A Year of Thoughtfulness and Forgiveness

Words can hurt, yet words also have the capacity to heal. For congregational rabbis, this time of year is focused primarily on the power of words as we assemble our thoughts and choose the appropriate themes to discuss during our holiday sermons.

There are always more worthy issues to address than time will permit, so rabbis perform “sermonic triage,” limiting ourselves to some topics at the expense of others just as deserving. The contending issues are weighty indeed. Immigration, refugees, gun violence, climate change, anti-Semitism, Israel’s standing in the world, and the erosion of public trust. The list goes on and on.

But what about the spiritual state of our Jewish community?  Are we Jews growing more disconnected from God, Torah, and from one another?  In our toxic political climate, have we wounded others with our words? Have we been forgiving to those who have wounded us?

Get The AJT Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

If there is one thing I hope to focus on in the year ahead it is to bridge the gaps that are driving us further apart from one another. As we become more entrenched and inflexible in our points  of view, we don’t usually discuss our differences as calmly and respectfully as we should.  Instead we use social media, slogans or bumper stickers, which often undermine any opportunity for meaningful discussion. All these things do is to proclaim: “I’m right, you’re wrong.”

Judaism teaches a different way.

One of the great strengths of Judaism is that it developed as a religion based on compromise and valuing the opinions of others. As we developed different practices and traditions, we had to decide which ones were best to follow.

For example, when we hang a mezuzah, we traditionally hang it on an angle. Did you ever wonder why that is?

Well, there was an argument between two rabbis whether a mezuzah should be hung vertically or horizontally. There were cogent arguments for each approach. Ultimately the decision was made to hang mezuzot on a diagonal. In other words, a compromise was hammered out between two differing opinions. The inherent value of each was preserved. The clear lesson is that for there to be peace in a home (shalom bayit), there must be compromise and respect for the positions of others.

It’s not a far stretch to see a small community or even an entire nation as one big extended family. And a society or even a small village is strengthened when there is community-wide shalom bayit, where we practice forgiveness; where we raise each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Debate can be wonderful but only when it is coupled with respect. That’s how we learn. And we Jews are not usually shy about sharing our opinions! At the same time, we must be on guard not to divide and conquer ourselves. We need wisdom in our speech and compassion in our actions. We must never forget how important it is to remain am echad, one people, despite our differences; and to forgive others who may not always be as gracious.

We are all “others.” We have all gained different experiences and traveled along different paths while on life’s journey.  My prayer is that in the year ahead we learn to value, care about, and forgive one another, while we work to uplift and strengthen our Jewish community. That way we can make 5780 a real Shanah Tovah — for all of us.