July 11, 2025
Not According to Plan: Parshat Balak and the Nigoffs’ Recent Trip to Israel
This week’s Torah portion, Balak, tells the story of a journey that does not go as planned. The Moabite soothsayer Balaam is hired to say one set of things and ends up saying another. A quiet donkey ride from Point A to Point B turns out to be anything but. King Balak thinks he has control of the situation when, in fact, he has none at all.
One need not explain the irony of this to Lowell and Betty Nigoff. They know all too well about experiencing a journey you didn’t expect. What should have been another trip to Israel focused on volunteer service took a rather different turn when war broke out with Iran last month. Neither their return date nor their travel itinerary proceeded as planned. Thanks to the intervention of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Lowell and Betty got home safely. Tonight provides us with an opportunity to hear about their journey that did not go according to plan.
Musical leadership will be provided by Lauren Hill and Harold Sherman. Poems and songs about our Torah portion will be woven into our service. May the strange tale of Balaam and happy ending to the Nigoffs’ prolonged journey remind us to be grateful for the human capacity to adapt to circumstances when things don’t turn out as we expected.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 4, 2025
Water From the Rock
This week’s Torah portion, Chukat, includes the famous story of God bringing water out of a rock to the desperately thirsty people. We tend to focus on Moses and Aaron being punished for losing their patience with the people for their lack of faith rather than the miracle of salvific waters. Being barred from the Promised Land seems a harsh sentence for a few rashly chosen words. Yet the miracle should not be eclipsed by what went wrong.
The story in Numbers carries on a motif of Exodus. Hebrew babies were drowned in the Nile, but Moses was saved from it. The first of the 10 Plagues is turning the Nile into blood. The essential water source for the nation becomes unpotable. Water takes center stage again at the parting of the sea. The Israelites cross on dry land, and Pharaoh’s army drowns. Now, two books later, water is back. But unlike the songs of Moses and Miriam, this water miracle has no poem or praise. Nowhere does the chapter say the people burst into thanks and praise. So let’s imagine one and offer it on behalf of those who received it. After all, who among us, during times of difficulty and anxiety, has never forgotten to say “thank you”?
God of Moses and Miriam, Redeemer who rescues the drowning, the thirst-stricken, the imperiled and the forgotten. Blessed be the One Who brings water from the rock, manna from heaven, freedom from slavery, and bread from the earth. Help us remain strong amid turmoil. Strengthen our resolve so we never say, “We were better off in Egypt.” Teach us to see opportunities amid crises, possibilities amid difficulties, and potential for growth even amid painful choices. May we merit the blessing of water from the rock and with that water lend sustenance to all who need our help. In the words of Your Prophet: Let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
“From sea to shining sea,” let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 27, 2025
Rosh Chodesh and New Beginnings
Tonight, Shabbat coincides with Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the new month.
The traditional prayer we recite for this beseeches God for love, compassion, life and peace. After a week marked by war, the prayer for the new month takes on even greater significance. The time is ripe to try something new. May this new month of Tammuz be an invitation for world leaders to turn over a new leaf. May we seek new opportunities to restore trust, end war and build a new future. May we consider new ideas, pursue new strategies and imagine new possibilities. May the new month be marked by a new beginning. May we seize the moment and make the most of it.
Shabbat Shalom and Rosh Chodesh Tov,
Wishing you a Peaceful Sabbath and a Good New Month,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 20, 2025
40 Years: A Prayer for Parshat Sh’lach L’cha
This week’s Torah portion, Sh’lach L’cha, contains the famous passage in which the Israelites are punished with wandering in the wilderness for 40 years because they rejected the assessment of optimistic scouts that the Israelites could conquer the Promised Land. Compared to the total destruction God originally had planned for the Israelites, things could have been worse. Yet it remains among the harshest punishments in the Torah. No one who had endured slavery in Egypt, except for the optimistic scouts Joshua and Caleb, would be allowed to complete the journey; only their children would. It is a harrowing reminder of lost time, lost talent and lost opportunities.
God of Our ancient past and present moment, help us understand that 40 years is something we cannot squander.
We do not have 40 years to stop shooting our leaders.
We do not have 40 years to stop gun violence.
We do not have 40 years to end hunger.
We do not have 40 years to end homelessness.
We do not have 40 years to abandon public health.
We do not have 40 years to go backward on science.
We do not have 40 years to gloss over brutal chapters in our history.
We do not have 40 years to ban books with painful truths.
We do not have 40 years to deny climate change.
We do not have 40 years to continue polluting at the present rate.
We do not have 40 years for Israelis and Palestinians to remain locked in the status quo.
We do not have 40 years for the people of the Middle East to remain at one another’s throats.
We do not have 40 years for women to be denied bodily autonomy.
We do not have 40 years for LGBTQ folks to be denied equality.
We do not have 40 years, forty months, 40 weeks, 40 days, 40 hours or 40 minutes to waste on the cynical assertion that it is wiser to go back to tyranny than to pursue a better life for all humanity.
Teach us, O Timeless One, to make the most of every second. Remind us, O Source of Memory, that we do not have a moment to lose.
Blessed are You, O God, Who holds that every second is sacred and every generation a gift.
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 13, 2025
A Prayer for the Sabbath Before Father’s Day
God of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers: On this Shabbat before Father’s Day we come before you knowing we have let you down.
Rather than making peace, we, the children of our father Abraham, are locked in an agonizing struggle pitting brothers and sisters against each other.
Once again on this Father’s Day we mourn with parents who have lost their children in a war that has gone on for far too long.
Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father Our King. Help us to comfort grieving fathers and bereft mothers by bringing this terrible suffering to an end.
May hands we have used to wage war turn to work of feeding, housing and healing our fellow human beings.
May minds we have used to plot each other’s demise turn to thoughts of planning a brighter future.
May the hearts that succumbed to hatred and destruction turn to reconciliation and redemption.
Avinu Malkeinu. Remember the merit of our forebears.
May their acts of mercy, justice and kindness inspire us to bring about a world in keeping with your commandments. May this be our blessing, and let us say:
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 6, 2025
The Blessing of Sisterhood
It is poetically fitting that Sisterhood Shabbat this year falls on the Torah portion where we read Birkat Cohanim, The Priestly Benediction.
“The Eternal One spoke to Moses saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:
May God bless you and protect you!
May God deal kindly and graciously with you!
May God bestow favor upon you and grant you peace!
Thus they shall link My name with the people, and I will bless them.”
(Numbers 6:22-27)
We recite these words as the blessing over our children every Sabbath and chant them at Festivals and the High Holy Days. Like many rabbis, I like to use them at the conclusion of services to send us off on a note of hope and joy.
Tonight, after a week of pain and suffering in the United States and around the world, these words take on special significance. In a world cursed with Molotov cocktails, bombs and bullets, we are reminded that we have it in our power to bless rather than besiege one another. Rather than plot one another’s demise we can pray that we all may come to know peace.
Just as Sisterhood blesses us with leadership, learning and love, so too may we bless the women of Sisterhood who enrich our congregation through their time, talent and tenderness. May this week, when we read the Torah portion that provides us with the words of our best-known blessing, inspire us to lead lives of blessing. Thank you to Sisterhood for the blessings you bestow on us in all you do. May your names be linked to the strong and dedicated women of yesterday who came before you, and the brilliant and courageous women of tomorrow who will follow in the paths you are forging.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 23, 2025
Reflections for the Shabbat of Memorial Day
Memorial Day weekend takes on renewed significance this year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, first in Europe and then in Japan. Tonight’s service will honor Memorial Day through poetry, prose, prayer and song.
In recent months, our congregation has lost its last two WWII era veterans: Dr. Milt Gellin and David Doctrow. But the courage and sacrifices of The Greatest Generation will never be forgotten. History and humanity owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.
Perhaps the most important thing we can do is to live up to the rallying cry of World War I, “making the world safe for democracy.” That means protecting democratic values. No one is above the law. Everyone is entitled to due process. Government exists to serve and protect the people.
As noted in yesterday’s email about the murders this week of two Israeli Embassy workers in Washington D.C., our service also will provide an opportunity to grieve this terrible loss.
May we show our devotion to those who gave their lives for our country and a better world by taking care of the families they left behind, ending war, and pursuing peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 16, 2025
The Blessing of Bread and Everyday Hunger
You shall take choice flour and bake of it twelve loaves, two-tenths of a measure for each loaf.
Place them on the pure table before God in two rows, six to a row.
With each row you shall place pure frankincense, which is to be a token offering for the bread, as an offering by fire to God.
Aaron shall arrange them before God regularly every sabbath day — it is a commitment for all time on the part of the Israelites.
(Leviticus 24:5-8)
This beautiful imagery of these perfectly arranged rows of bread stands in sharp contrast to the brutal realities about hunger. Earlier this week, on the home front, Gov. Andy Beshar expressed concern about the consequences of reducing funding to SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program). So, too, on the international level we continue to see alarming reports about food shortages in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and far too many other places around the world.
Our weekly portion reminds us that we are the descendants of Aaron and those he supervised. We are the inheritors of a commitment to regard bread as a sacred resource, something to be cherished and shared in the context of a holy relationship with God and one another.
In keeping with the portion’s focus on bread, please consider a donation to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger, UNICEF or to organizations providing food aid for Gaza. May we one day soon make motzi (the blessing before eating) in a world in which no one knows hunger and everyone knows peace. May we break bread in brotherhood in a world without brutality.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 9, 2025
The Real Measure of Reverence: Reflections for the Sabbath of Mother’s Day
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but maybe the title is allowed? “But He Was Good to His Mother: The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters” by Robert Rockaway encapsulates an irreconcilable contradiction from the start. It does not matter how sweet, kind, thoughtful and generous we are to our parents if we act like brutes, bullies and bigots. Second only to providing for physical and emotional safety, a parent’s job is to raise caring, contentious and compassionate human beings. We do not have to replicate our parents’ choices and preferences. To honor them, we don’t have to select the same careers, live in the same places, like the same music, root for the same teams, or hold the same opinion on every social political issue. But we cannot reject every value our parents practiced and preached, and genuinely claim that we revere them.
It is poetically fitting that on the Shabbat before Mother’s Day we read the Holiness Code from Leviticus containing the verse “You shall each honor your mother and your father.” Honoring parents is about more than remembering to purchase a card and a gift. It is more than calling on birthdays and anniversaries. The commandment even goes beyond financial support, emotional support and abiding respect. The real measure of revering our mothers and fathers is living a life consistent with the principles they imparted.
We cannot be gangsters and claim we are honoring our parents. We cannot ignore the plight of our fellow human beings and say we are honoring our parents. We cannot abdicate responsibility for a sustainable planet and contend we are honoring our parents.
So please, may those of us fortunate enough to still have our moms in our lives remember to call, visit, send flowers, and offer breakfast in bed. All of us blessed to have parents with us should strive to be respectful, courteous and attentive to them. But if we really want to make our parents proud, if we want to honor them in the greatest sense of the word, then let’s work to make the world a better place for all God’s children.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Mother’s Day,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 2, 2025
Israel Independence Day and the Imperative of Peace
Officially speaking, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, was observed yesterday. Our congregation will be marking it tonight. Our service will include Yehuda Amichai’s poem “An Appendix to a Vision of Peace,” in which the artist and former soldier playfully challenges the metaphors of Isaiah and advocates even more idealistically than the prophet for an end to war.
Music by Lauren Hill and Harold Sherman will include two powerful peace songs: Shir L’Shalom, an anthem of the Israeli peace movement with lyrics by Yaakov Rotblit and music by Yair Rosenblum, and Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu by Mosh Ben-Ari in Hebrew and Arabic, expressing both shared need and responsibility for change. Our service will also include the prayer for Israel that we will recite standing and in unison. In keeping with our focus on Israel Independence Day, tomorrow’s Kollel session will be devoted to the work of Yehuda Amichai.
May the One Who blesses all people with peace help Israel promote peace for all people.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 25, 2025
Biding Adieu to a Beloved Bridge Builder: Attending Mass Before Services
It is no state or Temple secret that many if not most families at our congregation are interfaith. We owe so much to those among us who converted to Judaism and those who have not converted but choose to raise their children Jewishly and support our Temple. With the death of Pope Francis, we are reminded of the appreciation we owe to current and former Catholics who devote tremendous time and energy to this place we love. It is not often that you will read about my encouraging you to go to Mass on Friday before services, but part of Reform Judaism is about making careful exceptions to the usual rules.
Pope Francis merits such an exception because he was an exceptional leader and human being. He spoke out against the dangers of apathy, greed, hatred and hard-heartedness. He preached about the moral obligation to love one another, protect our planet, welcome the stranger, refrain from violence, give generously, think carefully, speak cautiously and give willingly. Yes, many of us disagreed with him on reproductive rights, but even there he modeled the endangered discipline of how to disagree without being derisive.
It is an honor to see how friends in the Diocese of Lexington, such as Bishop John Stowe and Fortunate Families Director J.R. Zerkowski, emulate the example of Pope Francis in word and deed. Their commitment to making this a safe, welcoming and thoughtful place is part of what makes our community so special. Those among us who are or who grew up Catholic should not have to grieve the death of this extraordinary pope alone. All humankind grieves the loss of this singular human being who left this world a better place by his leadership and love. To our Catholic brothers and sisters, we say we grieve with you. May the legacy of this inspiring leader renew our dedication to pursuing justice, practicing compassion and promoting peace.
A special Mass for Pope Francis will be at 5:30 p.m. today at Christ the King Cathedral, 299 Colony Blvd. We will include the name of the late pontiff on the list of recent deaths at our regular service at TAI at 7 p.m. and observe a moment of silence commemorating his remarkable life. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 18, 2025
A Prayer for the Shabbat of Passover
God of matzo and maror, Creator of unleavened bread and bitter herbs, Source of freedom Who calls on us to celebrate the feast and fast of Passover:
On this Shabbat of Pesach, we come to you with prayers for peace and freedom.
Just a few days ago we held seders in our social and dining rooms.
Tonight, we gather in our sanctuary as we approach the end of our festival.
May we keep the message of Passover liberation with us throughout the year.
May the story of the Exodus remind us that freedom is never free.
It is a long and painful journey fraught with twists and turns, ups and downs, victories and defeats.
May we live up to the words of the Friday evening Kiddush: “This is a remembrance of going out of Egypt.”
Every Sabbath, not just that of Passover, is a celebration of freedom.
So let us work to protect the hard-earned, hard-fought and hard-won freedoms for which so many have given so much.
May each and every Shabbat renew our love of freedom and revive our willingness to preserve it. May this be our blessing, and let us say:
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 11, 2025
The Search for Chametz
Bedikat Chametz, the search for remaining leavened items, is among the final steps in preparing a home for Pesach. In some communities it is done with a feather, candle and spoon: a feather for sweeping up crumbs, a candle so you can see them, and a spoon to collect them. If you are the type of person who takes particular pride in cleanliness, this ritual is for you.
In some families, parents intentionally scatter a few crumbs where children can find them. For those of us whose little birds have grown and flown or who never had children, the ritual still has meaning. Like its seder companion of finding the afikomen, the pre-Pesach ritual reminds us that meaning is gained not only in possessing things but in finding them.
May Passover remind us to search for what is missing, to seek what comes next, to collect what we need for the future and throw away that which holds us back.
The blessing before the search and the one for burning the leftover crumbs on your grill or stove are below.
Let the feast of unleavened bread lead us to find what we are looking for and to learn from what we find.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Passover,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
Before the search, recite:
.בָּרוְּך אַתָּה ה’ אֱֹלהֵינוּ מלך העוֹלָם, אשׁר קדְּשָָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתיו, וְצִוָּֽ נוּ עַל בִּעוּר חָמֵץ
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh haolam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu al biur chametz.
Praised are You Adonai our God, who rules the universe, instilling in us the holiness of mitzvot by commanding us to remove all chametz.
After burning the crumbs:
כָּל חֲמִירָא וַחֲמִיעָא דְּאִכָּא בִרְשׁוּתִי, דְּלָא חֲמִתֵּהּ וּדְלָא בִעַתֵּהּ וּדְלָא יְדַעְנָא לֵהּ
.לִבָּטֵל וְהֱוֵי הפְקֵר כְּעַפְרא דְַארְעָא
Kol hamira v’hamia d’ika virshuti, d’la hamiteih udla viarteih udla y’dana leih, libateil v’lehevei hefkeir k’afra d’ara.
All chametz in my possession which I have not seen or removed, or of which I am unaware, is hereby nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.
April 4, 2025
What Stories Have to Offer: Finding New Life in Leviticus
The behavioral health expert and Torah scholar, Dr. Peter Pitzele, teaches that every ritual, every commandment, every law has a story behind it. It is all the more important to keep this in mind as we turn from the dramatic liberation story of Exodus to the long and sometimes gory details of Leviticus. The guilt offering and thanksgiving offering might not make for the most exciting reading at first blush. Yet, when we consider that the person bringing the guilt offering has a story, a reason, a motivation for bringing the offering, then Leviticus starts to take on new life. When we consider that the person bringing the Thanksgiving offering has a family, a history, a community, we start to people their world with characters and personalities that are relatable. Leviticus is not an easy read, but when we take the imaginative and creative effort to envision the back story behind its rituals, the work is worth it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 28, 2025
A Blessing for Completing a Task That Is Incomplete
“Just as God had commanded Moses, so the Israelites had done all the work.
“And when Moses saw that they had performed all the tasks — as God had commanded, so they had done — Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:42-43)
God of beginnings, endings and everything in between. This week’s Torah portion relates the completion of the work of the tabernacle and the blessing that came with doing so.
Rabbi Tarfon warned us to be careful about calling anything “done”: “It is not for you to complete the task, but nor are you free to desist from it.” He understood, as have sages before and after him, that any lasting achievement requires constant care.
The truth is that the tabernacle, like the institutions and ideals we love, is never really complete. That which we value requires perpetual maintenance, engagement and support. Tasks are limitless, but not so human lives. So, we come to You, Who calls us to our tasks, asking your blessing that our work may be deemed good enough or at least good enough for now.
Our work is not perfect. It is neither exactly what You expected nor what we might have hoped for. But it is our work, and it is a gift and an honor to be able to do it. We bring it to You with all its flaws in the hope that You might find it worthy of acceptance and find us worthy of Your blessing.
As we complete this year’s reading of Exodus and restart our study of Leviticus we say:
Hazaq, Hazaq v’neethazake. Let us go from strength to strength.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 21, 2025
Hadassah Shabbat
“Let all who are skilled come and make all that the Eternal has commanded.” (Exodus 35:10).
Please join us at 5:30 tonight at Ohavay Zion Synagogue and tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. here at Temple Adath Israel for this year’s celebration of Hadassah Shabbat.
This year we are changing things up a bit. Typically, we host Friday evening and OZS hosts Saturday morning, but the time seemed right to try something different. For those who particularly enjoy a service with Torah reading, tomorrow will be very enjoyable for you.
At a time when women’s rights have been curtailed in Kentucky and throughout the nation, the moment is also right to celebrate women’s talents, achievements and voices. Hadassah has long been and will continue to be an organization where women’s leadership, ideas and efforts are essential to everything it does.
This week’s Torah portion, Vayak’heil, calls on all who are skilled to assist in the building and decoration of the Tabernacle. The next 24 hours are a celebration of the skills that the gifted and dedicated women of this community have worked to attain. Whether it is chanting Torah and Haftorah, reading prayer, giving a Torah commentary or leading us in song, the remarkable women of our community are helping us to make something special.
Thank you to all the skilled participants enriching our services. Please join me in expressing appreciation to Dianne Bazell, Lauren Hill, Rabbi Shani Abramowitz and all those who have coordinated these services so we can enjoy them. May these lovely services we celebrate each year inspire us to make Shabbat a priority and remind us of what we can accomplish together as a community.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 14, 2025
Positively Purim: A Shabbat Celebration With the Megillah According to Bob Dylan
Purim is a Jewish holiday like no other. It promotes silliness over seriousness, rambunctiousness over regulation, whimsy over wisdom. A people typically committed to discretion and fine distinctions are encouraged by our sages to get so goofy that we cannot distinguish between the villain and the hero. For a single day, a difference we cannot afford to lose track of becomes one we are urged to loosen up on. There are years when it’s more difficult to do this than others. This is one of those years.
There is nothing funny about a leader who cares about nothing but pleasure, yet Purim asks us to see the humor in it. There is nothing funny about an attempt to wipe out an entire people, yet Purim asks us to consider the painful irony of it. There is nothing funny about sexism and chauvinism, yet Purim dramatizes how these things can be used against themselves.
Few songwriters have seized on irony and contradiction quite like Bob Dylan. When he sings “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now,” we are confronted with the dichotomy that the assertion is technically impossible, but we know exactly what he means emotionally. Purim is about the ability to resist evil, with all its absurdities and contradictions by being proud of who we are rather than cowering in fear. Now is the time for just this type of courage.
Through Dylan-inspired parodies, along side excerpts of the original text, we will retell the story of how Esther saved her people. Whether here in our sanctuary or at home in front of your computer screen, sing a song, lift a glass, shake a grogger and celebrate the joy in this raucous reimagining of the megillah with us. May the laughter of Purim lift our spirits, and may the courage of Esther inspire us to stand strong.
Happy Purim and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 7, 2025
Perpetually: Thinking About the Ner Tamid
“You shall instruct the Israelites to bring clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for regularly kindling lamps of the tabernacle. (Exodus 27:20)
It seems there are three lessons students remember long after their Religious School training: If you drop a prayer book, you have to kiss it. If the stem breaks from the etrog, it’s no longer kosher. The light above the ark, the ner tamid, is never allowed to go out.
Eternity is a wonderful concept. It’s comforting to think of some things as eternal. The Exodus verse above referring to the tamid has historically been translated as just that. More recent translations have opted for the word “regularly.” “Regularly” is also nice. “We exercise regularly. Change the oil on the car regularly. Test the fire detector regularly.” “Regularly” is a good word for we Reform Jews. It conveys serious obligation without committing to specifics.
