdered and countless others injured.

They gathered to dance, to sing, to gather with friends.

This was a place of refuge, where they could be true to themselves.

Yet, hatred darkened our world, storm clouds blocked the joyful sun.

Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender young people,

murdered for who they are and who they love.

A month of pride, so full of celebration, now dampened under clouds.

Long ago, our world was darkened by a flood of water.

Storms brewed and the sun’s soft glow seemed a distant memory.

When all hope seemed lost, You provided a most magnificent gift: an array of vibrant color.

The rainbow symbolizes the fight for LGBT Equality.

The rainbow represents pride in our identities.

The rainbow reminds us of the everlasting covenant between you and all living creatures.

As the storm clouds continue to blow, may sunlight make its entrance.

May the bow in the sky break down barriers of the unknown.

May its vibrant palette remind us that love can conquer all hate.

May its beautiful colors remind us that each of us are created in your image, each of us are holy, sacred, and special.  Amen