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Parashat Kedoshim |
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Shabat Mevarchim
Torah Reading: Leviticus 19:1 20:27
Haftarah: (a) Amos 9:7-15 (s) Ezekiel 22:2-20
May 3, 2008/ 28 Nisan 5768
Candlelighting: 6:33pm
Shalom Chaverim (Friends),
Last night we observed the official Holocaust Memorial Day with readings, prayers, meditation and open discussion. The attendants were nine adults and four young children. Three of the adults were survivors of the Holocaust, three are Jews by Choice and the last three have all had different and meaningful experiences with those who survived the hell wreaked upon humanity by others. In todays bright and sunny world, most of us do not want to deal with or face the dark subjects such as the holocaust, they dont make us happy, they dont uplift us. Then why do I feel it is important? The answer comes to me when I look at my youngest children. I too remember being a young child at the holocaust memorial services in my synagogue
every seat was filled in the 800seat sanctuary. Our collective memory of these events is paramount more for future generations than for our own. By teaching our children today about the atrocities that were visited upon millions of victims, most of whom were murdered, perhaps we can limit events such as these reviting any people worldwide. The discussion that ensued after the service delved into other examples of genocide and ethnic cleansing. Some of the examples are of atrocities that are taking place right now. One voiced asked, what can I do, I am only one person? There are answers to these questions and they are all related to our making our voices heard.
The Torah portion that we will be reading at services tomorrow morning is named Kedoshim (Holy Ones). G-d instructs Moses to speak to the Israelites and say: You shall be holy, for I, G-d, your G-d, am holy. What are the factors that allow us this determination? Some of the first steps towards being holy comes with a responsibility to others. This is a universal responsibility that we must take on for all peoples of all nations regardless of religion, race or creed. However as the saying goes, charity begins at home. It is incumbent upon us to attend to Jewish issues and education first, this will give us a base and foundation with which to attend to the needs of others.
Next week we will be gin the celebration of Israels 60th year. A colorful pheonix that rose from the ashes of destruction. Israel remains a symbol of hope and success against all possible odds. Our celebration here next Thursday evening will be full of light, music, good food and company. This will be followed three weeks later by a solidarity walk (G-d willing) joining our extended faith community with hundreds of others around the globe, demonstrating our love for Israel. I hope our numbers will be plentiful for these events. Last night among the statements and questions that I could not answer was this (sarcastically) from a holocaust survivor: I am very impressed with the very very tremendously large crowd that really cared what happened to all the people that died in the concentration camps. WHERE WERE YOU? Im just wondering, how come you did not attend this very very tremendously large crowd? Theres not much more that I can say about this, but my disappointment was tremendous.
How do I answer her?
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David |
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