But I’d like to suggest a different term: “perpetually.” Judaism and democracy aspire to make our ideals eternal, but none of us knows whether we will succeed in that endeavor. Eternity itself is an ideal, an overstatement, something we dream of but can never fully experience or achieve. Regularly, by contrast, is an understatement. It feels more like a habit or a general goal than a choice we arrive at from a deep sense of commitment.
Perpetually connotes a middle ground of dedication and demonstrability that we can attest to. For a fire to keep burning, it has to be fed perpetually. If we want to maintain our institutions and organizations, we have to mind them perpetually. We cannot know for certain if others will follow our example, but we can do things to ensure that our shift, our watch, our term was one of perpetual action.
Through perpetual engagement, practice and devotion may we keep the light of Judaism and democracy burning brightly, especially during challenging times.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 21, 2025
Repro Shabbat: Reaffirming Our Commitment to Choice
Along with hundreds of other congregations Temple Adath Israel is proud to take part this evening in “Repro Shabbat.” Why this Sabbath? In part, it was chosen by the National Council of Jewish Women because this week we read the Torah portion Mishpatim (Laws), which includes legislation about pregnancy. At a time when reproductive freedom is being eroded, it is important to remember that the Union for Reform Judaism, the Religious Action Center and the Central Conference of American Rabbis have long recognized that the freedom to choose is consistent with our values of autonomy, equality and justice.
Progress is not promised to us. It is not an inevitable outcome of people becoming more enlightened over time. If we want progress, we must work for it, protect it, sustain it and advocate for it. We are not destined to see an expansion of freedom. History is not one directional. Today, people Kentucky and other states have less reproductive freedom than we had in the 1970s. The b’nai mitzah and confirmation students of recent years are entering adulthood with less access to abortion than previous generations, not more. There are no guarantees of liberty. The pendulum of change swings forward and backward. Nothing can be taken for granted.
Because of the confirmation class’s trip to Memphis this weekend, I cannot be here for this service, but rest assured I am with you in spirit. It has been an honor to work on this service with Lauren Hill, Harold Sherman and members of Shir Adat. I am grateful to TAI’s Board of Directors for supporting this effort and to our partner organizations – Ohavay Zion Synagogue, Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, Hadassah, and Hillel –for their participation. Please join me in thanking everyone for all they have contributed.
May our prayer and study tonight reaffirm our commitment to reproductive freedom. May this gathering deepen our understanding of it and strengthen our willingness to work for it. May the One who entrusts us with the power of choice inspire us to protect and defend the freedom to choose.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 7, 2025
Soundtrack of Your Life: Reflection for the Sabbath of Songs
At tonight’s service we celebrate Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Songs. It is known for the songs Moses and Miriam sang when our people were rescued at the Red Sea. Music is always an important component of our service, but tonight we will place an even greater emphasis on it.
The parting of the sea brings together two concepts we can readily grasp: transformative moments and memorable songs. When Moses and Miriam sing, they are consecrating the moment of Israel’s redemption. God has suspended the rules of nature and destroyed Pharaoh’s army. Freedom is no longer an abstraction. There are no more chariots and riders to hunt down the people and forcibly return them to slavery. Whatever the uncertain future holds, it no longer includes Pharaoh.
Just as songs lend meaning and emotion to our Torah portion, there is a soundtrack to our lives. All of us have experienced transformative moments, from falling in love to losing a loved one, from remarkable joy to resounding disappointment. Whether it was a song you requested at your wedding or prom, or a song on the radio or Spotify a few weeks after someone died, music grounds us in memory in ways nothing else can.
In lieu of a regular Torah commentary or text study at tonight’s service, we’ll share reflections about the role music plays in our existence. You and your conversation partner will be asked what songs you associate with transformative moments in your life; what song or songs mean the most to you and why; and what songs gave you the strength to keep on going, the wisdom to be more grateful, or reasons to be more loving. (For those attending services online, please sign in to the chat so you and others at home may share your answers with one another.)
May the songs we sing and reflections we share enhance our appreciation of prayer and understanding of one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 31, 2025
Calm and Quiet: Jeremiah’s Assurance for Disturbing Times
After a week of turmoil and tumult, we can find strength in the Haftorah (the selection from the Prophets) for this Shabbat.
“Have no fear, my servant Jacob,
Be not dismayed, O Israel!
I will deliver you from far away,
Your folk from the land of captivity;
And Jacob again shall have calm
And quiet, with none to trouble him.” (Jeremiah 46:27)
_____
God of the fearful and dismayed,
the anxious and agitated, the worried and wearied, the pained and perplexed,
Help us to resist the temptation to succumb to despair.
Strengthen our resolve not to turn away, nor to disengage and desist from that which needs to be done. Deliver us from defeatism and discouragement.
Grant us moments of calm and days of quiet amidst the rage and rancor we see all around us.
And with that calm and quiet may we bring comfort and caring to all of those who are counting on us.
Blessed Are You, O God, Source of Goodness, Who calls us to do what is good.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 24, 2025
May the Cease Fire Hold
Makor Ha’Shalom, Source of Peace, we gather together this Shabbat with prayers that the cease fire continues to hold, that more hostages are released, that the displaced can find refuge, that the hungry can be fed, that the sick can be treated, and the dead can be buried. For more than 15 months we have seen heartbreak and havoc, destruction and devastation. God of hope and healing, may this moment truly be a turning point. May the region turn from revenge to rebuilding, poverty to prosperity, cruelty to compassion.
As Jacob held on to the angel,
May this cease fire hold.
As Hannah held on through mockery and false accusation,
May this cease fire hold.
As You hold back cataclysmic waters in keeping with Your promise to Noah after The Flood,
May this cease fire hold.
As parents hold fast to their children,
May this cease fire hold.
As dreamers “hold fast to dreams,”
May this cease fire hold.
As prophets hold fast to truth,
May this cease fire hold.
As we hold fast to Torah,
May this cease fire hold.
As the distraught hold on to hope,
May this cease fire hold.
As the mourning hold on to memories,
May this cease fire hold.
As the living hold on to life,
May this cease fire hold.
“It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it and all of its supporters are happy.
Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.”
Source of Holiness, we pray in the name of all that is holy:
May this cease fire hold.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 17, 2025
MLK Shabbat and the Return of Our Redemption Story
It is poetically fitting that once again we celebrate our Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat on a week in which we restart our annual reading of the Book of Exodus. This year the focus of our service is honoring the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. We welcome tonight’s guest speaker, Dr. Gerald Smith, and thank him for his message. Music this evening will be led by Shir Adat and Gabe Robitaille.
Exodus reminds us that the road to freedom is long and hard. Moses, like Dr. King, is not instantly or universally accepted as a leader, and his demands are not met immediately or unconditionally. The Voting Rights Act was not a miracle. It was the culmination of painstaking efforts requiring sacrifices of blood, sweat and tears. Prayer is an essential element of spiritual life, but it is not enough. Restoring and preserving the Voting Rights Act demands persistent work and insistence on justice. We come together tonight not only to pray but to recommit ourselves to action critical to our democracy.
Years ago, Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote that the Civil Rights Movement was “no time for neutrality.” We cannot stand by while access to the ballot is imperiled by ideologies governed by hate and devoid of facts. Reason and righteousness demand otherwise.
So, too, on this weekend honoring Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolent change, we welcome the news of a proposed cease fire in Israel and Gaza, and pray that implementation of the plan will be fulfilled so the region may one day realize the promise of peace. May the hostages be returned home, and may death and destruction finally come to an end. Let the legacy of Dr. King, the Civil Rights Movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act remind us that the furtherance of peace and justice are possible when we are prepared to work for it. May returning to the story of our redemption from Egypt remind us to redeem our nation from attempts to turn back the hard-won progress for which so many sacrificed so much.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 10, 2025
Recovery From the Ruins: Responding to Southern California Wildfires
As we prepare for Shabbat this evening, we are painfully aware that this is not a time of rest and joy for thousands of people who have lost their homes in the latest round of wildfires fires in Southern California. We mourn for those who have lost their lives and pray that those who have been injured will make a full recovery. The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center has been destroyed, and other Jewish institutions have been damaged. Please review the list of organizations below that are raising money to assist those in need.
May the people of Southern California be blessed with hope and healing, recovery and resilience. May they find inspiration from the words found in Nehemiah, where the beleaguered people overlook the burned-out city of Jerusalem and declare, “Let us rise up and rebuild.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 3, 2025
Released From Revenge: Judah’s Words and Joseph’s Heart
“ ‘Please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go back with his brothers.
For how can I go back to my father unless the boy is with me? Let me not be witness to the woe that would overtake my father!’ ” (Genesis 44:33-34)
With these dramatic words from this week’s Torah portion, Vayigash, Judah prompts a change of heart in Pharoah’s viceroy, who unbeknownst to him is the brother that he and his siblings sold into slavery. Until this moment, Joseph has withheld his identity from his brothers, intimidating them with accusations, interrogating their every utterance, framing them for theft and holding one of them hostage.
But now Judah’s words have struck a chord. The father whom Judah is terrified of hurting is Joseph’s father, too. The aggrieved brother realizes that while his brothers deserve to suffer for what they did, their father does not. The unintended consequence of the ordeals to which Joseph has subjected his brothers since they came to Egypt begging for food is that all this time he has been hurting his father, who has suffered too much already. Indeed, the threat of losing Benjamin is a retraumatization of losing Joseph. The desire for revenge has reached a breaking point. Joseph can pursue it no longer. The realization that in punishing the brothers he has been hurting Jacob compels Joseph to stop speaking to them as a harsh and distant viceroy and start speaking to them as family. He literally lets his guard down, sending away his security detail and telling his brothers who he is and why he is going to pardon them.
The dialogue between Judah and Joseph is a fitting lesson for our times. On interpersonal and geopolitical levels we face a basic choice. Are we going to continue a cycle of hate and retaliation or forge a new path grounded in reconciliation and hope? The critical thing to remember is that Joseph could have pursued revenge with impunity. Neither Pharaoh nor anyone in Egypt cares what Joseph does to these Canaanites. But Judah’s words remind Joseph of two inescapable and interrelated truths: Their father cares, and God is watching. The question is not what others might deserve. The question is not what we can get away with. The question is twofold: who also will be hurt when we punish the guilty and what does the Source of Conscience expect of us? When we confront dilemmas from this viewpoint, when we reflect on Joseph’s change of heart, we can find the strength and faith to change direction in our lives, in our relationships and in a world desperately in need of healing and peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 13, 2024
Wrestling With Words: Thoughts for Arts Shabbat
“And he wrestled with an angel until the break of dawn.”
– Genesis 32:24
Back in rabbinical school, a professor once asked us: “What is poetry?” We tried various definitions before he offered his own: “Poetry is language that calls attention to itself.” Most of the time we choose words the best we can. Poetry demands that the writer and reader put painstaking thought into every word.
Recalling the dramatic wrestling match between Jacob and his unnamed opponent, this week’s Torah portion begs a similar question and accompanying answer. What is a poet? What is an artist? What is a singer? What is a writer? A poet is someone who wrestles with words. Someone who agonizes, chews nails, sweats bullets, loses sleep, frets, fusses, paces the floor and pounds the table over words. When Polonius asks Hamlet what he is reading, he flatly answers: “Words.” “Yes”, responds the long-winded advisor “But what is the matter?”
Poets wrestle meaning out of words so we can reflect on why, how, when and where they matter. As we gather this evening for Arts Shabbat, we give thanks for all of tonight’s participants: Lisa Miller, Lisa Taulbee, Dan Taulbee, Anna Mandel, Fran Mandel, Susan Cobin, Reva Schottenstein, Kevin Cohen, Gloria Lenhoff and Carly Conatser. Tonight is an intellectual and spiritual wrestling match that pairs artists and participants against the toughest questions of life.
What does it mean to be human? How can we find meaning amid torrents of meaninglessness? How can we reclaim hope amid disappointment? How can we be grateful amid heartbreak? How can we speak of oneness in the presence of deep disagreement? Why do we keep praying for peace despite the relentless reality of war?
Y’Shar Koach (May you have strength) and Todah Raba (thank you) to all of tonight’s writers, singers and participants for wrestling meaning out of words, silence and sounds. May your wrestling enrich our understanding of what is the matter and deepen our appreciation of what matters most. May the One who transformed Jacob through his wrestling match with an unnamed opponent transform us through listening to your
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 6, 2024
Tales of a Runaway Patriarch: Fleeing or Facing Those We Have Wronged
You can’t run away from your problems. In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob performs a wonderful example of what not to do. There are many ways to attempt to make amends for stealing the birthright and blessing from his brother, but running away isn’t one of them. Does Esau say he’d like to kill Jacob for what he did? Yes. How many times have we uttered those words or something similar? Does Jacob truly believe that Esau is plotting to kill him? We’ll never know. What we do know is that of all the options available to him, Jacob chooses to run away. We can’t run away from wrongdoing. We might be able to escape the consequences, but we cannot escape our conscience.
Jacob has to live with what he has done for the rest of his life. For the 20 years he put off facing Esau, every day was a lost opportunity to have made teshuva, said he was sorry, tried to repent, taken responsibility. Hurting one another is something we all do. Yet each of us has the opportunity to face our failures, misdeeds and weaknesses rather than running from them.
It’s difficult to imagine 20 years of self-imposed exile. It’s a long time. In the case of young people like Jacob and Esau, it means passing up on some of the healthiest and happiest years of their lives.
This week, when we study Jacob fleeing from home, let us reflect on his mistakes and learn from them. Let us confront our problems, acknowledge our misdeeds, and work on our weaknesses. Let us remember that the fear of what others might do or say may be real, but it doesn’t give us permission to abandon our obligations.
Fears are meant to be faced, not fled. Just as Jacob must face Esau eventually, so, too, each of us reaches a moment when we no longer can run from our past. May all of us find the courage, integrity and humility to admit where we have fallen short, resist the temptation to run away, and embrace the challenge of repentance, reconciliation and return.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 29, 2024
Favoritism: Thoughts on Parshat Tol’dot
If you are familiar with our dinners before services, you have heard me make the same spiel a dozen times: “Rabbis, parents, grandparents, teachers and coaches shouldn’t play favorites. But I have a favorite blessing. The blessing for our children.” Before Shana and I became empty nesters, Zachariah and Emanuelle would roll their eyes every time they sat in the social hall, forced to listen to the same introduction to the same blessing.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us that playing favorites is no joke. There’s nothing cute or funny about it. Rebecca’s betrayal of her son and husband, and Jacob’s deceit against his brother and father sets into motion a catastrophe borne of favoritism with consequences that last for generations.
As serious as playing favorites in family life can be, the implications for favoritism on a societal level are even worse. May we avoid the painful mistake of favoring the rich over the poor, the educated over the underprivileged, Whites over People of Color, straight over gay, cisgender over trans, young over old, male over female, the politically and religiously likeminded over those whose views differ from ours.
The tears of Esau and the tremors of Isaac remind us that favoritism tears families and, ultimately, societies apart. Like Isaac, who favored Esau, and Rebecca, who favored Jacob, we might be tempted to succumb to its siren call. Yet it is an urge we must resist. The sustainability of a just society and a viable planet depends on it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 22, 2024
Strong Jewish Women: Reflections on Two Matriarchs
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, is one of a few parshas named for an individual and the only one named for a woman. It is also the most ironically named portion: “The Life of Sarah” begins with the announcement of her death. Yet it is a pivotal portion in that it takes us from one matriarch to another. Not long after Sarah exits the stage, Rebecca makes her dramatic entrance. Like Sarah, the choices she makes, the courage she displays, the transition and change she is prepared to put up with are emblematic of generations of strong Jewish women to come. Neither of them is perfect. The patriarchs weren’t, either, and neither are we. Yet the survival of this fledging people – and the survival of our people throughout the centuries – is impossible to imagine without the sacrifices they made and the love they gave. Appreciating strong Jewish women should not be reserved for Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and Sisterhood and Hadassah Shabbats. Yes, all of those days matter, but we pay lip service to honoring women if these are the only days we acknowledge their leadership and contributions. This sabbath is also as good a time as any to thank all the women in our congregation and throughout our movement who do not choose to convert but fully commit themselves to raising Jewish children and contributing to the survival of our communities.
Join us at Torah Study tomorrow when we will read Rabbi Dr. Wendy Zeiler’s commentary “The Life of Sarah: Abstract and Addenda.” The author’s feminist approach, drawing on poetry and classic sources, offers a profound interpretation on this unique parsha.
Let’s take this Shabbat, filled with stories of our matriarchs, as an opportunity to thank the women in our lives.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 15, 2024
A World Without Angels: Saving the Children of Ismael and Isaac
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, contains two stories about how Abraham’s sons escaped near-death experiences. Ishmael, fathered by Abraham through his slave, Hagar, is in peril of dying from dehydration in the wilderness when an angel directs his mother to a previously unseen well. A few chapters later, Isaac, Abraham’s only child through Sarah, is almost sacrificed on Mount Moriah before an angel of God informs Abraham that he need not put his son to death.
In both passages, angels of the Eternal prevent what would have been disastrous outcomes. Today, as the children of Ishmael and Isaac remain in deadly conflict, we cannot rely on angels to intervene. The survival of Abraham’s children requires human leadership, human determination and human intervention. God has given us the wisdom, insight and persistence to put an end to the violence. Whether we believe in angels is a matter of personal theology; whether we can rely on them is a matter of common sense.
The children of Abraham, the descendants of brothers Isaac and Ishmael, have been at one another’s throats for far too long. We can work to sustain each other’s survival or continue down a path of mutually assured destruction. No angels will save us. The prospect of a better life for people throughout the region is up to their leaders and the community of nations, including ours. This week, when we read of the miraculous survival of brothers, let us work and pray that human intervention will spare the lives of those living in peril and that all God’s children may yet know peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 8, 2024
Appreciation on the Shabbat Before Veterans Day
On this Shabbat before Veterans Day, we give thanks for those who serve/served in all branches of our military. If you are serving now or have served, we will ask you to please lead us in the prayer for peace when we reach that moment in tonight’s service. After a long, hard and divisive campaign season, Veterans Day is an important reminder of that which unites us.
We pray that all branches of our military are places where people of all faiths, races, political beliefs and sexual orientations feel safe, protected, appreciated and respected. May all of us be inspired by the courage, sacrifice, dedication and selflessness that our military represents at its best. We take pride in all members, past and present, who serve in our country’s defense forces and represent our Jewish heritage with bravery, commitment and integrity.
We pray that one day we will fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah, “turning swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks.” Until then, as long as defense remains a practical necessity, we give thanks to those who give of themselves so the rest of us can live in safety and freedom. May God bless all who serve, and may those who serve know peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 25, 2024
Simchat Torah and 50+
Please join us for a lively and festive service tonight celebrating Simchat Torah and our TAI couples married 50 years or longer. Music will be led by Shir Adat.
Typically, the service honoring these couples is on Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but because that Friday came on the heels on Rosh Hashanah, we opted to move this service to Simchat Torah.
Our couples will lead the candle lighting and kiddush, and be called for the first Torah blessing. Mazel tov to all our couples! Shir Adat will be honored with the second Torah blessing as a way of saying thank you for all the beautiful music they provide throughout the year.
Arly Weinstein will celebrate the first anniversary of her Bat Mitzvah by chanting the end of Deuteronomy and beginning of Genesis. Rabbi Harry Rothstein, a new member of our community, will read a section of his Torah portion from Exodus.
People will be invited to stand by the Torah portion they chanted on their bar/bat mitzvah no matter when it was. We will need your help to support the entire Torah so people can stand at their respective places.
We will dance around the sanctuary with our Torah scroll as we celebrate our wonderful couples and the beginning of a new year of reading Torah.
We wish our couples and one another Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik, may you always go from strength to strength.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Simchat Torah,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 18, 2024
A Prayer for Sukkot
As we turn from the High Holy Days to Sukkot and Simchat Torah, let us keep in mind the values of this sacred season. May we welcome the stranger, give to the needy, shelter the unhoused, feed the hungry, clothe the shivering, and comfort the weary. May this festival inspire us to be grateful for what we have and to practice generosity toward those who have lost so much. Whether the cause of someone’s distress is a hurricane, a flood, a fire or war, may we take the opportunity of these days of Sukkot to increase our efforts to help our fellow human beings. May we enter into our sukkahs in peace and depart from them with renewed sense of purpose. May this be our blessing, and let us say: Amen
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 11, 2024
Sabbath of Sabbaths: The Work of T’shuvah and Promise of Peace
We gather on this Yom Kippur, this Shabbat Shabbaton, this Sabbath of Sabbaths, seeking reconciliation and peace amid a backdrop of suffering and war. On this year when Yom Kippur takes place on Shabbat, it is all the more worthwhile to ask why the rabbis call Yom Kippur the Sabbath of Sabbaths. Why not Rosh Hashanah, why not Sukkot, why not Passover, why not Simchat Torah?
Shabbat celebrates creation and liberation. Yom Kippur focuses on repentance and forgiveness. T’shuvah, repentance, is the price of admission that makes the blessings of creation and liberation attainable. We cannot go on treating our planet as we do without continued costs to creation. We have to admit the recklessness of the status quo and chart a new course of action to preserve our planet for the sake of all who dwell on it. We cannot rescue our one and only home without acknowledging the truth and changing our ways.
We cannot have freedom from tyranny, poverty and cruelty without t’shuvah. We cannot hope to make things right without recognizing what we have done wrong. We will not fully experience liberty without putting love of humanity above hostility and hatred.
We can neither have a sustainable planet nor freedom for all while pretending that everything is alright. Shabbat, according to the rabbis, is a taste of the world to come. Shabbat invites us to pretend for 24 hours that everything is perfect. Yom Kippur urges us to remember that nothing is perfect, least of all us. It is a wakeup call that the only way things will get better is if we work to improve them. There can be no transformation in the personal or societal realm without t’shuvah. Repentance is the first step to repair. To wish one another a “shabbat shalom,” a sabbath of peace, carries with it the readiness to work for peace.
May we rededicate ourselves on this Shabbat Shabbaton, to do the hard work of achieving the poetic promises proclaimed by the Day of Rest. May Yom Kippur deepen our devotion to the ideals of Shabbat, and may Shabbat enhance our dedication to the labor of Yom Kippur.
Shabbat Shalom G’mar Chatimah Tovah,
May we have a sabbath of peace and may we seal the year with goodness.
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 4, 2024
A Prayer for Shabbat Shuvah
On this Sabbath of Repentance, we pray for the moral strength to engage in t’shuvah.
May shabbat holiness remind us to engage in efforts of sincere atonement.
May shabbat joy inspire us to find happiness in reminding people how much we love them.
And may shabbat peace renew our hopes of bringing an end to war.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Ha’Rotzeh Bit’shuvah.
Blessed Are You, O God, who welcomes repentance.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 27, 2024
A Prayer for Peace on the Final Shabbat of 5784
As leaders of the world gather this week at the United Nations, we pray once again for peace. May wars in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Myanmar and far too many other places around our troubled planet come to an end. On this the final Shabbat of the Jewish year, we pray that the world finally will rid itself of this least desirable method of conflict resolution.
Our Creator has endowed us with sufficient intelligence, compassion and vision to resolve our differences in less destructive ways. May this latest gathering of world leaders remind them and us that we are called on to care for rather than kill one another. As the Israeli folk song says: “I promise you, my little daughter, that this war will be the last war.”
On this last Shabbat of a year laden with wars, we pray that these current ones will be the last ones. May the Source of peace move us to make peace. May the words of Isaiah, displayed outside the U.N., inform every discussion, debate and decision inside its walls. “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore.”
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 20, 2024
A Prayer for Isaiah’s Vision of Peace
I will appoint Well-being as your government,
Prosperity as your officials. The cry “Violence!”
Shall no more be heard in your land,
Nor “Wrack and ruin!”
Within your borders. (Isaiah 60:17-18)
God of peace and prosperity, wisdom and well-being.
We turn to this week’s haftarah seeking guidance for our troubled times.
Let us urge our leaders to promote the advancement of those who have been neglected and mistreated so prosperity can be shared by all.
May cries of violence, at home and abroad, turn to sustained efforts for peace and justice.
May the frequency and intensity of wrack and ruin give way to abounding reports of rebuilding, reconciliation and renewal.
Baruch Ata Adonai, HaTov v’HaMeitiv
Blessed Are You, O God who calls upon us to imagine a better world and work to make it so.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 13, 2024
From Curse to Blessing
“They hired Balaam to curse you. But the Eternal your God refused to heed Balaam; instead, the Eternal your God turned curse into blessing for you, for the Eternal your God loves you.” (Deuteronomy 23:5-6)
God of our ancestors, Source of salvation and survival,
In this week where we study the words of parsha K Teitzei, help us consider the consequences of curses and the benefits of blessings. The temptation to wish ill upon others is as present in our times as in those of Torah. When we were wandering in the wilderness, subject to the elements and vulnerable to attack, You protected us from the curses of those who hated us for no reason. Now we pray that You will protect the vulnerable among us today from reckless words intended to increase hatred and fear. As a people subjected to blood libels and pogroms, we know all too well that distorting the truth can have dire consequences.
Inspired by how you turned Balaam’s efforts to curse into blessing, may we reject hate speech and untruths directed at those who need our help and protection. No matter how angry or embittered we become, may we resist the urge to curse our fellow human beings, and find a way to bless one another.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 6, 2024
Trauma Past and Present: Confronting the Anniversary of 9/11 After the Murder of 6 More Hostages
The Shabbat before 9/11 is always difficult, but this year’s observance is particularly so. It is the first 9/11 anniversary since the terrorist attack of Oct. 7, which soon will have its own anniversary. The murder of 6 hostages last week, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, son of my Brandeis classmate Rachel Goldberg-Polin, makes this moment all the more painful. The traumatic wounds of recent days have reopened those of more than 20 years past.
When we gathered at TAI a week after the attack in Israel, Professor Sheila Jelen, a longtime family friend of the Goldberg-Polins, read Rachel’s open letter about Hersh. For almost a year we have been holding on to hope for this brave young man. In the wake of the terrible news that broke last Saturday night, we join our voices with people around the world wishing his family and those of the other slain hostages love and strength in this time of devastating loss.
Now we face the challenge of holding on to hope for the remaining hostages. We pray for their safe and speedy return and for an end to this war that has taken far too many lives. The psalm for the month of Elul, which began this week as we prepare for the High Holy Days, holds special meaning during crises such as this.
“When evil ones assail to devour my flesh, it is they my enemies who stumble and fall. Hear me, O God, when I cry aloud; have mercy on me, answer me. You who have ever been my help, do not forsake me, do not abandon me, O God my deliverer. Show me your way, O God, and lead me on a level path because of my watchful foes. Do not subject me to the will of my foes … . Had I not the assurance that I would enjoy the goodness of God in the land of the living… Look to God; be strong and of good courage! O look to God!” (Psalms 27).
We pray with the Psalmist that no matter the fanaticism of the foe or extremism of the enemy, that the helpless, the innocent, the suffering, the captive, can yet know freedom, goodness and joy. In a world without assurances, we seek strength and comfort in the thought that hope is still worth holding on to and that peace remains possible. Let us never forsake our faith in a better tomorrow. On this night when we mourn our dead, let us rededicate ourselves to forging a better life for the living. May the trauma of terror and violence, past and present, never diminish our devotion to building a brighter future for all humanity.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 31, 2024
No Needy
“There shall be no needy among you — since God will bless you in the land that God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 15:4)
God of all people in all lands. As we look around the beautiful world You created, we confess that there are far too many in dire need. We reflect on the promise in this week’s Torah portion and wonder if we can ever fulfill it.
Too many people are in need of food. Too many people are in need of water. Too many people are in need of sanitation. Too many people are in need of housing. Too many people are in need of clothing. Too many people are in need of health care. Too many people are in need of freedom. Too many people are in need of justice.
May the time come, speedily in our days, when we can devote fewer resources to war and make greater investments in peace. May we fulfill the word of Your Torah by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick and injured, sheltering the unhoused, teaching the unlettered, hearing the unheard, caring for the uncared for and loving the unloved.
May The Source of creation, who has given us the resources to meet these human needs, inspire us to provide a better life for the needy. May we abolish poverty, misery and despair so there will be no needy among us. Baruch Ata Adonai, HaTov v’HaMeitiv. Blessed is the source of goodness who call upon us to do what is good.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 23, 2024
The Long Way
“Remember the long way God has made you travel in the wilderness these past 40 years.” (Deuteronomy 8:2)
Rereading these words from this week’s Torah portion, Eikev, evokes such popular songs as “The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles, “Take the Long Way Home” by Supertramp, and “The Long Way Around” by The Chicks. (If you think of others, please email them to me.) It’s one thing to wax poetic about the merits of taking the long route and another to actually live our lives this way. Songs are supposed to be romantic, philosophical and sentimental. Real life does not necessarily afford us such latitude. Time is precious. Patience is limited. Technology has taught us to expect quick results, efficient routes and short wait times. Anything else is disappointing. Waiting and wandering means something must be wrong.
Torah cautions us to think about life differently. What if the people are not yet ready to enter the Promised Land? What if they need time to develop as a community? What if they need to experience the blessing of freedom from slavery before assuming the responsibility of nation-building?
We are impatient by nature. We want what we want, and we want it now. Deuteronomy would have us slow down. Good things are worth waiting for, and good things come to those who wait. This does not mean passivity, detachment or inaction. Rather, it requires asking ourselves if the most direct route, the strongest word or the most forceful action is the wisest one for the situation in which we find ourselves.
There are lessons to be learned through wandering and things to be gained by waiting. Rather than criticizing the long way as inefficient and waiting as wasteful, let us look upon these states of being as stages of development that allow us to grow into the people we need to be. May we find joy in wandering, meaning in waiting, and peace through patience.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 2, 2024
A Prayer for Holocaust Educators Shabbat
God of hope and heartbreak, history and heritage, healing and holiness, w ask your blessing on our statewide Holocaust educators whose efforts we acknowledge tonight.
In a world plagued with hate and fear, help them to teach compassion and courage.
In a world beset with ignorance and resentment, help them to convey knowledge and kindness.
In a world filled with selfishness and harshness, help them to instill generosity and tenderness.
In a world stricken with bigotry and falsehoods, help them to impart mercy and truth.
Grant those who teach about the pain of persecution the gift of inspiring their students to reject oppression of every kind.
Grant them the patience to encounter stereotypes and misunderstandings as opportunities to learn and grow.
Grant them the perseverance to overcome disappointment and disinterest.
Grant them the persistence to encourage difficult questions and appreciate disturbing answers.
Bless the endeavors of these teachers, O, God that they might help to fulfill your sacred words: “What is hateful to you do not do unto any person. Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Blessed are You, Source of Goodness, Who expects us to do what is good. And let us say together:
Amen
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 26, 2024
All Daughters
God of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah: On this Sabbath when we rejoice in the successful inheritance plea of Zelophehad’s daughters, we pray for a world where not only our daughters can go to school but where all daughters can get an education.
And we pray for a world where not only do some daughters have the right to determine what happens to their bodies but where all daughters have self-determination.
We pray for a world where not only our daughters are protected from harassment and violence but where no one’s daughter is subjected to it.
And we pray for a world where not only our daughters are brought up to believe they can pursue any career they wish but where all daughters are taught to believe this.
We pray for a world where not only our daughters can dress according to their standard of what is appropriate but where all daughters can do so.
And we pray for a world where not only our daughters can have the basic freedom to drive a car and travel independently but where these things are recognized as fundamental rights for all.
We pray for a world where not only our daughters will be valued for logic more than looks, but where everyone’s daughter will be valued this way.
And we pray for a world where not only our daughters but everyone’s daughter will have the right to vote and the chance to serve in public office.
We pray for a world where not only our daughters but all daughters will have an equal voice, earn equal pay and experience equal rights.
And we pray that not only our daughters but everyone’s daughter will be treated with dignity, civility and respect.
May the One Who ruled the plea of Zelophehad’s daughters to be just inspire us to do justice for all who dwell on earth.
May this be our blessing and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 19, 2024
Curse or Blessing? Finding a Better Path Amid the Pain of Political Violence
In the wake of last weekend’s horrific assassination attempt that injured former President Trump, killed a firefighter and critically wounded two others, the message of this week’s Torah portion seems all the more poignant. The prophet Balaam is hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the wandering Israelites. God, however, has other plans. Through the help of a talking donkey and sword-wielding angel, Balam is reminded that he should not curse a people who already have endured too much suffering. No matter how high the mountaintop or how hefty the reward, the prophet finds his attempts to curse turned into words of blessing.
In the days after the attack on Mr. Trump’s life, politicians from both major parties have asked us to tone down the rhetoric and consider the consequences of our words. The intensity of political campaigns and underlying dissension within our society all too often bring out the worst in us. The temptation to curse is difficult to resist in a tight election amid a wider context of resentment and mistrust. Yet resist it we must. We can never lose sight of the distinction between the legitimate goal of defeating political opponents and the unacceptable objective of destroying them. Our democracy rests on resolving the question of who gets elected in the safety of the ballot box rather than by lethal bullets fired from a semi-automatic rifle. We need not like one another to love one another. We can challenge our opponents’ ideas without questioning their humanity. We can bless one another as fellow Americans and fellow humans even though we strenuously object to differing agendas.
No angel is going to shake us out of our insistence on taking the wrong path. No talking donkey is going to convince us to open our eyes and take a closer look at the situation in which we find ourselves. God is unlikely to grant us such signs and portents. What God has graciously given us, however, is the gift and responsibility of free will. The power to think before we speak and reflect before we react is in our hands. Let us transform the inclination to curse into a willingness to bless. May the Source of blessing inspire us to bless one another. May The Holy One bless all who run for office, and all who support them, with safety, wisdom and peace.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 12, 2024
Brotherhood Shabbat
“‘Thus says your brother Israel: … Allow us to cross your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, and will not drink water from the wells. We will follow the king’s highway, turning off neither to the left nor right until we have left your country.’” But Edom answered, “‘You shall not pass through us, else we will go out against you with the sword.’” … So Edom would not let Israel cross their territory, and Israel turned away from them.” — Numbers 20: 14-21
It is poetically fitting that the word brother appears in our Torah portion, Chukat, the week of Brotherhood Shabbat. Brotherhood members do a lot of work at TAI, from building the Sukkah, to flipping burgers, to serving as security volunteers/ushers for services. But the most important thing our Brotherhood members do during these divisive times is to model the concept of brotherhood. Last week we heard the word used if we heard “America the Beautiful” over the Fourth of July: “And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” Brotherhood Shabbat invites us to actually think about the word instead of simply using it. For the Torah, Dr. King and John Lennon, the word bespeaks a bond of caring and dignity we share with all humans. It is something more than a sentiment. It is an ideal, a value, a virtue. If we claim to embrace it, then it follows that, unlike the Edomites, there are things we are prepared to sacrifice for it.
The people of Edom were not prepared to offer their fellow humans safe passage through their territory. Their refusal to help their “brother Israel” in even the most minimal way is another biblical reminder of how not to act. Regardless of our gender, sexuality, religious practices or political persuasion, strive to treat all people with brotherhood. Our Eternal Parent, The Creator of all humankind, expects nothing less.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 5, 2024
Don’t Give Up on Us
Samuel said to the people, “Have no fear. You have, indeed, done all those wicked things.
Do not, however, turn away from GOD, but serve GOD with all your heart.
Do not turn away to follow worthless things, which can neither profit nor save but are worthless.
For the sake of God’s great name, GOD will never give up on you, seeing that GOD undertook to make you a covenanted people.
— I Samuel 12:20-22
This week’s haftorah (selection from The Prophets) is a profound reminder of God’s commitment to us. All too often we make the mistake of reducing relationships to quid pro quo. If we do X, we can expect Y. Samuel reminds us that God sees the relationship between human beings and the Divine as more nuanced than that.
God of our ancestors and of these anxious times, we echo the words of your prophet:
Don’t give up on us.
Though we are selfish and foolish,
Don’t give up on us.
Though we can hateful and violent,
Don’t give up on us.
Though we can be arrogant and stubborn,
Don’t give up on us.
Though we disappoint You and one another is endless ways,
Don’t give up on us.
Never give up on us, O God, and may we never give up on You.
Blessed is the Source of Goodness who calls upon us to do what is good. Amen.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 28, 2024
Land of Milk and Honey:
A Prayer for Parashat Sh’lach L’cha
At the end of 40 days, they returned from scouting the land. They went straight to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran, and they made their report to them and to the whole community, as they showed them the fruit of the land. This is what they told him: “We came to the land you sent us to; it does indeed flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. — Numbers 13:25-27
God of Moses and Aaron, God of the scouts and those who heard their report, God of ancient times and the moment we live in now:
In this week, where we study this profound passage amid the perils of war, help us to remember the dream of a beautiful land despite our brutal reality.
May the outpouring of trauma and tears become an outpouring of recovery and relief.
May the growth of starvation and disease be replaced by increased nourishment and healing.
Let rising death tolls and injuries give way to reports of an end to horror and hostility.
Instead of blood and devastation, let the promised land flow once again with milk and honey.
Baruch Ata Adonai, Ha’Tov Veh’Ha’Mayteev.
Blessed are You, Source of Goodness, Who calls us to do what is good. Amen.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 21, 2024
Trumpets of Tranquility: A Prayer for Peace From Parashat B’haalot’cha
“When you are at war in your land against an aggressor who attacks you, you shall sound short blasts on the trumpets, that you may be remembered before your God and be delivered from your enemies. And on your joyous occasions — your fixed festivals and new moon days — you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being. They shall be a reminder of you before your God.” — Numbers 10:9-10
God of Our mothers and fathers, God of conflict and compromise, God of blaring noise and gentle quietude, God of trumpet blasts and drumbeats, God of piercing screams and squeals of glee,
Even though this war continues on, even while efforts at a ceasefire keep collapsing, grant, O God of Mercy, that aggression and attacks will come to an end soon. That trumpet blasts will herald not merely the defeat of enemies but the disappearance of devastation. May it be Your will that the sound of the trumpet signals peace offerings and that contributions of well-being replace what we invest in war.
May the sound of bombardment be transformed to shouts of joy. May blasts of destruction give way to trumpets of tranquility, and may the clash of battle become the calm of peace.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 14, 2024
A Prayer for the Shabbat Before Father’s Day
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. On this sabbath before Father’s Day, we thank you for the gift of our parents and for the blessing of parenthood.
Thank You for fathers who teach the joy of play and importance of hard work.
Thank You for fathers who model the value of practice and the virtue of patience.
Thank You for fathers who impart lessons in accountability and lead by example.
Thank You for fathers who demonstrate forgiveness and teach compassion.
Thank You for fathers who provide material sustenance and emotional support.
Thank You for fathers who believe in our dreams and encourage us to pursue them.
Thank You for fathers who offer criticism when we deserve it and praise when we’ve earned it.
Thank You for fathers who love us and guide us, nudge us and nurture us.
Thank You for fathers who aren’t with us in body but remain with us in spirit.
Thank You for fathers who are part of our daily lives. May we make the most of each day we have with them.
Blessed Are You, Elohai Avotainu, God of our fathers, for giving us fathers to cherish, remember and love. Amen.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 7, 2024
Sisterhood Shabbat
This evening is an opportunity to celebrate Shabbat with the remarkable women of Temple Adath Israel Sisterhood. Sisterhood continues to lead by example by supporting every aspect of temple life. Whether it is Religious School; the Adult Education, Social Action, Music and Worship, Budget, Endowment and Building Committees; Shir Adat or the Mitzvah Garden, you’ll find Sisterhood members donating their time and effort. Our congregation would not be the loving, caring and dynamic place it is without the contributions of Sisterhood. Particularly at this time of year, when we send our youngsters to summer day and overnight camps, we are indebted to Sisterhood scholarship efforts that make this important enrichment in Jewish development accessible to everyone regardless of their financial circumstances.
At a time when women’s right to determine what happens to their bodies has been jeopardized, it even more important to honor women’s intellect, insist on their independence, and recognize their work that all too often is underacknowledged and undervalued.
The Book of Numbers, which we begin again this week, teaches us far more than counting. It is ultimately about the importance of treating one another like we count. May Sisterhood continue to be blessed with outstanding members and leaders who make everyone here feel welcome, respected and loved.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 31, 2024
Congratulations, graduates!
It is poetically fitting that graduation season takes place at a time when we are finishing one book of Torah and starting another. Just as we are completing Leviticus and starting Numbers, so, too, our graduates are completing one chapter of life and embarking on a new one. We are always proud of our graduates, but we should be particularly impressed how this year’s students have weathered the social and emotional challenges of maintaining a positive Jewish identity and connection to community amid intense protest over the war between Israel and Hamas.
Whether you are completing high school, college or graduate school, we want you to know that TAI, Hillel and our Reform movement will be there for you as you navigate the next steps of your journey no matter what they may be. Here at TAI, we share in the naches (pride and joy) of your family and friends. No matter where you go or what you do, we hope to remain an important component of your life and are committed to being there for whatever you need.
Please make sure we have updated email, snail mail and cell phone numbers for you so we can invite you to services, programs and events in person or online. Mazel tov, and please keep in touch. As we say when we finish one book of Torah and start another: Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazeik. “May you go from strength to strength.”
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 24, 2024
Ring any bells?
Does the name John Pleasants ring any bells for you? You might have heard me mention John when we play his melody to V’Shamru at Friday evening services. It is even possible if you read your Temple bulletin that you recall his face from when he sang a number of prayers at my installation service about nine years ago. Whatever the case, you will have an opportunity to refresh your memory when he leads us in song tonight.
Like folks at TAI, John wears many hats. He has done several tours as Ames Jewish Congregation’s president. He is its choir director, guitar player, cantorial soloist and in-house composer. He sets up the television for movie night and stays to help clean up after oneg. Ames was a wonderful preparation for me in coming to Lexington. It’s also a town centered on its university and a congregation that lives by Laura Creamer’s motto: “We are small but mighty.”
Its poetically fitting that John joins us during the week in which read the Leviticus verse inscribed on the Liberty Bell: “proclaim release throughout the land.” In keeping with this commandment, our closing song will be Pete Seger’s “If I Had a Hammer,” which includes the lyric reference “the bell of freedom.” Please join me in welcoming this good friend back to our congregation and join us in song.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 17, 2024
A Sabbath of Elevation
“When you enter the land that I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. He shall elevate the sheaf before God for acceptance in your behalf; the priest shall elevate it on the day after the sabbath.”
Leviticus 23:10-11
God of our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers,
In ancient times, priests elevated sheafs, representing the work and sacrifice of the people, before You.
Tonight we elevate the work, the sacrifices and the voices of women who lead our community through study, worship and charity.
Throughout the year Hadassah lifts up others by working to heal the horrors of war, poverty, disease.
Tonight we ask You to lift them up so we might hear them more keenly and heed their message more closely.
May the words of their mouths and the meditations of their hearts be pleasing in Your sight, Our Rock and Our Redeemer.
May You who elevates humanity from devastation, disappointment and despair elevate us once more as we listen intently to tonight’s leaders and endeavor to honor their prayers by putting their vision into action.
At a time when the spirits of so many have been brought down, may the women of Hadaddash help us to lift each other up that strength may be renewed and hope may be rebuilt.
May this be our blessing and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 10, 2024
A Mother’s Day Prayer for Peace
God of Sarah and Hagar, love and loss, birth and bereavement, joy and sorrow.
On this Sabbath before Mother’s Day, we pause not only to thank our mothers or pay tribute to their memory, but also to acknowledge the pain and heartache of mothers around the world who have lost children to war, poverty and disease.
Too many mothers had children missing from this year’s Passover seder.
Too many mothers had children missing from this year’s celebration of Eid.
Too many mothers are wondering when their children will be released from captivity.
Too many mothers are worrying about their families being driven from their homes.
Too many mothers are struggling to keep their children from starving.
Too many mothers are struggling to keep their children healthy.
Too many mothers have been injured and killed.
Too many mothers won’t watch their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren reach adulthood.
May we honor the pain and sacrifice our mothers endure to bring us into the world by making it a more peaceful, merciful and loving place for all God’s children.
Shabbat Shalom and Best Wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 3, 2024
Scapegoating: Modern Misapplication of an Ancient Practice
Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.
— Leviticus 16:21–22
This week’s Torah portion provides us with the fate of two goats. One is to be sacrificed as a purgation offering and the other is to be sent into the wilderness carrying the sins of the people with it. Today we use the terms “scapegoat” and “scapegoating” in a negative context, meaning to burden undeserving or easy targets with disproportionate blame for a country or community’s problems.
God of past and present, pardon and punishment,
As a people who have been scapegoated throughout history, help us to refrain from visiting such wrongs upon others.
Teach us reject scapegoating of LGBTQ+ people for rejecting categories that fit neither their bodies nor their minds.
Help us refrain from scapegoating immigrants and refugees for pain and suffering that has nothing to do with their legal status.
Remind us to stop scapegoating people whose beliefs are different from ours by blaming their ideology for everything we dislike.
Make us understand that we cannot lay blame literally or figuratively on others in a misguided attempt to rid ourselves of the consequences of our own failures.
Show us that there is no righteousness without responsibility, that scapegoating is a form of avoidance and evasion leading to greater suffering by shifting blame rather than accepting it.
May we find better ways to cleanse ourselves of disappointing You than passing our sins onto others.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 26, 2024
Sacred Stories: Commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday
This year’s commemoration of Yom HaShoah will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Ohavay Zion Synagogue. In keeping with the constructs of the Passover and the seders, our service will emphasize the importance of storytelling, known as maggid. Beth Ellen Rosenbaum, Lynne Zimmerman and Sheila Jelen will share their respective family narratives pertaining to the Holocaust. Judaism views storytelling as something far more than entertainment. As the Haggadah and the history of our people remind us, storytelling is a sacred task, one that preserves memory and spurs us to action.
Yom HaShoah and the field of Holocaust studies convey that when we say “never again” we mean not anyone, not anywhere, not anytime. Just as the Exodus story is ultimately about all of humanity deserving to be free, so, too, Holocaust Remembrance Day mourns the 6 million and challenges us to speak out against genocide and ethnic cleansing no matter who is being targeted. The message of this year’s storytellers, this year’s maggid, is a sanctification of a particularly Jewish trauma and a call to lift our voices to alleviate suffering no matter where it is taking place.
Music for the service will be provided by the community choir and instrumentalists. In addition to the traditional Yom HaShoah pieces, this year’s program will include Shir L’Shalom conveying our hopes for an end to suffering and a more peaceful future for Israel and the Middle East. Compositions by Ukrainian and Russian Jewish composers will be played to convey our prayers that the ongoing war in Ukraine will cease and that the essential work of rebuilding can begin. As tonight’s service is being led by Shir Adat, many of whom are in the community choir, I would like to especially acknowledge ensemble members Lauren Hill and Karen Petrone for their tireless efforts on Holocaust education.
Please make it a priority to attend Sunday’s service and encourage family and friends to do likewise. May the lessons of the Shoah deepen our appreciation of Passover and may the message of Pesach deepen our understanding of Holocaust Remembrance Day. May the words of this year’s Yom HaShoah maggid renew our commitment to heeding the lessons of history and strengthen our resolve to honor our sacred stories by rededicating ourselves to the work of justice, compassion and peace.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 19, 2024
Mazel Tov, Addison Masters
Tonight and again tomorrow our congregation will rejoice in the Bat Mitzvah of Addison Masters, daughter of Dennis Masters and Amanda Franklin and granddaughter of Debbie Masters and Nick Fain. It is remarkable to think back on how quickly this year has gone. On Simchat Torah we celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of Arly Weinstein, and now, just a few days before Pesach, we celebrate that of Addison. She is proof that there is always something new. In 27 years of rabbinic work, I have never officiated at the bat mitzvah of an executive director’s granddaughter.
I like to tease Nick (who is roughly 10 years my junior) that I can give him advice about teenagers and, in a few years, he can give me advice about grandparenting. I can attest from personal experience that going through the b’nai mitzvah process as a staff member and family member at the same time is not easy. Doing this in one’s first year on the job ─ even though Nick has been here for a long time as a board member, Brotherhood president, Security Committee chair and master chef ─ is no mean feat.
For Debbie, who has worn many volunteer and educational hats at TAI, I would imagine it must be particularly significant to bring two generations to our pulpit to read from the Torah. Many of our children move away, and it is not often enough that we get to celebrate moments like this. Mazel tov to Addison and her entire family for all the hard work that has gone into preparing for this wonderful Sabbath. We are so grateful to be sharing this moment with your multigenerational TAI family. Please join me in congratulating our newest bat mitzvah and wishing her extraordinarily dedicated grandparents all the best.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 12, 2024
Keilim Listening Session: The Sacred Work of Maintaining a Safe Community
On Sunday at 10 a.m., our Keilim Workgroup is hosting a listening session to talk about ways to ensure that Temple Adath Israel is a safe and healing community. This week and next week’s Torah portions, Tazria and M’tzora, are centered on the question of how to keep the people safe from disease. Protecting the community from contagion and providing the afflicted with a time and place to heal are the central themes of this section of Leviticus. It is a poetically fitting time for us as a temple community to address the work of maintaining a safe campus where everyone feels respected and secure.
Keilim, meaning sacred vessels, is an apt term for the tasks this group has undertaken since the release of the Union for Reform Judaism report of 2022 documenting how institutions throughout our movement needed to address past failures to prevent sexual harassment and begin the work of building a future with better oversight and accountability. This is a sacred task that requires input and support throughout the congregation. You might recall that members of the Keilim Workgroup led us last year in a modern addition to the Al Cheyt, part of the High Holy Days confessional. Since the group was formed not long after the release of the report, it has worked diligently in partnership with TAI’s Board of Directors and staff to update our policies and procedures to ensure we have the training, oversight and accountability we need to be a community free from abuse, discrimination and harassment.
The listening session, in the Educational Suite, is open to all members. Come listen, observe and share to the extent you feel comfortable. Please join us in the sacred work of maintaining this place we love as a congregation blessed with health, happiness and holiness.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 5, 2024
A Prayer Upon Devastating Losses: Mourning World Central Kitchen workers and the sons of Aaron
God of the hungry and heartbroken,
On this Shabbat following the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza, we think of this week’s Torah portion, in which Nadav and Abibu, sons of Aaron, perish while trying to do their work as priests.
Just as Moses tried to console his brother, we pray that the families of these brave relief workers can take some measure of comfort in knowing that their loved ones died doing what they believed in, that their loss is not for nothing, that their memories will not be buried with their bodies.
As a people who have known hunger, let us show compassion to the hungry. May lack of food no longer be a consequence of war. May we never relinquish the dream of breaking bread in celebration of the end of hostilities and the beginning of peace. May we make the opening words of seder come true: “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” And let us fulfill the teaching of Pirke Avot: Be like the disciples of Aaron. Seek peace and pursue it.”
Please consider a donation to World Central Kitchen to honor the memories of the workers who died this week.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 29, 2024
“Most Holy”: Reflections on the Transformative Power
of Guilt Offerings
This week’s Torah portion, Tzav, includes instructions for the guilt offering: “This is the ritual for the guilt offering: it is most holy” (Leviticus 7:1). We moderns tend to think of guilt as something dragging us down, holding us back, something depriving us of fun and freedom, something shackling us to discipline and discretion. Torah views guilt as something that holds us accountable and inspires us to live with a stronger sense of obligation. Psychology concurs with Torah’s assertion that guilt needs to be alleviated, but today’s mental health care professionals do not prescribe sacrifices at the Temple.
We should be clear about what Torah is designating as holy here. Guilt is not holy. But the offerings, the work we do to address it, are not only described as holy but “most holy.” Why? Guilt, like any other emotion or instinct, is neither better nor worse than the use to which we put it. Feeling badly about what we did can be a positive step if it leads us to acknowledge what we did and make amends. We cannot bring livestock or crops to the temple, but we can atone for our mistakes by repairing the hurt we have caused to others. T’shuvah, repentance and reparation for wrongdoing, are today’s guilt offerings. It is serious and sacred work. When we practice these actions with sincerity, humility, and resolve, they are indeed most holy.
Shabbat Shalom ,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 22, 2024
Meaning of a Flawed Monarch: A Prayer for Purim
God of hamantaschen and happiness, of festive songs and fun-filled games, may our celebration of Purim this year fill us with hope for a better world and determination to make it so. May we come to see more than a seemingly simple scroll of valor and villainy, courage and corruption as more complex than it appears on the surface. Rather than a tale of opposites, let us come to see it as an allegory of competing inclinations present in every soul. Let us not only applaud the bravery of Vashti and Esther. Let us not only honor the wisdom of Mordechai. Let us also look to the example of a king who had the open-mindedness to change course before it was too late. Without the support of Ahashverosh, the courage of the queen and loyalty of her uncle might have been for naught. May we recognize the self-reflection and risk-taking required to change course. Let the example of the megillah’s flawed monarch never be taken for granted. Yes, we can be foolish, selfish, stubborn and gullible. But we also are blessed with the capacity for listening to advice, looking into our hearts and thinking for ourselves. It is these capacities that save the monarch from the villain, from disaster and from himself. May the melodies we sing tonight inspire us to make our entire weekend a Purim to remember.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 15, 2024
An Endnote to Exodus
This Shabbat we bid farewell to Exodus, at least until Pesach, and turn to Leviticus. The Eytz Chayim Commentary offers a short but sweet thought on reaching this juncture: “The Book of Exodus, which opened with a narrative of misery and oppression, closes on a note of confidence of hope.” As we look around the world, we see horrific misery and oppression. Yet Exodus reminds us of the possibility of transformation and change. What seems to be interminable suffering does not have to be that way. What people have come to accept as brutal facts of life can be overcome. A book that began with the ugliness of slaughter and enslavement ends with commandments of how to beautify the Tabernacle. May we maintain confidence and hope even in these harrowing times. May the heartbreaking realities of poverty and war never lead us to relinquish dreams of justice and peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 8, 2024
Shabbat of International Women’s Day
God of Sarah, Hagar, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Yochevet, Miriam, Shifra, Puah, Dinah, Deborah, Vashti and Esther.
On this Shabbat that coincides with International Women’s Day, we give thanks for the contributions of women who enrich our congregation, community, country and world with their intellect, creativity, devotion and determination.
We pray that one day women throughout the world will be able to access health care, education, freedom of movement and freedom from violence no matter how old they are, where they live, the religion they practice or their financial circumstances.
God of our mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. God of heroines past, present and future. May this day and this sabbath increase our commitment to making the world a place where gender no longer is a barrier to fulfilling one’s potential or reaching one’s dreams. Let us heed women’s voices so all women are valued. May this be our blessing, and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 1, 2024
A Sabbath of Harmony and Happiness
Please join us at services tonight to enjoy beautiful music and to extend our best wishes to Abby Miller and Gabriel Robitaille on the sabbath before their wedding. Tonight’s vocalists are the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Lauren and Sophie Hill, with Harold Sherman providing accompaniment on the keyboard. Many of you are familiar with Lauren as a member of Shir Adat, Zoom director, Religious School teacher, and Holocaust educator. Sophie became a bat mitzvah and was confirmed at TAI, and now sings in the choir in college. The harmonies are going to be heavenly.
Abby also grew up at TAI and has returned as an art teacher at Religious School. Gabe conducts the Junior Choir (Tsipurei Shir) and has led services by themself and with future father-in-law Jonathan Miller. Just as she marked her consecration, bat mitzvah and confirmation at Temple, Abby’s wedding on Sunday will take place on our pulpit. Abby, Gabe and their families are celebrating the sabbath of their wedding by reading from the Torah and chanting the blessings before and after. In Yiddish, this custom is known as an aufruf, meaning “calling up,” and we are delighted that Abby and Gabe are helping us to promote it. For those of you who love Torah reading at Friday services, we hope you will attend.
This week, when we read the Torah portion that details the artistry of Bezalel and his colleagues, we are reminded of how grateful we are to all those who contribute to our Religious School and congregation through visual, culinary and musical arts. Thank you for enriching us and our children with your creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Let us wish the delightful young couple every happiness and listen to the music of a talented tandem with attentive ears and grateful hearts.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 23, 2024
Three Poems About Light
Light has long been a word and an image loved by poets and storytellers throughout the world. This week’s Torah portion, T’tzaveh, begins with a commandment to keep the lamps of the tabernacle burning at all times. It comes as no surprise that most of the poems in the “Voices” section of the Women’s Torah Commentary for this portion seize on this poignant moment. At tonight’s service we will be incorporating three of poems into our prayers.
The first selection, taken from “A Prayer Before Kiddush” by Beyle Hurvits, sets a tone of calm and gratitude. The author playfully points out the irony of lighting candles to honor the Source of Light, while conveying awe and wonder for creation and the Creator. The second reading, “River of Light,” comes from the poet Zelda, whose masterpiece “Everyone Has a Name” might be familiar to many of you. This short but powerful work brings natural and spiritual imagery together into a deeply moving poem that elevates candle lighting, something we do each week, into a moment of astonishing heights. Our third and final poem, “Offering” by Grace Shuman, will be shared as a meditation before Mourners Kaddish. Written in part as a farewell homage to her mother, Shuman’s poem sees light as a source of comfort and continuity in a world of chaos and change.
Whether it appears in our ancient scrolls or more contemporary works, the role and meaning of light challenge us to reconsider how we regard something we rely on but rarely think about. May the works of these poets enhance our appreciation of Shabbat, and may our love of Shabbat enrich our understanding of these poems.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 16, 2024
Our Greatest Gifts: A Blessing for Hearts So Moved
“God spoke to Moses, saying: Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from everyone whose heart is so moved.” (Exodus 25:1)
On this week when we read parashat T’rumah, meaning gift, we are reminded, especially at family services, that children are just that. Tonight, as our fourth-grade class and their teachers lead us in prayer, let us be particularly focused on the gift of learning and instruction. Let us be thankful for the gift of time and effort that teachers and students, parents and volunteers invest in this essential dimension of congregational work. Let us appreciate the gifts of drawings and paintings that begin in the classroom and wind up on our walls and refrigerators, and in our scrapbooks. Let us be grateful for the gifts of songs and dances, challahs, and hamantaschen, Hebrew words and Bible stories that these adorable young people and dedicated faculty busy themselves with on Sundays from late summer until mid-spring.
Just as our teachers and students have moved each other’s hearts, so, too, may our hearts be moved by tonight’s prayers, songs and stories. May God who granted us our greatest gifts accept these gifts from the heart with kindness, happiness and love. Baruch Atah Adonai HaTov v’HaMeitiv. Blessed in the Source of Goodness who calls on us to do good.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 9, 2024
Sending an Angel: A Prayer for Parashat Mishpatim
In the midst of parashat Mishpatim, meaning laws, things that humans have to teach, observ and enforce, comes a verse about a messenger of The Divine.
“I am sending an angel before you to guard you on your way and to bring you to the place that I have made ready.” (Exodus 23:20)
God who guarded our ancestors on their way, guard us now as we go on ours.
On this Shabbat, when we gather to sign “Shalom Aleichem Malachay Ha’Shalom, peace onto you, you angels of peace,” bless us and our troubled world, O God, with advocates, champions and prophets of peace.
Bo-achem l’shalom — Enter in peace.
Barcheinu l’shalom — Bless us with peace.
Tzeit’chem l’shalom — Depart in peace.
May the angel of our Torah portion and the Divine messengers who visit us each shabbat remind us to look beyond the letter of the law that we might grasp its spirit.
May these guardian angels guide us lovingly, tenderly and patiently through journeys fraught with human mishaps and mistakes.
May angels of peace guide us in the pursuit of peace.
Make ready for us, O God of angels and humans, a place where peace is enjoyed by all creation.
Peace be to You, O ministering angels. And peace be unto us. Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
February 2, 2024
Not Alone: Lessons From Parashat Yitro
Moses’ father-in-law said to him,
“The thing you are doing is not right; you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. Now listen to me. I will give you counsel. You shall seek out, from among all the people, capable individuals who fear God — trustworthy ones who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens, and let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you.
If you do this — you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied.”
Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. (Exodus 18:17-19, 21-24)
All too often we make a similar mistake to that of Moses. Thinking, and worse yet acting, as if we have to do everything ourselves. Even someone as righteous, dedicated and intelligent as Moses needed help. When Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, observes the inefficient way Moses is running the court system, he immediately offers a comprehensive plan to improve things. Rather than getting defensive, as anyone might be tempted to do, Moses accepts the advice without argument. It is not easy to ask for help. Strictly speaking Moses does not ask for Jethro’s opinion. Then again, it’s not everyone who would invite their father-in-law to help with a job they were struggling with. Inviting or allowing Jethro to go to court with Moses can be read as soliciting Jethro’s input.
God of Jethro and Moses; give us the generosity to lend help where it is needed, the readiness to accept help when it is offered, and the courage to ask for help, especially when we think we have to solve everything alone.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 26, 2024
A Prayer for the Parting of the Waters: The Moral Impetus of Parashat B’shalach
Source of salvation and deliverance, miracles and marvels, redemption and rejoicing:
On this week when we study how You parted the sea, purified desert waters and provided manna, we are reminded that you are a God who knows, a God who cares and a God who provides.
We pray for the capacity to follow your example. Help us to free those who live under the yolk of oppression. Inspire us to quench the thirst of those who long for potable water. Remind us to provide sustenance for those who are on the verge of starving.
As you noticed and nurtured our people in times of crisis, so may we be attentive to those who need our help.
Blessed are You, parter of the sea, purifier of water and provider of sustenance, who calls on all who live to care for one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
January 19, 2024
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All or Nothing: Reflections on Parashat Bo The following narrative in this week’s Torah portion takes place in the prelude to the plague of locusts. After seven plagues, cracks are starting to form in the court of Egypt. An unrelenting tyrant has found willingness to compromise — within limits. Pharaoh’s courtiers said to him, “How long shall this one be a snare to us? Let a delegation go to worship their God! Are you not yet aware that Egypt is lost?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh and he said to them, “Go, worship your God. Who are the ones to go?” Moses replied, “We will all go — regardless of social station — we will go with our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds; for we must observe God’s festival.” But he said to them, “God be with you — the same as I mean to let your dependents go with you! Clearly, you are bent on mischief. No! You gentlemen go and worship God, since that is what you want.” And they were expelled from Pharaoh’s presence. (Exodus 10:7-11) The passage is a powerful reminder of how different parties approach the same situation. Pharaoh is sufficiently worn down that he is willing to relent a little on his refusal to let the people go. He approaches the conflict as a negotiation. Moses and Aaron, on the other hand, insist that the people’s freedom is not about give and take but rather a divine demand requiring full cooperation. The interchange teaches us that freedom, and by extension all forms of a better life, are not merely something for a select few. Progress, the expansion of rights and liberties, is for everyone. Their willingness to continue the fight into the plague of darkness and tragically the death of the firstborn conveys how serious they are about this all-or-nothing approach. Rather than acquiesce to the exclusion of their wives and children, they walk away from the conversation until Pharaoh is ready to listen. Practicality typically cautions against all-or-nothing approaches as too idealistic or extreme to achieve success. These verses are an important exception. In some circumstances, compromise is a luxury we cannot afford. The cost of a compromise that leaves undervalued people no better off than they were before while others are afforded the chance at a better life is a price too high to pay. May the example of Moses and Aaron inspire us to stand firm during difficult circumstances and remind us that we cannot negotiate away the future of those who need us. As the great Jewish-American poet Emma Lazarus wrote: “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” |
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 22, 2023
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Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 15, 2023
Disguised?
“When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him.” (Genesis 41:7-8)
When Joseph’s brothers stumble hungrily into his wheelhouse years after selling him into slavery, they have no idea who he is. Is it fair to say that Joseph is disguised? Technically, it would seem the answer is no. He is not impersonating the viceroy to Pharoah. He is the duly appointed viceroy to Pharoah. His royal garb is part of his office, not a costume he puts on to fool people. He never lies to them about who he is, but he does withhold it. It is in this withholding that a figurative argument for disguise can be made. The discrepancy in knowledge reinforces the differential in power. Years ago, his brothers forcibly disrobed him and sold him as a slave. Now he wears robes of authority and has the power to strip them of everything.
Joseph’s behavior suggests there are times when disguising ourselves allows us to uncover the true motivations and character of others. It is while wearing the mask that he discovers his brothers possess redeeming qualities such as not wanting to cause their father any more pain. Revealing our true selves to others has a noble ring to it, but it can be fraught with risk. Joseph makes the brothers demonstrate they deserve a second chance rather than granting it with no questions asked.
May Joseph’s use of disguise and disclosure remind us to reflect on the difficult questions of how emotionally vulnerable we can be, under what circumstances and with whom. May his decision to pardon his brothers remind us to have faith in people’s capacity to change. And may his ultimate rejection of retaliation and revenge, when he had the power to act with impunity, inspire us to be cautious and compassionate in our use of power.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 8, 2023
A Hanukkah Prayer for Peace
Rock of Ages, we gather tonight amidst a raging war beseeching You for peace.
May the lights of Hanukkah diminish our darkness.
May the miracles of Hanukkah strengthen our hope.
May the joy of Hanukkah alleviate our sorrow.
May the songs of Hanukkah lift our spirits.
May the story of Hanukkah remind us to honor our past.
May the message of Hanukkah inspire us to make a brighter future.
May the spinning of dreidels restore our love of play.
May the devouring of latkes move us to feed the hungry.
May each candle bring more light, more joy, more courage and more compassion.
And may You, Rock of Ages, bless our troubled world with miraculous peace.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
December 1, 2023
Wrestling: A Prayer for Parshat Yayishlach
“Now Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.” — Genesis 32:25
God of Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael, Cain and Abel,
This week’s Torah portion, with its famous wrestling match, compels us to consider what and whom we wrestle with.
Some of us are wrestling with turmoil of the past.
Others are wrestling with crises of the present.
Some of us are wrestling with the pain we have caused others.
Some of us are wrestling with the pain others have caused us.
Some of us are wrestling with worry over saying no.
Others are wrestling with worry of over saying yes.
Some of us are wrestling with how best to tell the truth.
Others are wrestling with how to break with telling lies.
Some of us, like Jacob, are wrestling with how to face our families.
Others of us are wrestling with how to face our friends.
God of calm and confrontation, tranquility and turmoil, silence and speech,
Be with us when we are alone as you were with Jacob.
Help us feel your presence when it seems as if we are wrestling giants by ourselves.
Strengthen our resolve to wrestle with crises rather than run from them.
Remind us that some things are worth wrestling over,
And some things are better served by letting go.
Teach us when to hold tight to that which might otherwise slip away
And when to loosen our grip before we crush that which cannot be repaired.
God who protected Jacob while he wrestled with the man, or angel or whatever he faced that night,
Be with us as we wrestle with adversity, too.
Blessed Are You, O God, who calls on us to confront the uncomfortable and wrestle with what worries us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 24, 2023
A Blessing for Lorne Dechtenberg
God of melody and harmony, sharps and flats, crescendos and decrescendos, preludes and finales: Tonight marks our farewell service for our musician-in-residence, Dr. Lorne Dechtenberg, an instrumentalist, a vocalist, a conductor, an arranger, a composer, a son, a brother, a colleague, a fiancé and a friend. On this Shabbat after Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude for all he has given us and appreciation for the lasting contributions he has made. We honor Lorne tonight by weaving in his compositions and talents throughout the service, by asking him to conduct, play and sing. Perhaps his extensive knowledge of opera and musicals is what has influenced Lorne’s keen understanding of how music can convey emotion. This is an especially timely gift because it is likely to be an emotional night. A night of mixed emotions. Sadness that Lorne is leaving yet happiness that he has found such a wonderful opportunity in California and announced his engagement to Rachel Rogers.
May the One Who blessed us with the fruit of Lorne’s remarkable talents bless our friend, teacher and master musician as he embarks on the next chapter of his life. May his artistry continue to flourish. May his enthusiasm remain contagious. May his dedication motivate those around him. May his willingness to embrace a challenge strengthen him in difficult times. May his spirit of cooperation lead to great partnerships. May his confidence inspire fellow artists to trust in him and in themselves. May he never quit composing, never quit playing, never quit singing, never stop leading, never stop creating, never stop exploring, never stop trying new things. May his love of learning bring him ever more knowledge and his passion for his craft bring him ever more joy. May he and Rachel grow together as they continue on life’s journey and may their journey through life be blessed with happiness, holiness and peace.
Best of luck Lorne, and mazel tov to the Dechtenberg and Rogers Family.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 17, 2023
The Musical Reasons for Thanksgiving: Appreciation for Dr. Lorne Dechtenberg
The ongoing war between Isarel and Hamas rightfully consumes a great deal of our attention. Shabbat, particularly family services, reminds us of the need to practice gratitude even when life is filled with difficult circumstances and distressing news. It is poetically fitting that the second-to-last service led by our musician-in-residence, Dr. Lorne Dechtenberg, should be the Shabbat before Thanksgiving and his final service will be the day after Thanksgiving. Lorne has given us so much to be thankful for: Shabbat evenings with Shir Adat, The Trio (Lorne, Lauren Hill and Jerry Suhl), services when he was the lone musician, Saturday morning services where he provided music for dozens of b’nai mitzvah students, funeral services where his rendition of El Malei Rachamim moved us to tears, and High Holy Day Services where his recitation of Kol Nidre enhanced our sense of awe. But the greatest gift Lorne has given our congregation is the friendships formed through Shir Adat, both the individual friendships created through the years and the sense of community, of ensemble the group shares as a whole. While there won’t be another Lorne, our appreciation of Shir Adat will not waiver with his departure. We are grateful for those choir members, just as we are grateful for Lorne.
Please join us Sunday at 3 p.m. for a farewell sendoff with cake, gifts and music. Then join us again next Friday for Lorne’s final service, which, fittingly, is with Shir Adat. On behalf of our Temple staff and my predecessors, Rabbis Kline and Roberts, who also worked with Lorne, we hope you will make it a priority to attend these farewell gatherings and encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 10, 2023
Gathering of Grief: The Mitzvah of Mourning and the Pursuit of Peace
This week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, speaks directly to this moment of profound grief and pain in the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza. While the title of the portion means “the life of Sarah,” the opening verse tells us she has died. Sarah, like all biblical personas, is a complicated figure. She was loving to husband Abraham and their son, Isaac, but cruel to her stepson, Ishmael, and his mother, Hagar. Abraham buries her in the cave of Machpelah, thus inaugurating a tomb of the ancestors where Sarah eventually will be joined by other matriarchs and patriarchs.
Torah tells us nothing about Sarah’s funeral, but we can try to imagine the gathering of grief. What if Ishmael came home to comfort his father over the death of his wife and console his half-brother over the death of his mother? What if he felt that his resentment of Sarah for mistreating Hagar and sending them away should not keep him from fulfilling the mitzvah of nichum aveilim, comforting the bereaved? What if he believed that, despite her failings, people he loved were mourning Sarah’s death and he needed to be with them?
Once again, the Promised Land is being ravaged by war. With each passing day, the death count gets higher. This latest war, along with our Torah portion, urges us to ponder the same question Ishamel had to face. Despite all the anger, mistrust and resentment we accumulate in familial or political conflict, can we retain the capacity to see one another as deserving compassion? Can we respond to someone’s suffering, anguish and pain with empathy and consolation even when we are outraged by the cruel decisions and brutal actions of their leaders? During the past month people on both sides of this war have buried people they loved. Mourning our dead is something all humans share. We don’t have to agree on anything to acknowledge each other’s agony.
Torah does not tell us whether Ishmael was present for the burial of his stepmother, but it does tell us about his father’s burial two chapters later. “Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah.” Two brothers divided by jealousy and injustice join together to bury their father with dignity and honor. Ishmael does not argue that the site is also the tomb of Sarah, who sent him away, as an excuse to skip out on burying his father and comforting his younger brother. May the biblical claim that that two different people share a common father be a humbling reminder that God expects humanity from all human beings. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently put it: “In a real sense all life is interrelated. All people are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”
On this first Shabbat following the sheloshim, 30 days since the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, let us try to envision a gathering of grief where the descendants of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, of Isaac and Ishmael, can console one another for the loved ones lost in this latest war and pray to the Parent of all humankind for a just and lasting peace. May the Source of Peace renew our commitment to peace. Let us “seek peace and pursue it” for the sake of all those who so desperately need it, in Israel, Gaza and throughout the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 27, 2023
Rescue for the Captive: Abram, Lot and a Prayer for the Safe Return of Prisoners in Gaza
“Invaders seized all the wealth of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, and his possessions, and departed; for he had settled in Sodom. An escapee brought the news to Abram the Hebrew, who was dwelling at the terebinths of Mamre the Amorite, kinsman of Eshkol and Aner, these being Abram’s allies.
“When Abram heard that his kinsman’s [household] had been taken captive, he mustered his retainers, born into his household, numbering three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. At night, he and his servants deployed against them and defeated them; and he pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the possessions; he also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, and the women and the rest of the people.” (Genesis 14:11-16)
God of worry and anxiety, thought and action, word and deed. As we pray for at least 200 fellow Jews taken captive, may we draw hope and inspiration from this week’s Torah portion. The curse of hostage-taking has been with us throughout history, but so, too, has been the determination to set them free. Just as You granted success and good fortune to Abram’s rescue of Lot, we ask Your blessing on efforts to release innocent captives held in Gaza or wherever they might be. Like that of Abram, far too many families are living with fear of what might be happening to their captive loved ones. Hear them, O God, be with them. May those held in wrongful captivity find the strength to endure. May their families and friends find faith to carry on. May those endeavoring to bring them home achieve their goal. Sanctify their efforts and sacrifices with the blessing of success. Just as You reunited Lot and Abram, we ask that You reunite the family’s suffering this cruel and unjust separation. Baruch Ata Adonai Matir Asurim. Blessed Are You, O God, who redeems the captive.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 20, 2023
Continuing On in the Face of Crisis:
Danit Schachman Speaks on Shabbat Noah
This week’s Torah portion, Noah, poses the question of how people respond to crisis and loss. Noah and his family survive the deluge and assume the tremendous task of creating a new existence. Like the members of Noah’s family, tonight’s speaker, Danit Schachman has just endured a traumatic event.
Danit came to Lexington with her family several years ago and celebrated her Bat Mitzvah and confirmation with us. Her father, Mark, serves on our Executive Committee as temple vice president, chairs our Music and Worship Committee, and teaches 7/8th grade in Religious School. Her mother, Laura, teaches cooking and cultural enrichment in our Religious School and led children’s programming for the High Holy Days. Danit was participating in the Reform movement’s Heller High program in Israel when the terrorist attacks and ensuing war put an end to the program for this semester. She and her classmates were safely evacuated just over a week ago. During last Friday’s Shabbat service, Danit lit the candles in our sanctuary. Tonight, she will be sharing her reflections on what she and her classmates have been through and how she intends to move forward.
In keeping with the theme of continuing on in the face of destruction and despair, our service will include several poems about Noah and the flood interspersed through our regular prayers. We will continue to pray for the return of the hostages, healing for the wounded and comfort for the families of the bereaved in this latest round of heartbreaking violence. Even in this hour of war, may the Source of Peace strengthen our resolve to call for peace. May the strength and resilience of Noah’s family and the Schachman family inspire us to persevere in the trying days ahead.
Please show your support for Danit and her parents by making every effort to attend this evening’s service in person or via Live Stream.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 13, 2023
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October 9, 2023
A Message From Rabbi Wirtschafter
Dear TAI Community,
I was getting ready to lead services Saturday for Simchat Torah and the Bat Mitzvah of Arly Weinstein here at Temple when I noticed reports about Hamas attacks in Southern Israel. The massacre and ongoing hostage crisis are horrifying.
Like you, I am heartbroken by the images and videos being shared, and deeply worried for family and friends. In my Kol Nidre sermon about the current situation in Israel I quoted T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. Please read T’ruah’s statement about the current conflict below and follow TAI emails closely for updates. (Note: Since the statement below was released, the number of Israeli deaths has risen to about 800 with nearly 2,400 wounded, while the number of captives is at least 150, according to The New York Times. It reported deaths of Palestinians at nearly 700.)
North American Rabbis Mourn Deaths of Israelis In Terror Attack
NEW YORK — T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in North America, condemned the horrific murders of over 700 Israeli citizens. They shared prayers for the thousands of wounded and called for the immediate, safe release of the over 100 hostages — including elderly people, children, and entire families — who have been kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza. They expressed fear for the ongoing impact this will have on innocent Israelis and Palestinians in the coming days and weeks ahead.
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said: “Our hearts are broken for those killed, and for those who lost family, friends, and neighbors in Hamas’ horrific and indefensible terror attacks in Southern Israel this Saturday. There is no possible justification for cruelly and indiscriminately murdering civilians and taking innocent people as hostages, both of which are war crimes.
“As these attacks happened, many of us were celebrating the twin holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Zman simchateinu (literally, ‘the season of our rejoicing’) became a time of horror, of mourning, and of pain.
“We pray for the safety of our families, friends, rabbinic and other colleagues, T’ruah staff members, and everyone in our broader community in Israel. We know that the shock and pain will not pass quickly; we feel the reverberations of this massacre throughout the Jewish diaspora.
“As in other times of intense grief and fear, we turn to the wisdom of Jewish tradition — a tradition born of centuries of dispossession and communal grief. This wisdom reminds us that mourning cannot be rushed or denied. We cry out in the words of the Psalms: ‘Out of the depths I call you, oh God. Oh God, listen to my cry; let your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy’ (Psalm 130). We pray for the swift return of those held captive: ‘May the Holy Blessed One have compassion on them and bring them out from darkness and the shadow of death, may God break their bonds, deliver them from their distress, and bring them swiftly back to their families’ embrace’
“We know that more terrifying times lay ahead. We mourn and we pray for the safety of everyone in harm’s way, as the violence threatens to claim the lives of even more Israelis, as well as Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Most Israelis and Palestinians want to live in peace, security, and dignity. The road may be long, but we will not allow the enemies of peace to hijack our dreams of a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. We know that a true and lasting peace will not be achieved until there is a just, negotiated political solution that protects the human rights of everyone.”
Upcoming events and ways to help right now
Our Hearts are in the East: A Musical Event in Solidarity with Israel
8 p.m. Tonight
Join us for a gathering of solidarity featuring music, poetry, and prayer from musicians, clergy, and friends.
Register for the event
Donate to the JNFA Campaign
Jewish Federations are responding, working with our core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedent levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.
The URJ is participating in the campaign.
Donate Now
Israel at War: Call for Medical & Nursing Volunteers
Israel is at war. Many hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed and many medical personnel are being called up to serve in the army. Hospitals throughout Israel are desperate for volunteers to fill in the ranks. Anyone with a valid license in ISRAEL or a Western Country (US, Canada, EU) in medicine, nursing, nurse practitioner, and other critical credentials: if you have time to volunteer please provide your contact info here so we can disperse to the relevant hospitals who may need you.
Fill out form
October 6, 2023
From Sadness to Joy: The Final Day of Sukkot plus Simchat Torah and a Bat Mitzvah
Jewish time is a far more complicated concept than running 15 or more minutes late. It is about accommodating multiple emotions and different needs within a common time frame. The next 24 hours are a case in point. Tonight’s service for Shabbat and the final day of Sukkot will include Yizkor, memorial prayers that are recited on Yom Kippur and the three Pilgrimage Festivals: Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot. As is the case on a yahrzeit, (the anniversary of a death), it is customary to light a candle or candles for those no longer with us. The El Malay Rachamim, a prayer for God’s compassion, will be chanted, and the names of congregants we have lost over the past year will be read. Because it is a holiday, our Bat Mitzvah student, Arly Weinstein, will recite an especially challenging Kiddush (sanctification of the wine) for Shabbat and the Festival. Shir Adat and Dr. Lorne Dechtenberg, our musician in residence, will be singing additional songs as well, including “Turn, Turn, Turn,” Pete Seger’s take on Ecclesiastes, the Wisdom reading for Sukkot.
Tomorrow morning takes on a very different tone. In addition to the Bat Mitzvah, it is also Simchat Torah, the holiday that closes out Sukkot and the High Holy Days season, and celebrates the completion and starting of new cycle of Torah reading. As part of this service, our processional through the sanctuary will be even more festive and joyful than usual. Everyone will be invited to sing and dance as we parade around the sanctuary with our Torah scrolls while doing a hora or two. Arly will be chanting from two scrolls, one for the end of Deuteronomy and another for the start of Genesis. The occasion also calls for the student to learn a different blessing than we normally use after the Haftorah. The service will be about half an hour longer than a typical Saturday morning b’nai mitzvah, so please eat a hearty breakfast as lunch will be later than usual.
The liturgical additions to the Friday and Saturday services require time and effort from the Bat Mitzvah family and the congregation. We are grateful to Arly and the entire Weinstein family for the flexibility and generosity of spirit required to make all the elements fit together. Liturgy, like life itself, is often about tradeoffs. While Friday’s service will be more solemn than usual, Saturday morning will be even more festive than usual. If and when life requires us to accommodate both emotions within a tight time frame, may we always be blessed to go from sadness to joy. Mazel tov to Arly and the entire family. Please make a special effort to attend services tonight and tomorrow morning.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 29, 2023
Grace Period: Making the Most of Sukkot
and Simchat Torah
The rabbis teach that the High Holy Days and Season of Repentance do not end with break the fast on Yom Kippur. Like a generous teacher or flexible administrator, we are supposed to grant one another a repentance extension through Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Due dates have their purpose. They convey an expectation and give us a sense of structure. Just as important, if not more so, is due diligence. What really defines good work goes beyond meeting deadlines. It is the time and effort, the thought and care we invest in an undertaking that says the most about our work ethic. Sukkot and Simchat Torah might not garner the interest of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but they are no less important. The individual fall holidays, from Selichot to Simchat Torah, are individual components of a thematic whole emphasizing humility, integrity, humanity and community.
Grace periods come with a significant condition. We have to fulfill the expectation. The work has to be done. Grace periods extend the time frame for a task. They do not excuse us from doing it. They are only as productive and meaningful as we make them. The opportunity being given is dependent on us seizing the opportunity. We still have work to do this High Holy Days season. On the interpersonal level, there are things we need to let go of and apologies that are long overdue. On the religious practice level, our fall holiday obligations are not complete without observing Sukkot, which begins tonight, and Simchat Torah, which will be celebrated next week on Saturday and Sunday. Whether its participating at services here or at OZS, attending a Sukkot gathering or program in our community or spending time in a sukkah you built yourself, there a number of ways to experience the joy and meaning this festival has to offer. Please review the holiday schedule in our weekly emails and look over all the Sukkot and Simchat Torah offerings listed in this pamphlet, and on our website and Facebook page.
Grace periods are too precious to be taken for granted. The time to relinquish High Holy Days intensity has not arrived yet. The holidays are not over. Let’s make this Sukkot and Simchat Torah ones to remember by taking
full advantage of the grace period and making an effort we can be proud of.
Shana Tova and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 22, 2023
Shabbat Shuvah: Honoring Couples in Club 50+
Tonight we celebrate our TAI couples married 50 years and longer. A special mazel tov to the current recordholders, David and Janis Doctrow, who wed in 1956. It is especially nice to welcome our 1973 inductees into this group: Leonard and Judy Boral, and Aviva and Lew Bowling. When Aviva, longtime music and movement instructor in our Religious School and a regular part of our Shabbat music rotation, asked if she could lead music tonight, of course I said yes.
On this Sabbath of Repentance, it is worth noting that our new High Holy Days prayer book places particular emphasis on Ha’karat Ha’Tov, recognizing the good. Life will inevitably supply us with an abundance of critics. The role of a spouse is to be your partner’s greatest fan, to see the good even when things are not going well. May the ability of the people we celebrate tonight, whether here in the sanctuary or watching from home, to recognize the goodness of their partners inspire us to appreciate the goodness of those we love.
Please join me in wishing all these couples a hearty congratulations along with a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Shana Tova and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 15, 2023
Day of Remembrance, Day of Rest: A Prayer for Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat
As the Sabbath and New Year begin at sundown, let us reflect on the two sacred times sharing one day.
Shabbat celebrates the completion of creation.
Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world.
Shabbat is known as a day of rest.
Rosh Hashanah is known as a day of remembrance.
Shabbat invites us to cherish liberty through cessation of work.
Rosh Hashanah urges us to accept responsibility through the work of repentance.
May the light of both days illuminate our journey.
May the wine of both days sweeten our lives.
May the challah of both days nourish our souls.
May the song of both days fill our ears.
May the prayer of both days be answered.
And may both days bless us with peace.
Shana Tova and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 8, 2023
Selichot: Something Different for 5784
Please join us tomorrow evening for Selichot. This brief service is the official opening to the High Holy Days, with familiar rubrics from the confessional liturgy, poetry and the sounding of the shofar. In previous years the program has included a Readers’ Theater, an episode from “The Crown”, a guest lecturer and a panel discussion. All of them have approached the theme of forgiveness and repentance from a presentational vantage point.
This year our approach will be more participatory and particularly appealing to music lovers and those who like to sing. Rabbi Shani Abramowitz of OZS will be teaching us a song that hopefully will become part of our repertoire (watch a video performance of the song by clicking here). Like Torah study, lecture, and discussion, singing is an intellectual and spiritual activity with an artistic dimension, one that can move us in profound ways. If you have not had the opportunity to meet Rabbi Abramowitz and hear her teach, you are in for a treat. If you have encountered her wonderful spirit and remarkable intellect, then you can vouch for her talents, too.
Please join us in hosting our community partners from OZS, JFB and Lexington Havurah in what promises to be a beautiful opening to our High Holy Days season.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 1, 2023
Poetry and Prayer
One of the wonderful things about “The Torah: A Women’s Commentary,” published by Women of Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis are the poems in the back of each portion. It’s not unusual for us to incorporate one or two of them in a Friday evening service. Tonight, both because of the abundance of riches in this particular collection and to provide more variety from our regular prayerbook, we will be reading seven of them. Ki Tavo begins with the offering we are familiar with from the Passover story – “My father was a wandering Aramean…” – but is better known for the blessings and curses it promises for compliance or non-compliance with an array of commandments. A case can be made that the poets we will read were inspired by any number of ideas and images in this powerful portion.
“Prayers I” by Kadya Molodowsky actually is in Mishkan T’filah, but because it’s positioned in the Saturday morning service (as an alternative blessing for our bodies), we do not see it very often. With its allusions to nature and agriculture and humility before the Creator, Molodowsky’s poem is a fitting alternative to what we normally encounter in the Psalms we read and sing in the early portion of the service.
“The Wild Heart” by Robin Becker will be read just before we sing Lecha Dodi. If one looks at Lecha Dodi as a Shabbat love song between God and the Jewish people, the connection is readily made. Becker toys with why we hush anything that could be construed as bragging for fear of bringing bad luck. Like Lecha Dodi, the speaker of her poem would rather offer passionate praise than hold back and lose the opportunity to profess their love.
“Prayer for My Son” by Elaine Feinstein presents us with the emotions of a mother whose child has survived a near-death experience. Maintaining a state of gratitude, it turns out, is not so simple. The stresses of everyday life sometime diminish the miraculous delivery from death. Placed right before the Chatzi-Kaddish, an anthem of pure praise, Feinstein’s poem reminds us that awe does not enter our lives only at intense moments and then depart until the next big thing happens. Even awe includes highs and lows. Amazement and agitation can co-exist just as relief and resentment can overlap.
“Thankful” by Ruth Fainlight serves as a brief meditation before the call to worship. In just a few brief lines she calls us to take nothing for granted or treat anything as redundant. By reminding us not to act like a know-it-all, “Thankful” sets just the right tone for the official beginning of the service.
“Land of the Patriarchs” by Rabbi Hara Person, my friend and classmate and now the chief executive of the CCAR, is placed as an alternative to Maariv Aravim, the evening prayer. A mother curling up for the night with her young children reflects on how her own family mirrors the geographical and historical journeys of the Jewish people.
“Still Dreaming of Home” by Merle Feld calls on the imagery of pregnancy and childbirth, laden with agony and anticipation, to rekindle the sense of aspiration and optimism we need to keep trying despite our disappointments and doubts. Placed right before the prayer honoring our ancestors, patriarchs and matriarchs, Feld’s poem is a reminder that labor is part of life, and no one promised that life would be easy.
“Requests” by Esther Rabb will be offered as an alternative birkat shalom/prayer for peace. By evoking images of conflict and contentment, Raab creates a tension between the strains of real life and the dreamlike world of peace. The same strong and pragmatic mother who sends her children to the army dares to imagine an existence where this no longer will be the case. A world where baby clothes, not uniforms, will hang on the world’s clotheslines.
Please join us for a service that will revolve around poetry that is grounded in prayer. Feel free to read the poems in advance (click here to read them) or wait to enjoy them with us at Temple. May prayer deepen our love of poetry and may poetry strengthen our love of prayer.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 25, 2023
Let No One Be Unloved
This week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, presents us with a commandment that is well-intentioned but hard to comprehend. In an attempt to protect some, it ignores others. While seeking to prohibit playing favorites, it enables unfairness.
“If a husband has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons but the first-born is the son of the unloved one — when he wills his property to his sons, he may not treat as first-born the son of the loved one in disregard of the son of the unloved one who is older. Instead, he must accept the first-born, the son of the unloved one, and allot to him a double portion of all he possesses.” (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
God of husbands and wives, sons and daughters, first-borns and those who follow:
Teach us to treat one another with kindness and compassion, empathy and equality. Help us not to confuse affection with finances, to measure out love or money on an arbitrary basis. Let us refrain from playing favorites. Let no one be disregarded. May we stop giving less to some than others because of a category they never chose, a status they never sought, a position they never picked. May we treat love as a matter of the heart rather than a mechanism of hierarchy. May sons and daughters be treated equally. May we support our offspring regardless of their birth order. May children and stepchildren, current partners and divorcees, be treated like valued members of a common family. Let no one be left out. Let no one be lessened in value. Let no one be unloved.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 18, 2023
A Prayer for Parshat Shof’tim
“You shall appoint judges and officials for your tribes, in all the dwellings that God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice. You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just. Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive in the land that God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)
God of leadership, legacy and love. God of those who sustained this congregation before us, and those who will guide it after us. God of those who serve it and rely upon it now.
In all of work help us to decide justly. May we never judge unfairly or show partiality.
Justice, justice shall we pursue, that we may help our congregation and our community thrive in all that we do. May this be our blessing, and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 11, 2023
A Treasured People: Putting ‘Chosen-ness’ in a Little Perspective
“For you are a people consecrated to the Eternal Your God: The Eternal your God chose you from among all other peoples on earth to be a treasured people.”
This week’s Torah portion contains a paradox. Dr. Eugene Borowitz of blessed memory taught that Judaism, like many religions, contains a tension between universalism and particularism. Torah insists that all humans deserve dignity and respect, yet it also conveys that there is a distinct and special role for the Jewish people.
Universalistic or humanistic training tells us we are equal and prompts us to question anything that smacks of a superiority claim. The theology of the Torah says there are things that set the people of Israel apart. There is no easy way to reconcile these claims. There are many ways, however, to put them in perspective.
As the Jewish Publication Society translation we use in our Reform Movement Torah commentary conveys, we are called upon to be “a treasured people.” This word “a” makes a world of difference. Not “the” chosen people or the treasured people but “a chosen people.” This rendering champions the notion that all creation is treasured by the Creator, that every people is chosen for some particular purpose. Torah is the particular assignment and task of Jews. All people have something about them, a contribution God has given them that makes them distinct.
Instructors of English Literature like to point out the wording of James Joyce’s classic “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” The “a” suggests it is one of many possible portraits. The author has given the reader a particular perspective, not necessarily the best one and definitely not the only one. When we regard ourselves as “a” treasured people among many, as “a” chosen people in a world where all peoples are chosen for something, then what initially seems an irredeemable superiority claim becomes considerably less problematic.
Let us be grateful for the gift of Torah, the work, that God has given us as Jews. And may we bear this gift humbly, with appreciation for its greatness and awareness of its flaws. Let us be proud of the designation of “treasured” while committing ourselves to treasuring the value of all humankind. May we embrace the term “chosen” as long as we do so in a way that conveys the conviction that all people have been chosen in love by a common Creator who has high expectations for all creation.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 14, 2023
Promises
“Moses spoke to the heads of the Israelite tribes, saying: ‘This is what God has commanded: If someone makes a vow to God or takes an oath imposing an obligation on themselves, they shall not break their pledge; they must carry out all that has crossed their lips.’” (Numbers 30:3)
This week’s Torah portion, Matot-Masei, begins with a series of commandments pertaining to promises. Promises are a noble construct in principle. The problem is that they are made by human beings. This is why Kol Nidre bends over backward to convey the sincerity of our vows while simultaneously confessing our propensity for failing to live up to them. Promises are akin to a double-edged sword. Without promises, vows and oaths, we would have fewer ways to express what we are striving for or committing to. Yet, once we speak these words, once we have made a commitment, we make ourselves vulnerable to disappointment, failure and frustration.
God of word and deed, Source of great expectations and gracious mercy. Help us to honor our word as best we can. Teach us to promise carefully and commit cautiously. Remind us to think before speaking, look before leaping, and reflect before responding. And if we are fortunate enough to carry out all that has crossed our lips, may we be grateful for the privilege, opportunity, and blessing to do so.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
July 7, 2023
From Sadness to Joy
Among the blessings of being a rabbi is that you serve families at times of deep sadness and profound joy. Yesterday, marked by the funeral for Jack Miller, was a sad one. Jack was president of Temple Adath Israel from 1975-77. My parents worked with him as a community and congregational leader. When I returned here decades after my family left, I became the beneficiary of his command of history and knowledge of the community. His track record of service to Temple Adath Israel and to any number of organizations was remarkable. Whether as a youth group advisor, board member or attorney, Jack brought tremendous dedication to everything he did and will be greatly missed.
With the arrival of Shabbat this evening and the celebration of Sydney Yelowitz’s bat mitzvah tomorrow, our thoughts turn from sadness to joy. Having served our temple for eight years, I have been blessed to officiate at the bar/bat mitzvahs of all the children in the Yelowitz family and a growing number of others. Every bar/bat mitzvah is special, but there is something especially meaningful about watching siblings grow up together and rejoicing in each of them being called to the Torah for the first time. Wexler, the oldest of the Yelowitz children, will be attending UK in the fall; Corrine is in high school, and Sydney is in middle school. It will be interesting to watch them continue to grow together here in Lexington. The same can be said of the Doctrow family; brothers Jacob and Daniel are about to start at UK while their sister, Kayla, begins high school. I officiated at both of those ceremonies, too. I say “both” because the first was a “two-fer,” as Daniel and Jacob are twins. It was one of two “two-fers” I’ve done here, the second being for the Hoffman twins, Eli and Sophie, whose younger sister, Maren, will begin studying soon for her bat mitzvah.
Yesterday our sanctuary was filled with friends and family members mourning the loss of a loved one. Tonight and tomorrow, let’s fill our sanctuary with people here to celebrate a simcha, the joyous occasion of a young person leading the congregation in prayer. No personal invitation is necessary to go to a bat mitzvah service or any other, for that matter. You do not need to be a close friend or family member to attend. The fact that our community is celebrating, our TAI family is rejoicing, and it is Shabbat is all the invitation we need.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 30, 2023
Calling All Animal Lovers: A Poetic Take on Balaam and His Donkey
If you are a pet-owner or animal lover, tonight’s service is for you. Instead of a sermon or commentary, this evening’s worship will include an interactive reading and discussion of Rick Lupert’s playful and thought-provoking poem “What the Donkey Saw” (below), inspired by this week’s Torah portion about Balaam and his talking beast of burden. As always, everyone is encouraged to attend, but I’m extending a special invitation to pet owners and animal lovers to participate in what should be a lively conversation about how animal perspective can enrich and influence ours.
Due to allergies and asthma, I’ve never had a pet. Perhaps this is why I’m so impressed by the way Lupert brings his experience as a cat owner to bear on the interaction between Balaam and his donkey. By way of background, Balaam is hired by King Balak of Moab to curse the wandering Israelites. God allows Balaam to accept the job on the condition that he does exactly what God tells him to do. Yet no sooner does the ride to curse the people begin than the hapless Balaam starts to experience transportation problems. His donkey sees things Balaam does not, namely, a sword-wielding angel blocking the road. Mistaking the creature’s refusal to move forward as stubbornness and disobedience, Balaam beats the poor animal with a stick. After the third iteration of this pattern, a dialogue between Balaam and the donkey reveals which of them is behaving intelligently and which has been acting like an ass. (Please see Numbers 22:2-35).
With imagery that connects modern technology with biblical-era conflict, Lupert’s poem challenges the reader to rethink the way we look at life. Whether our frustration is with someone we encounter on the road, at work, or some other obstructionist individual, the writer invites the reader to image how we might be missing something important about them, just as Balaam misunderstands his long-suffering donkey. Whether you ride a horse, walk your dog, play with your cat or get no closer to animals than a visit to the zoo, Lupert’s poem, and the Torah portion that inspired it, has lessons in humility, humanity, and sense of humor for us all.
“What the Donkey Saw” by Rick Lupert
Animals sometimes see things we don’t
or don’t yet. They’re the best earthquake predictors.
My cat alone sees things in dimensions
I still don’t believe exist.
The evil in twist ties
the potential of anything to move
and the claws-out imperative to stop it
at all costs.
So it’s no surprise to me that Balaam’s she-donkey
(that is her preferred pronoun) saw an
Angel of the Holy One on the road
on his way to say words put into his mouth.
He beat his donkey (which is not a metaphor)
three times as she cowered before what
she knew was there. I can’t imagine
beating an animal, even one time, for any reason.
And that’s not because of the potential of the
hidden camera. Today our wisdom tells us we shouldn’t
do or say anything we wouldn’t want recorded forever
and scrutinized by all of the internet’s humanity.
Someone I once knew, who, actually, many people
once knew, whose voice we will never stop hearing,
even though we can no longer see her, once said
the person in front of you is a goldmine of potential.
You should assume it’s there, that gold,
in all your interactions, even when your cat
spits up a hairball on the carpet, instead of
the easier to clean nearby tile floor.
Even when they’ve cut you off on the freeway
Even when they haven’t paid your invoice
Even when they’ve stopped on the road in front of you
for reasons you don’t understand.
Pay attention to what the donkey does and says.
It’s a miracle it’s talking at all. And may you always
say the words that were put in your mouth
by your conscience. From them, we will all grow rich.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 23, 2023
All Are Holy
The observation often has been made that even a broken watch is right twice a day. This week’s Torah portion, Korach, named for its belligerent antagonist, is a case in point. The aggressive and reckless nature of Korach’s accusations against Moses cross the line between constructive criticism and personal attack. Yet, in the midst of his hyperbolic diatribe, Korach has a valid point: “You have gone too far [Moses]! For all the community are holy, all of them, and God is in their midst. Why then do you rise yourselves above God’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:1-3)
Korach’s critique comes neither at the right time (the people have just been sentenced to 40 years of wandering for lack of faith) nor or the right place (the harsh conditions of the wilderness are not an ideal setting for philosophical conversations about governance). Or, as the captain in the nuclear submarine drama Crimson Tide so aptly put it, “We’re here to preserve democracy, not practice it.” Nevertheless, the words of Korach and revolutionaries like him contain an important truth. Holiness is something we all possess, and there are serious consequences for being holier than thou.
Structure, leadership and respect are essential to being a functional society, but the need for those things should not be allowed to deprive people of their voice or make them feel inferior to others. It would be disingenuous to say we want an entire community of Koraches, but each of us contains an inner Korach, a voice that challenges long-held assumptions and dares to dream about how things could be different. Difficult as the Koraches of the world can be, we need to listen to their concerns rather than engaging them in power struggles. Only when holiness is shared can all of us become fully holy. Let us nurture the holiness in one another and practice respectful disagreement as a defining element of our holy tasks.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 16, 2023
Don’t Kill the Messenger
Being in the majority does not guarantee we are right, and being in the minority does not prove we are wrong. Yet bedlam ensues when Joshua and Caleb, the two optimistic scouts in this week’s Torah portion, insist that the Promised Land can be taken, as opposed to their 10 pessimistic counterparts who attest that continuing onward would be catastrophic. Far from listening to the upbeat assessment with an open mind, the response of the people is to threaten to stone to death those with an unwelcome opinion. The people would rather return to slavery in Egypt than fight for a better future (Numbers 14).
We moderns engage in a contemporary form of killing the messenger by assailing their integrity and intelligence. We don’t like hearing about global warming. It would be far easier to keep using water and burning fuels as if a crisis does not exist. “These tree-hugging hippies, the EPA and the Sierra Club seem more intent on protecting spotted owls than they do people’s jobs, our comfort, and our way of life. Why don’t they just shut up?!”
Some extremists did not much care for the messages of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Steven Biko or Yitzhak Rabin. They figured that killing the messenger would silence the message. As it turns out, they were wrong. The ideals and ideas for which these brave individuals perished proved to be more persistent than their murderers believed.
Attempts to silence one another with violence, intimidation and derision are always dangerous and often do not work. No amount of repudiating Joshua and Caleb changed God’s expectations of the people. Threatening the messengers did not deter them from sticking to their message.
Attacks on journalists, human rights activists and anyone who dares hold the powerful accountable do not bode well for people anywhere. The instinct to silence those whose views differ from ours is a tendency to which we give in far too easily. Forty years in the desert for refusing to listen to a minority report is a powerful reminder of what happens to those who succumb to a mob mentality. This week, when we read about the reactionary response of our ancestors to a message they did not like, let us be mindful not to repeat their mistakes. Let us protect freedom of speech regardless of how we feel about certain speakers. Let us assess the validity of a message based on its merits and condemn any effort to silence or kill its messenger.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 9, 2023
Trumpets
“God spoke to Moses saying: Have two silver trumpets made; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you to summon the community.” (Numbers 10:1—2)
God of trumpets and trumpeters; on this sabbath when we read the commandments about these instruments, help us consider what it means to trumpet the causes we care about.
As communities around the continent are impacted by the smoke from wildfires, teach us to trumpet the cause of taking better care of our planet.
When we are confronted with hunger and homelessness, help us to trumpet the cause of the poor and impoverished.
When we see fellow citizens losing access to the treatment they need, help us to trumpet the cause of health care as a human right.
When we encounter people being bullied because of their sexuality, or the gender with which they identify, teach us to trumpet the cause of dignity and respect.
When we witness book banning and the suppression of history, urge us to trumpet the cause of inquiry and truth.
When we regard discrimination, harassment, and neglect, lead us to trumpet the urgency of justice, equality, and compassion.
Source of sight and sound, summon us to your service.
And may we summon our communities to action by trumpeting the vital importance of repairing this beautiful world.
May this be our blessing and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
June 2, 2023
Blessed
May God bless you and protect you.
May God deal kindly and graciously with you
May God bestow favor upon you and grant you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)
On this Shabbat when we read the Priestly Benediction, let us reflect on how we are blessed.
For the blessing of family, let us give thanks.
For the blessing of friendship, let us be grateful.
For the blessing of nature, let us give praise.
For the blessing of food, water and shelter, let us be appreciative.
For the blessing of work, let us continue to strive for excellence.
For the blessing of learning, let us promise to remain inquisitive.
For the blessing of freedom, let us work to protect liberty.
For the blessing of health, let us take good care of our bodies.
For the blessing of love, let us work at being loving.
For the blessing of holiness, let us endeavor to be holy.
And in the words that the poet Marcia Falk
“Be who you are, and may you be blessed in all that you are.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 26, 2023
Shabbat and Shavuot
God of generations past, present and future.
We gather on this Sabbath and Festival of Shavuot grateful for revelation and the Day of Rest.
May we rejoice in the gift of Torah, its legacy, its laws and its abiding love.
And may we celebrate the delights of Shabbat, its cessation from work, its reminder that we are more than what we earn, accomplish and complete.
May Shavuot’s focus on sacred words enrich Shabbat’s emphasis on sacred time.
And may Shabbat’s emphasis on sacred time enrich Shavuot’s focus on sacred words.
Let us never grow tired of hearing the story of how Torah was imparted to the people.
And may we never lose sight of Shabbat’s power to take us from the transactional to the transcendent. Baruch Atah Adonai Mekadesh Ha’Shabbat V’Yom Tom.
Blessed Are You, O God, who calls on us to sanctify Shabbat and Shavuot.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 19, 2023
Holy Head Count
This week we return to reading Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. The book begins with a commandment to take a census of all men capable of bearing arms. The numbers that each tribe tallies are duly reported so Moses and others in positions of authority can have an accurate sense of the people’s fighting strength. Counting people is a serious task. Neither an entity as big as a nation nor as small as a synagogue can budget, plan or allocate resources responsibly without knowing how many people they have. Counting people takes organization, communication and diligence. It is an undertaking deserving of proper attention and respect. But counting people is only part of what a responsive organization needs to do. With computers and calculators, we can readily assess the accuracy of how well we are counting people. A far more difficult task is making people feel like they count. It is one thing to preach to people about values and another to value people.
Numbers provides us with an important degree of precision, but even precision needs perspective. This pivotal book of the Torah reminds us not only to take care of business but to busy ourselves with caretaking. If others are to feel like their participation makes a difference, then our interactions with them must demonstrate that their thoughts and feelings, insight and input actually count. If people are to walk back to their cars after every service, Religious School session, program or event feeling valued, then we have to engage with one another in ways that go beyond numbers.
There is no lack of commandments deserving of emphasis, but few mitzvot are more pressing than making people feel like they matter. Torah commands the military census, and other head counts like it, not only to document how many people we have on hand but to demand greater attention to people themselves. May the opening mitzvah of Bamidar remind us that every number is attached to a human being, a human story and a human soul. And may we enrich every head count we take with the holiness that comes from letting people know they honor us with their presence.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 5, 2023
What We Leave: A Prayer for Parshat Emor
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am Adonai your God.”
God of harvest and hunger, feast and famine, surplus and scarcity,
Help us to leave something for the poor and the stranger.
We who are not farmers.
We who garden when we can and do not count on what we grow.
Bless those who tend our Mitzvah Garden.
And bless those who receive its produce.
Bless those who water the world’s fields, sow the seeds, till the soil, pull the weeds and thorns, and reap its crops.
And bless those of us who count on them to do this work.
We would not eat without the work of these laborers we do not know.
Help us to show gratitude and devotion by what we leave for others.
May we leave the homeless and hungry with something more than thoughts and prayers.
May we leave donations that demonstrate commitment, and contribute time is ways that show we care.
May we leave the poor feeling a little less helpless,
And leave the stranger feeling less hopeless.
May we leave something more than what we no longer want, need or have use for.
Let us leave the needy with what they need.
Let us leave the stranger with the promise of welcome.
Let us leave this place better than we found it.
May this be our blessing and let us say:
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 28, 2023
A Prayer for Sisterhood Shaabbat
God of our mothers and grandmothers, as we gather for this year’s celebration of Sisterhood Shabbat, we pause to reflect on all the women who have given so much to our families, our congregation, our community and our world. Our biblical matriarchs and more recent role models remind us that we don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.
Sarah could be fearful and cruel.
Yet she courageously raised questions no one else dared to ask and laughed at things she found absurd.
Rebecca could play favorites and resort to deceit.
Yet she boldly fought for what she believed in and protected those she loved.
Leah and Rachel competed as much as they cooperated.
Yet they bravely gave up safety and comfort to secure the future of our people.
Help us, O God, to avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism, the pursuit of expectations that no one can fulfill.
Remind us, O Source of Love, that our task is not to be flawless but rather to be faithful to the best qualities within our truest selves.
Bless us, our families, our friends and this imperfect world of ours with happiness, holiness and peace. May this be our blessing, and let us say:
Amen
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 21, 2023
Familiar Faces, Different Context: Yom HaShoah Service on Sunday
By now, one would hope that most of you are familiar with Dr. Karen Petrone and Lauren Hill. Both sing in Shir Adat, and both have stepped up to direct Zoom services throughout the pandemic. Karen, a history professor at UK, has spoken several times on Friday evenings, most recently regarding the war in Ukraine. Lauren, a language Arts teacher at Leestown Middle School, has taught 7-10th grades at TAI’s Religious School.
The context you might not know is that these outstanding educators are part of the University of Kentucky and Jewish Heritage Fund Holocaust Education Initiative, supporting teachers to do Holocaust education throughout the state. State law requires that all students must experience Holocaust education during middle and high school. Also taking part in the endeavor are TAI member Dr. Trey Conatser, director of UK’s Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, and Leslie Davis, who grew up here at TAI and now teaches language arts at Lafayette High School.
Please join us Sunday at 2 p.m. at our annual communitywide commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), when we will have the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable project and express our appreciation to participants connected to our congregation and broader Jewish community for their leadership, dedication and effort. Their example serves as a reminder that Holocaust education is a mitzvah. Like any mitzvah, it is not going to happen by itself or remain sustainable without substantial effort and constant care. At a time when antisemitism is on the rise and knowledge of the Holocaust on the decline, it is particularly important to ensure that our young people are learning about this brutal chapter in world history. Let this Sabbath before our observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day inspire us to defy fascism, brutality and hate with wisdom, compassion and love.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 14, 2023
Cautious With Our Criticism
The frustrated observation that “everyone’s a critic” has been with us for as long as people have been in the criticism business, which is to say since time immemorial. This week’s haftorah (a selection from the Prophets) is a case in point. Michal, daughter of the late King Saul and wife of King David, thinks her husband has gotten way out of hand with his overexuberant dancing as he accompanies the Ark of the Tabernacle to Jerusalem. He has made a spectacle of himself in front of commoners, embarrassed the monarchy, and acted like a buffoon (II Samuel 6:14-16, 20). Did he touch anyone inappropriately? Not in this story. Did he offend anyone other than Michal? There is no mention of it. Did his exuberance endanger the safe transferal of the Ark? The text does not say so.
As we celebrate the last family Shabbat service of the school year, as we approach graduation season and wedding season, we are reminded how quickly time flies. When we criticize our family and friends for being too silly, too exuberant or just too much, we run the risk of making the same mistake as Michal. Looking back at more than two decades as a parent, rabbi and teacher, and many more years as a family member and friend, there is a lot of criticism I wish I had withheld. I don’t regret trying to maintain boundaries, safety and focus. But were there times when comments had more to do with a misguided notion of appearances and desire for greater control than preserving these things? I’m embarrassed to admit the answer to that one is yes. All of us feel compelled to criticize at one time or another in one way or another. Turning Michal into the archetype of negative comments runs the risk of misogyny and misguided assertions. There are instances when we need to restrain our instinct to urge greater restraint. Times when we need to lighten up, take a step back and ask ourselves what it is about the behavior we don’t approve of that creates a serious problem for others.
May the misfortunate argument between David and Michal remind us to approach criticism with caution and keep negativity in context. Life is too short and moments of joy too few to spend them trying to control one another’s every move and censure each other’s every word. Better to dance a bit too enthusiastically than to be cowed into not dancing at all for fear of what others might say. Better to a bit too loud and slightly offkey than to treat services as if only those on the pulpit should be allowed to open their mouths. Better to appreciate each other’s different levels of enthusiasm than to act as if the only appropriate level of it is that which we designate as such. May we learn to be less critical and judgmental that we may come to be more grateful and joyful.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 7, 2023
From Holy to Holy: Shabbat After Seders
My daughter, Emanuelle, recently wrote a poem, Separation Rituals, that draws on the Havdalah service as a way to come to terms with the death of her maternal grandmother, Roni Sippy. She points out that when we go from Shabbat into a festival, the wording is different than going from Shabbat to the work week. Rather than blessing God for distinguishing between the holy and the mundane, as we normally do, the transition between Shabbat and festival blesses God for distinguishing between the holy and the holy. Emanuelle sees a similar transition between life and death. Rather than thinking about them as opposites, like sacred and mundane, we should consider these two things to be like the havdalah between Shabbat and a festival, going from holy to holy. Our departed can influence us, enrich our existence, inspire us to live lives of righteousness long after they are gone.
In a similar vein, this year’s seders are followed by Shabbat. We go from the holy to the holy. Passover does not end when we pack up the haggadahs and put away the leftovers. Pesach is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. This year. our running of the marathon is enriched by Shabbat coming on day three. The placement poetically reinforces a truth that applies to every year. Among other things, Shabbat is a weekly celebration of the Exodus. Shabbat and Passover are inherently linked. Our Shabbat Kiddush (blessing over the wine) includes the words “this is a remembrance for being brought out of Egypt.” The medieval seder song Dayenu, “It would have been enough,” includes Shabbat in its litany of what God has done for us. The relationship between this yearly festival and the weekly day of rest runs deep. Just as those who have died continue to impact the living, Shabbat and Passover influence each other whether we are in the midst of observing them or not.
By making an extra effort to attend tonight’s service, either virtually or in person, we demonstrate that Passover is more than the seders and that Shabbat is about more than taking a break. The ideal of freedom never takes a day off. The sabbath is the perfect carryover into the rest of the festival, connecting the feast of matzah, the fun of the first two days, with the fast of matza, the discipline that it takes to keep Passover going for the duration. Tonight’s Torah commentary will be given by Sarah Lowe, who always challenges her listeners by bringing sharp questions and new insights. On this Sabbath of Pesach, may her words help us to go from the holy to the holy.
Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 31, 2023
Yachatz: A Blessing for Brokenness
It has been a difficult week. Demonstrations over proposed legislation detrimental to democracy reached historical heights in Israel. Another mass shooting at a school has left families reeling in Nashville. Fires took the lives of detainees in Mexico and ferry passengers in the Philippines. A landslide in Ecuador left death and destruction in its wake. Here in Kentucky, the collision of two helicopters from Fort Campbell resulted in the deaths of nine people who bravely serve in our military. Many of us are feeling broken now.
As we approach Passover on this Shabbat Ha’Gadol, we are reminded how the seder begins with brokenness. Among the early rituals of the evening is yachatz, the breaking of the middle matzo. Part is hidden as afikomen, and part remains on our seder plate. Notice that this action takes place before blessing the matzo, eating the matzo, and dipping matzo in maror and charoset. We remind ourselves of matzo’s fragility before we take advantage of its functionality. The yachatz ritual comes in the form of an announcement, “I now break the middle matzo,” rather than that of a blessing. So, too, there no bracha for shattering a plate at an engagement party or smashing a glass at weddings. Our tradition teaches us that brokenness is something to be lived with rather than loathed. Finding the sacred, even in brokenness, is part of what we do, yet the rabbis did not go so far as to assign a blessing to the rituals requiring us to shatter something. But perhaps it’s time we tried.
God of broken dreams, broken promises, broken homes, and broken hearts.
We come before you on this great sabbath fully aware that we live in a mess of our own making.
Despite the destruction we have wrought, we implore you to turn our cynicism to hope, sadness to joy, and brokenness to recovery.
Help us find that which we have hidden from ourselves.
Prompt us to pick up broken pieces, mend broken hearts and restore broken spirits.
Just as our ancestors carried the shattered tablets along with the unbroken ones, help us walk humbly with the record of our failures and proudly with the ideals we hope to achieve.
This Passover we gather in brokenness and pain; next year may we gather in wholeness and peace.
Blessed Are You, O God, Who redeems the lost and repairs the broken.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Passover,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 24, 2023
What We Have to Offer: Climate Change and the Levitical Call to Action
The first portion of the Book of Leviticus, which we begin this week, begins by detailing the particulars of three offerings, the burnt offering, the offering of well-being and the sin offering. Reading through the portion reminds one of a line from a famous Winston Churchill speech during the perilous days of World War II when he declared, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” Both our Torah portion and the prime minister’s phrase raise common questions. What do we have to offer? What are we willing to give? What are we prepared to part with to preserve what we cherish or reach the objectives we proclaim?
This week, for instance, has brought with it a renewed focus on the environment. On the international level, the U.N. released its report on climate change. In a column for The Washington Post, Sarah Kaplan summed up the report, saying: “The world is likely to pass a dangerous temperature threshold within the next 10 years, pushing the planet past the point of catastrophic warming — unless nations drastically transform their economies and immediately transition away from fossil fuels.” On the local level, our community hosted this year’s Moosnick Lectureship’s scholar in residence Mara Benjamin, Ph.D., an environmental theologian whose brilliant talks at Transylvania University and here at Temple Adath Israel called for religious communities to take serious and sustained action to confront the crisis. So, what we prepared to offer? What are we willing to give? And what are we prepared to part with so we can make the kind of progress the situation requires of us?
Churchill understood that defeating the international menace of genocidal fascism would require more than stirring speeches and good intentions. History is unlikely to give us an “A” for sincerely caring about a crisis. Offering blood, sweat and tears demonstrates doing well, not just meaning well. The sustainability of this planet as a viable home for our children and grandchildren is at stake. The progressive Jewish community must lead by example. What we have to offer is religious principle, moral will, political pressure, the power of influence and the resources to enable real change. Dire warnings, whether from the past prophets of Torah or the principled leaders of today, are only as useful as our willingness to listen to them. May the emphasis Leviticus places on offerings remind us of what we truly have to offer and how essential such offerings are to any chance of real change.
Please consider a donation to the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life in honor of Professor Benjamin’s presentations and the U.N. Climate Change Report.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
March 17, 2023
NOTE: This week’s message is a joint statement from our Rabbi and TAI’s Executive Committee.
Statement Decrying State Legislature’s Hostility to LGBTQ+ Kentuckians
Temple Adath Israel of Lexington, in concert with the policies and values of the Union for Reform Judaism, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Central Conference of American Rabbis, decries the impact of dehumanizing and dangerous bills introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate within the past two months. The legislation approved Thursday (Senate Bill 150) is actively harmful to our LGBTQ+ students, their families and community members, and threatens transgender, non-binary and queer lives and livelihoods. We stand in opposition to this legislation, recognize trans rights are human rights, and express our support for all LGBTQ+ people throughout our state, nation and the world.
It should be pointed out that some of the same legislators who have joked about “Jewing people down,” who made bizarre remarks about the sex lives of Jewish women and who have compared abortion to the Holocaust, slavery and decimation of Indigenous people are among those who voted for this bill. We also note that this legislation is particularly insensitive in light of the tragic death of LGBTQ+ activist, Henry Berg-Brosseau, son of state Sen. Karen Berg of Louisville, the only Jewish member of the Kentucky Senate. Connections between Kentucky Jews run deep. Our young people at TAI attend the same summer camp and belong to the same regional youth group that Henry Berg-Brosseau did. Henry’s grandfather created the mosaic that hangs in our social hall.
Please join us in continuing to stop such destructive measures by letting our legislature know the harm they will do. You can send an email to state senators by clicking here and to state representatives by clicking here. You also can leave messages for them at 1-800-372-7181. It is widely expected that Gov. Andy Beshear will veto SB 150. So please keep up the pressure no matter what. Unfortunately, supportors of this measure have the votes to override such a veto, but we owe it to history and to our LGBTQ+ families, friends and community members to keep up the fight. Let it not be said that this extreme and intolerant legislation met with no resistance.
We join with the entire Berg-Brosseau family, including Henry’s sister, Rabbi Rachel Pass, and LGBTQ+ people everywhere in declaring our unwavering commitment to a world in which all God’s children are valued for being created in the Divine image, and no one feels demeaned or degraded for identifying as they do.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
and the Executive Committee of Temple Adath Israel
March 10, 2023
Purim and the Joy of Coming Home
Tonight celebrates our kindergarten/first grade Family Shabbat service and also marks my return to the pulpit after being on sabbatical since mid-November. It’s great to be back with all of you, and a family service is the perfect time to get back on the bimah. This Sunday we will be having our Purim assembly, including a mini-megillah reading, and Purim carnival. Returning to work during the week of Purim has been a reminder of the things I love to do and missed the most. Its was wonderful to partner with our friends at OZS for a communitywide Purim celebration on Monday night that included JFB and PJ Library. Getting back into the classroom with our eighth/ninth-grade students reminded me of what I love about being with young people. Their curiosity, their questions, their responses to the material felt magical after missing them for so long. Even last Sunday’s brief assembly was a delightful reminder of the sweetness of our students and dedication of our faculty.
Thank you for affording me this time away. It allowed me to begin a writing project I’ve wanted to work on for a long time, and I look forward to sharing it with you. It enabled me to think about what I’ve done during 25 five years of rabbinic service and what I’d like to do differently. And it encouraged me to reflect on the things we have accomplished together since I arrived in Lexington eight years ago and start to identify key aspects of the work that lies before us.
The death of Shana’s mother, Roni Sippy, made the end of sabbatical a sad one. Returning to our community in time for Purim has alleviated that sadness with the comfort that only being with one’s own family, with your own community can bring. It’s an honor to be your rabbi, and it’s good to be home.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 11, 2022
A Prayer for Shabbat After Election Day
God of victory and defeat, elation and dejection, joy and sorrow.
For many months we have followed races for public office and campaigns on amendments.
Shabbat provides us with an ideal moment to turn from competing to cooperating.
A chance to go from debate to dialogue, to go from magnifying our differences to appreciating what we share.
Our differences do not end when an election is over, but we can choose to move past the past election.
Though we vote for different parties, we share the same roads, the same schools, the same neighborhoods.
Democracy extends well beyond Election Day. It compels us to do things other than vote.
It asks us to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Just as Abraham, Isaac and Sarah did not allow the worst of their trials to determine their lives, we cannot allow anger and resentment toward those with whom we disagree to define us.
Let us celebrate victories graciously and accept defeats responsibly.
Let us practice civility, promote charity and pursue peace.
May this be our blessing, and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 4, 2022
Be Blameless: Promise Keeping in the Promised Land
When Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make you exceedingly numerous. This is My covenant with you: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fertile. I will maintain My covenant between Me and you, and your offspring to come, as an everlasting covenant throughout the ages, to be God to you and to your offspring to come. I assign the land you sojourn in to you and your offspring to come. I will be their God. You and your offspring to come throughout the ages shall keep My covenant. (Genesis 17:1-2, 4, 6-10.)
This week’s Torah portion provides timely perspective on this week’s election in Israel. The promise of the promised land is not given unconditionally. To be eligible for the blessings of fertility, prosperity, longevity and security, Abraham must “walk in God’s ways and be blameless.” The Torah presents the Promised Land the way states present driver’s licenses: not as a right but as a privilege. Abraham’s nation must merit blessings by being blameless. No nation has ever or will ever be perfect. No person or party has ever or will ever be blameless. Blamelessness, however, is something people and nations can strive for in everything that they do.
I am a Zionist. I believe that painful lessons of world history provide a compelling case for a Jewish state. I believe, as did the signers of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, that with the blessing of statehood comes the responsibility of striving for justice and equality for all.
People who display a picture of Baruch Goldstein, a mass murderer of Muslims, in their homes are not striving to be blameless. People who chant “death to Arabs” are not striving to be blameless. People who advocate mass deportation and seek to silence human rights activists are not striving to be blameless. We can accept a result in which political parties whose vision we support did not win. What neither we nor anyone should accept is political leaders and a growing segment of the electorate that embraces words and deeds antithetical to Jewish values. Politics are an inherently messy business, and the Middle East has long been a troubled place, but neither of these realities can be exploited to justify extremism. Extemism has been the historic enemy of our people. The fact that we have been its victim far more often than its practitioner is no defense for its alarming acceptance in the Jewish state.
This month, which marks the anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin at the hands of a nationalist extremist, should be a reminder to resist extremism. After Baruch Goldstien committed his murderous rampage, Rabin conveyed his repudiation in no uncertain terms, saying of the terrorist and his sympathizers, “Zionism chews you up and spits you out.” Today, we confront the fact that a man who diplayed a portrait of Goldstein in his home and who once attacked Rabin’s motorcade will be a member of the Israeli parliament. Such a person attaining a position of power and influence does not bode well for the Jewish state, for Judaism or for Jews.
I urge you to support the efforts of the Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the Association of Reform Zionists of America in insisting that Israel’s new government honor a sacred aspect of the covenant and keep a promise essential to maintaining the Promised Land: a commitment to strive for blamelessness rather than recklessly pursuing someone to blame.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 28, 2022
Building Projects
God of construction and destruction;
As we go from the story of Creation to the Great Flood and the Tower of Babel,
we are reminded of the potential for making and demolishing things.
May we build not to “make a name for ourselves”* but to fulfill the needs of fellow human beings.
Let us build housing for those who have lost their homes.
And let us build homes who for those who have no one to house them.
Let us build schools for those who need a place to learn,
And build a love of learning within our schools.
Let us build hospitals for those in need of healing,
And build dedication to healing within our hospitals.
Let us build awe inspiring spaces where people can pray,
And pray to be moved to action by awe inspiring spaces.
May we build beautiful communities where all people can flourish,
And if we are communities that are blessed to flourish, help us build a better world.
Let us undertake projects worthy of building and carefully consider what our buildings project.
May this be our blessing and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
*Reason given by the people of Babel for undertaking the tower.
October 21, 2022
A Moment of Beginnings
It is poetically fitting that the return of Family Shabbat with dinner coincides with returning to the beginning of the Torah. Public school and Religious School have been back in session for awhile now but our first grade-level family service of academic 2022-23 takes place tonight with our eighth- and ninth-graders leading worship from our illustrated prayerbook accessible for all ages. Everyone is welcome to attend. The more the merrier.
Restarting the cycle of Torah reading is a meaningful moment every year. It reminds our young people and ourselves that there is always something new to be found in Torah. That repetition is not necessarily redundant. The more we practice and study something, the more our understanding and appreciation of it grow.
Speaking of new beginnings, autumn also is a perfect time to consider joining or rejoining Shir Adat or Junior Choir (contact information below). Both ensembles are looking for people who love to sing. No knowledge of Hebrew or musical training is required. Our Saturday morning study sessions also would welcome new participants. The 9 a.m. session is a miscellany of topics from history, current events, philosophy, theology, etc. The 11 a.m. session is focused on the Torah portion of the week. Again, no knowledge of Hebrew or background in Jewish texts is required. All you need is an open mind and a love of active conversation.
May this moment of beginning Torah anew inspire us to try something new.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
October 14, 2022
Ushpizin: Valued Guests for Sukkot
In many Jewish circles, the holiday of Sukkot includes the ritual of Ushpizin, welcoming biblical ancestors into our booths to celebrate the fall festival with us. For some communities, this begins with the matriarchs and patriarchs we recognize in many of our prayers and continues through kings and queens of ancient Israel. Sometimes the custom is extended to family members who have died but remain with us in spirit.
As we draw closer to the election on Nov. 8, I want to encourage you to add to your honorary guest. Tonight, as we focus on the theme of courage, invite someone who is part of your family lineage or a historical figure you admire to be your guest at Shabbat dinner, at your sukkah or both. If you are joining Shana and me at our home tonight, please have the names of these people ready to share when we observe Ushpizin this evening.
Saturday evening’s theme is resilience. Pick someone in your family’s past or a historical figure you admire who demonstrated the ability to overcome defeat and disappointment. For Sunday, focus on the value of empathy. Pick people from your personal life or those you have studied who had a special capacity for caring. For Monday, the last day of Sukkot and night of Simchat Torah, select those who emphasized the importance of inclusion, a trait attributed by tradition to the first couple of Ushpizin, Abraham and Sarah, who kept their tent open to all who needed food and water on their journey.
May the values of courage, resilience, empathy and inclusion inspire us to emulate our ancestors and all those we revere. May we celebrate these values throughout these final four days of Sukkot and remember them when we go to cast our votes in a few weeks. May the example set by our Ushpizin move us to make the most of our blessings and remember what matters most.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Wirtschafter
NOTE: To learn more about the custom and background of Ushpizin go to Jewish Virtual Library or My Jewish Learning. An Israeli film by the same name is available online on several streaming platforms.
September 30, 2022
Shabbat Shuva: A Sabbath of Renewal
Please join us for services this evening as we celebrate couples who have been married for 50 years or longer. Two years of pandemic-related cancellations and postponements have left me awaiting this annual delight even more than usual. Whether tonight’s participants are attending in person or virtually, our entire congregation wishes them a hearty mazel tov and many more years together.
At this time of year when we renew our commitment to being the best possible version of ourselves, these couples who have been together for half a century or more have much to teach us about forgiveness, devotion and affection. May we be moved by their example and blessed to share in their good fortune. May this Sabbath of Repentance also be a Sabbath of Renewal. May the accomplishments of these couples inspire us to renew our love of those we love with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our might.
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 23, 2022
Concealment Closed Down: The Hard Reality
of Hiding the Truth
“Concealed acts concern the Eternal our God,” but with overt acts, it is for us and our children to apply all provisions of this teaching.” (Deuteronomy 29:28)
No matter how early you get up in the morning, you cannot pull one over on The One Who Never Sleeps. Having an omniscient God has its advantages. There is nothing God does not know. Then again, it has its disadvantages. There is nothing God does not know — including that which we conceal from others. Overt acts, the misdeeds people see us do, can be dealt with by them. If we are caught in the act, we can expect consequences. But what about misdeeds seen only by the offender?
We teach our preschoolers that God is omnipresent and omniscient, yet biblical personas of far more advanced years keep acting as if this was never conveyed to them. Asked where they are after eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, the first couple replies, “We were hiding.” If being driven from Eden were not so sad, their answer might be funny. In the Haftorah portion for the afternoon of Yom Kippur, the Prophet Jonah, who really ought to know better, futilely attempts to conceal himself from God by boarding a boat to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh, going directly to Nineveh, not passing Go, and not collecting $200. It takes a life-threatening storm to convince the prophet that hoping God might not notice his disobedience was not a good plan. In both tales of evasion, the lesson is presented in plain sight. Hiding or sneaking away from God is a fantasy destined to be defeated by the reality that it cannot be done.
There are two entities that know all things about us: whether we are telling the truth when we say: “I tried my best,” whether we knowingly shirked a responsibility or just forgot, and whether we hurt someone accidentally or purposefully. One is God and the other is us. We can try concealing the truth from ourselves if we want to. Ultimately, however, the effort is bound to fail. Moreover, the attempt to conceal things from God falls somewhere between arrogance and absurdity.
Our Deuteronomic verse about concealment, taken from this week’s Torah portion, helps to set an appropriate tone as we approach the High Holy Days. Avenues of concealment are closing down. Accountability season has arrived. The bill is due, the deadline is now; there is no farther we may kick the can down the road. Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth is tightening around our torsos. All attempts to dissemble, deny or delay are destined to be detected. The moment of truth is upon us. The time to be fully honest with ourselves is now.
May efforts at concealment turn to a reawakening of conscience. Let us ask forgiveness of people from whom we have hidden the truth and beg pardon of God from whom nothing can be hidden.
Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 16, 2022
Selichot: Repentance, Remembrance and Renewal
After two years of virtual attendance, tomorrow night’s observance of Selichot ushers in the return to in-person High Holy Days worship. Selichot, a service of beseeching forgiveness, includes familiar elements of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, such as Avinu Malkaynu, Ashamnu and blowing the shofar. As has become our custom, this service is a communitywide effort with multiple sponsors, hosted by OZS. In prior years, we have read a short story, viewed an episode of “The Crown,” and partaken in an interfaith dialogue, all with the common theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. This year, with the leadership of Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, the program before the service will center on reflections of this summer’s Hope, History and Healing trip to civil rights sites in Alabama. Participants from the tour will focus on pivotal moments, such as the Rosa Parks Museum, 16th Street Baptist Church and the Equal Justice Initiative Center.
Confronting our painful history as a nation requires the same spiritual resources needed to address our failings as individuals: repentance, remembrance and renewal. Forgiveness is not free. Among the teachings for Yom Kippur is: “Do not say ‘I will sin and repent. Sin and repent.’” Repentance is not a revolving door akin to the silly stars on/stars off machine in “Sneetches on the Beaches” by Dr. Seuss. Forgiveness requires not just confession but repentance. We cannot merely say we are sorry; we must show it. We cannot have personal or societal reconciliation without the arduous work of repentance. It isn’t easy. Nothing worth doing is. Repenting means remembering what we have done wrong as individuals and as a nation, and working to redress these wrongs in a way that addresses the needs of those we have hurt. Recent efforts in our country to discourage the teaching of past abuses run counter to the ethic of remembrance and repentance. We cannot honestly say we regret slavery and systemic racism in the same breath as removing those topics from history curriculums. We humans are filled with contradictions, but such a contradiction undermines our credibility as penitents and people of good will.
We like to speak of the High Holy Days as “a season of renewal.” For God to “renew our days,” for us to renew our relationships and obligations, we must recognize our failings and recommit ourselves to being better people. We cannot sincerely ask for renewal while reverting to the same practices that injured others. The goal of renewal in unattainable without the work of repentance and remembrance.
Please make a special effort to join us for Selichot in person or virtually via OZS’s livestream. I look forward to seeing you there.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 9, 2022
An Injunction Against Indifference
“If you see someone’s ox or sheep is lost, do not ignore it; you must return it to them. … You shall do the same with that person’s donkey; you shall do the same with that person’s garment; and so, too, shall you do with anything that someone loses and you find: you must not remain indifferent.” Deuteronomy (22:1,3)
God of people, places, and things: Help us to extend the message of this week’s Torah portion to every aspect of life.
If we are forbidden to ignore lost livestock how can we ignore lost homes, lost limbs, and lost lives?
If we are required to return lost items, ] are we not required to return safe roads, clean water, peaceful streets and good schools to communities who have lost them?
If we are commanded not to be indifferent toward anything, are we likewise commanded not to be indifferent toward anyone?
Before we can think wisely or act righteously, we have to care deeply.
Teach us to resist the temptation of taking the easy way out. To pay attention rather than turn away. To be invested rather than indifferent. To involve ourselves in the lives and losses of others rather than ignoring them.
May this be our blessing and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
September 2, 2022
From Deuteronomy to Donbass: Maintaining Environmental Ethics Amidst Military Conflict
“When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city? Only trees that you know do not yield food may be destroyed; you may cut them down for constructing siegeworks against the city that is waging war on you, until it has been reduced.” (Deuteronomy 20:19-20)
As the war in Ukraine drags on, this ancient commandment from our weekly Torah portion feels as if it could have been written yesterday. Armed conflict presents us with any number of contradictions. Among them is the question of how to destroy the enemy’s position in the least destructive way possible. Some have asked if the effort is attainable. Union Gen. Tecumseh Sherman’s famous words, “war is hell,” seem to suggest that the attempt to set limits on armed conflict is doomed to fail. Deuteronomy would have us think differently. Even during war, it tells us, it is essential to maintain a moral compass. The rhetorical question in Deuteronomy 20:19 reminds us that trees are innocent bystanders. Unarmed civilians can run. Trees cannot.
The dangers of a resource being misused in wartime are heightened alarmingly in our nuclear age. Like the trees of the field, a nuclear reactor is neither better nor worse than the people who determine its use. Like the trees of the field, it cannot pick up and retreat from the battle zone. The risks of a nuclear meltdown or explosion resulting from this war should compel opposing forces to think more carefully about their shared concerns in this conflict.
The political status of “enemy” does not negate the moral status of “human.” Whether the thing in question is a tree or a nuclear power plant, these resources are vital reminders that we have connections and obligations as human beings that run deeper and stretch wider than war. May we live to fulfill the vision of the prophets: “Everyone shall sit beneath their vine and fig tree, and none shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 26, 2022
Indebted
“Every seventh year you shall practice remission from all debts … for the remission proclaimed is God’s.” (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)
This week’s Torah portion provides a visionary approach to economic stability. Sabbatical laws are not limited to the land or to money; they include our most valuable resource: people. Indebtedness is not supposed to be limited to the literal payments that poorer parties pay to richer ones. At its best, indebtedness is an outlook on all of life.
When we talk about being indebted to others, we typically mean it in the metaphorical sense of debts that can never be repaid. On the financial level, Torah is trying to prevent extreme discrepancies between a debtor and creditor class, but the wisdom of the mitzvah goes beyond that. There is an arrogance, a dangerous sense of overentitlement, that takes place when we treat people from the vantage point that they owe us something. Deuteronomy admonishes us to avoid this approach. Sweet talking creditors and hounding debtors might help pay the bills, but it comes with a cost to truth, compassion and trust.
All of us stand as creditors before the Creator. We are indebted to God and to one another is ways we cannot begin to measure. When we stop treating people from the perspective that they owe us something, we free them and ourselves from assumptions of power that distort relationships and resist change. By embracing indebtedness over entitlement, we can enrich our lives and liberate our souls.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 19, 2022
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
August 12, 2022
July 29, 2022
July 22, 2022
July 15, 2022
July 8, 2022
June 17, 2022
As we continue to see peaks and valleys in COVID, trials and tribulations in our city, state, nation and world, let us be mindful of the commandment in this week’s portion to sound off about the good things in life. Mazel tov to this year’s graduates and their families, and best of luck on your future studies and endeavors. Please remember that no matter where you go or what field you pursue, we will always be your congregation and look forward to trumpeting the great things you accomplish on life’s journey.
June 3, 2022
Pride and Joy
May 27, 2022
May 25, 2022
19 More Murdered Children
19 more murdered children will not celebrate the last day of class.
19 more murdered children will get no summer vacation.
19 more murdered children will never reach middle school.
19 more murdered children will never learn to drive to a car.
19 more murdered children will never again splash in the pool, the ocean, the lake, the river, or the creek.
19 more murdered children will never again be scolded for talking back, messing up or chewing with their mouths full.
19 more murdered children will never again skin their knees, lose a tooth, slam their doors, or break a glass.
19 more murdered children will never again eat dinner with their families or lunch with their friends.
19 more murdered children will never again watch t.v., listen to the radio, or read a book.
19 more murdered children will never again dash around the playground, jump rope, or throw a ball.
19 more murdered children will never again daydream in class, goof around all day or stay up too late at night.
19 more murdered children’s drawings are on the fridge.
19 more murdered children’s pictures are on the wall.
19 more murdered children’s names have been added to the list.
19 more murdered children’s beds are empty.
19 more murdered children’s hands are cold.
19 more murdered children’s eyes are shut.
19 more murdered children do not say their bedtime prayers.
19 more murdered children do not dream sweet dreams.
19 more murdered children do not rest in peace. They have no peace, and they get no rest.
-Rabbi David Wirtschafter
May 20, 2022
May 13, 2022
April 29, 2022
April 22, 2022
A Prophet’s Promise of Peace: Isaiah’s Animal Allegory and the Human Potential for Change
During a week that has witnessed the continuing horrors of war in the Ukraine and the 23rd anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., we gather this Sabbath on the final days of Passover to pray for peace. The Haftorah (reading from the Prophets) our sages selected for the last day of the festival is taken from the Book of Isaiah. The prophet’s dream of a world physically and spiritually transformed can be a source of hope, encouraging us to hold on to a beautiful vision of peace amid the ugly sights of war.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard lie down with the kid;
The calf, the beast of prey and the fatling together,
With a little child to herd them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
Their young shall lie down together;
And the lion, like the ox, shall eat straw.
A babe shall play
Over a viper’s hole,
And the hand of an infant pass
Over an adder’s den.
In all of My sacred mount
Nothing evil or vile shall be done;
For the land shall be filled with devotion to God
As water covers the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Isaiah’s verse dares to envision a world that no longer is divided between predator and prey, strong and weak, victim and victimizer. The instinct that leads to aggression and attack will no longer exist. Nothing and no one need know it or fear it. Behavior will change because minds have changed. Four-legged beasts won’t fight, and serpents will not sting. Far from being hardwired, the urge will be utterly foreign to them.
Of course, Isaiah is not really speaking about animals but of humans. Yet his use of allegory poses a question. If animals could learn to banish aggressive impulses, why can’t we? What is really holding us back from the pursuit of peace? A deep-seated desire to do violence or the lack of moral courage and political will to create safer and more sustainable ways of life? Scientifically speaking, we have more intellectual capacity than animals. From the pain and destruction we bring one another, however, we don’t act like it. The prophet is reminding us that among our greatest gifts is our potential for change. Our capacity to reconsider, reimagine and reorient can be transformative if we dare to draw upon it.
May the feast and fast of Passover remind us that things will get harder before they get easier, that nothing good comes from giving up and that a better life is possible if we are prepared to confront the powers that be.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Pesach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
April 15, 2022
March 18, 2022
March 11, 2022
March 4, 2022
February 25, 2022
February 18, 2022
February 11, 2022
February 4, 2022
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January 14, 2022
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December 17, 2021
December 10, 2021
December 3, 2021
November 26, 2021
Meriting a Modern Miracle: Holding Onto Hope as Another Hanukkah Amidst Pandemic Approaches
The Hanukkah prayer Al Hanissim (“For the Miracles”) gives thanks to God for wonderous things the Eternal did “for our ancestors in those days at this time.” On the surface, there appears to be a contradiction. It cannot actually be at this time because there is no time exactly the same as any other. There is only one Nov. 19, 2021, only one 22nd of Kislev 5782. Yet holidays, like the anniversaries of death, births, weddings and b’nai mitzvah, connect a past event to the present moment by sanctifying a common day on different years.
We do not live in the era of the Maccabees, but we remember the stories about them that took place in this same month all those Kislevs ago. Hypothetically, we could study the legends of Hanukkah at any point, but when we remember them now, at this particular moment, we build a bridge across time itself, connecting our ancestors’ days with our own. Our circumstances are different, our knowledge and skill sets are different, but the deep desire for miracles remains the same. We are not living under the cruel oppression of the Seleucid (Greek Assyrian) dynasty, but this pandemic proves that we do know something about the curtailing of freedoms, the pain of division and what it’s like to wonder when things will return to how they were before. We moderns might not believe in miracles, but that doesn’t mean we don’t wish for them.
Science already has provided us a miracle in the form of vaccines. Yet science alone cannot cure social ills. Only societies, working as a whole, can do that. Science has done its job, faster than ever before, at a truly miraculous speed. The next miracle, that of healing broken societies, is up to us. The pain caused by disinformation, hatred, violence and selfishness can be overcome only by reason, love, compassion and generosity. May we merit the modern miracle of this pandemic finally coming to an end. May our dedication, like that our ancestors long ago, inspire us at this time of year to never lose hope, never give up and never accept the notion that nothing is ever going to change. May the lights of Hanukkah renew our strength, rekindle our hopes, and reignite our courage.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Hanukkah Sameach,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
November 19, 2021
November 12, 2021
NOTE: Ginny Ramsey, director and co-founder of the Catholic Action Center, will speak at next week’s Shabbat service.
Take the Challenge: What is your Homelessness Awareness IQ???
The Catholic Action Center and CKHHI invite you to take the Homelessness Awareness IQ Quiz: 15 questions with multiple choice answers designed to enlighten about the reality of unsheltered homelessness in Lexington. It does not address the situations that have caused these folks to be unsheltered. It does not offer solutions to homelessness. It is simply 15 actual scenarios with often surprising answers. Only you will know your score. Please share the quiz with organizations, colleagues, family and friends.
#homelessnessawarenessquiz
https://caclex20006976.survey.fm/what-is-your-homelessness-awareness-iq
November 5, 2021
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October 1, 2021
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September 10, 2021
Faith Amid the Flames: A Prayer for 9/11
God of Hope and Healing, on this Shabbat on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we come to You with painful memories and prayers for peace.
We mourn the deaths of those who perished.
We grieve with those who lost family and friends.
We weep when we recall the images that day brings to mind.
We remember what it felt like to see our nation attacked.
We feel outrage at the disregard for human life, the evil and cruelty of the attackers.
We honor the courage of the firefighters and police officers who risked their lives to save others, and commemorate the bravery of those who laid down their lives so others might live.
We give thanks for the doctors and nurses, ambulance drivers and paramedics who tended to the wounded, the maimed and the traumatized.
We take pride in the millions of people who remembered the teaching not to follow a mob to do evil.1
And we are pained by the bitter fact that a handful of brutes committed acts of violence and vengeance against those who professed no love for the attackers and took no part in the attacks.
Let us rededicate ourselves to practicing the noble ideals we preach.
Let us remind one another what we have always stood for and that which can never be allowed to stand.
May we be ever mindful that 9/11 means no more and no less than what we make of it,
That it must not be misused to justify injustice or rationalize the irrational.
May the memory of this dreadful day move us to build a better tomorrow.
For our sake and for the sake of our children may we maintain “faith without fanaticism.”2
May we profess patriotism that brooks no hatred of fellow human beings.3
Let us defeat extremism without resorting to extremes.
May we triumph over terrorists and vanquish terrorism. Let us seek peace and pursue it.4
Let us all lay down sword and shield soon, and work for a world that studies war no more.5
God of Hope and Healing, strengthen our capacity to heal and renew our capacity for hope.
May our talent for love overcome the temptation to hate. Let us rescue faith from amidst the flames.
May this be our blessing, and let us say:
Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
__________________
1Exodus 23:2
2Mishkan Tfilah: A Reform Prayer Book, p.257, adapted by Eugene Picket.
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, “You Don’t Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right”: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism.
3Letter from President George Washington to the Touro Synagogue, Newport, RI.
4Psalm 34:14
5Isaiah 2:4
September 3, 2021
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All: Another V’ahavta for COVID-19
This week’s Torah portion, Va’etchanan, includes the V’ahavta, the powerful passage telling us to love God “with all your heart, with all our soul and with all your might.”1 How are we to understand and fulfill these words after another week of infection rates going up when they ought to be going down? The words below are my most recent attempt at articulating a V’Ahavta that reconciles the lofty ideals of Torah with the painful realities of the pandemic. Please consider writing a V’ahavata for COVID-19 of your own and sharing it with others.
__________________________
Help us to love You with all our hearts, O God,
Even when our hearts are divided between the duty to remain compassionate and the desire to lash out.
Teach us to love You with all our soul,
even when our souls are torn between the responsibility to do what is required and the temptation to revert to what is easy.
Show us how to love You with all our might,
even when we are mightily pulled in multiple directions.
All has never felt like so much.
Not all who should are vaccinated. Less than all we could has been invested. Far fewer than all are as patient as we ought to be.
Forgive Your divided creatures for doing less than our all. Give us all the strength You can.
No matter the circumstances, we will take to heart the commandments You have given us.
We will keep on teaching them to our children.
We will continue to speak of them in our homes and on our way.
Come what may, we will keep them near at hand,
From the moment we put on our masks to the minute we take them off.
Forever may they remain inscribed on the doorpost of our house.
We will not forget them when we walk through our gates.
Thus, we will remember to cherish Your commandments and remain holy unto You.
Now and always, You are the Eternal our God.
You brought us through times of suffering in the past;
Grant us the strength to overcome the suffering surrounding us now.
You are the Eternal Our God.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
_____________
1 Deuteronomy 6:5
Happiness on Tisha B’Ave?
It is in keeping with the ironies of the COVID-19 era that the first opportunity to return to our sanctuary for services other than Shabbat will be Tisha B’Av. This solemn service commemorates the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and 70 CE, respectively, both according to tradition on the 9th day of the month of Av. Until last month, our only in-person services since the Hadassah Shabbat in March 2020 were b’nai mitzvah and confirmation for families only. Now, after a month of joyful “in-person” Shabbat worship, we are opening our doors for one of the most solemn of days. A year ago, we had to hold this service about being driven from our sacred spaces entirely via Zoom. Instead of being forcibly exiled by Babylonia or Rome, we were forced out by a pandemic. Now it is on Tisha B’Av, beginning here at TAI at 10 tomorrow night, that we gathering with our friends from Ohavay Zion Synagogue in one of our sanctuaries for the first time since the pandemic began.
One is not supposed to be joyous on Tisha B’Av. It is a fast day with essentially the same restrictions as Yom Kippur. We will chant the Book of Lamentations, recite dirges and dim the lights as we rely on candles and flashlights while we sit on the floor and listen to the reading. According to some authorities, we are not even supposed to offer one another a cheerful greeting or engage in casual conversation once the service is over.
Yet, to tell the truth, there is reason to be happy this Tisha B’Av, or at least happier than we were a year ago. Thanks to vaccinations we can be together. People who have been relegated to our screens will be physically present. Moreover, we can be joyful for the opportunity to meet OZS’s new rabbi, Shani Abramowitz. So while it is sad that the first service we will be holding together since the pandemic is for Tisha B’Av, we can be happy about sharing our sanctuary with OZS again and welcoming Rabbi Abramowitz to our community. An essential part of progressive Judaism is our capacity to make exceptions. In this exceptional year it seems appropriate to allow for a bit of happiness on a day normally reserved for sorrow. Please join us for services in person or by Zoom. NOTE: Registration is required. To reserve a seat in the sanctuary (seating is limited), click here; to register for the Zoom link, click here.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
Sisterhood Shabbat, the Sotah and a Time of Reckoning
One year from now we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rabbi Sally J. Priesand becoming the first woman to be publicly ordained by the Reform movement in the United States. So much change has occurred since then, yet things have not changed anywhere near enough. The fact remains that far too many female colleagues have been subjected to physical and verbal harassment in rabbinical school and in the settings in which they serve. At this time, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Central Synagogue in New York have retained professional investigators to explore how a male colleague with a record of serious misbehavior toward women could become president of our rabbinical school. Rabbi Mary Zamore, executive director of The Women’s Network, has put it powerfully: “No one should be expected to view harassment, abuse and assault as the price they need to pay to be ordained, to serve in congregations or Jewish organizations, and to be members of the Jewish community.”
As we gather tonight for Sisterhood Shabbat, we face a double irony and injustice. One is the abuses of the past; the other is the failures of the present. This week’s Torah portion is a sad example of how our sacred texts contain abusive acts. Numbers 5:11-31 details the process by which a jealous husband can make his wife undergo a trial by ordeal based on suspicion alone. Neither he nor anyone else needs claim to have witnessed something. The accused wife must drink a potion, which will make her sick if she is guilty but have no effect if she is innocent. She must listen to the prayer of the priest, who asks God to make the potion work, and say “Amen.” Neither this Torah portion nor any other contains a parallel or commensurate ritual for the suspect husband.
For too long we have allowed the indignities and injustice of the past to persist. We have failed to protect women – rabbis and congregants alike – from brutish and boundaryless behavior. Like the suspect wife, the Sotah, of Numbers, we have compelled women to drink the foul waters of sexism and sexual harassment under the false pretense of holiness. We have waited for too long to say “Time is up” on these abuses. Many have called this a moment of reckoning for our movement. Let us of our own free will, unlike the Sotah who was forced to convey “agreement,” say “Amen.” In the coming year we will be marking the historic 50th anniversary with lectures, sermons, prayers and actions focusing on justice and equality for women not only in Reform Judaism but throughout our nation and world. It is with tremendous gratitude that we welcome tonight’s speaker, Mindy Haas, executive director of Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass. Let me take this opportunity to encourage the remarkable women of this congregation to maintain our practice of women giving the Torah commentary/remarks on the first Friday of the month and to thank the women of this congregation, particularly Sisterhood, for all you do to make our congregation a place where everyone is treated with dignity and no one is degraded.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
A Second Time Around: Considering the ‘Twos’ of Passover and the Pandemic
We tend to associate Passover with the number 4. There are four opening questions, four personality types assigned to the four children, four cups of wine each and four blessings to be recited over the food we are required to eat. But this year is different from all other years. This year the number on our minds is 2.
It is not as though we Jews haven’t had our share of 2’s. There are two tablets for the Ten Commandments. In the ultimate example of doubling down they are bestowed not just once but twice. There are two Talmuds, the Babylonian and Palestinian, the second of which has a second name, the Yerushalmi (the Talmud of Jerusalem). We light two candles on Shabbat, the Festivals and the High Holy Days. And, as the Noah’s Ark song reminds us, “The animals, they came on by two-sies, two-sies.” But, as we prepare for this year’s seders, the “two” we cannot stop thinking about is that we are doing this for the second time.
The Haggadah has long held a place of holiness for 2’s. There are two sets of questions. It contains a first and second hand-washing ritual. We dip our parsley twice in salt water and provide a symbolic cup for Elijah and for Miriam. The most poetic pairing for our moment, however, might be that of putting two things, maror and charoset, on our matzo. The Haggadah not only requires us to eat the “Hillel sandwich,” it also tells us why. Though today we are free, we recall the suffering of our past and the pain of oppression that still plagues others. So, too, even in times of suffering, we take hope in the promise of redemption. The two ideas are not oppositional but complementary.
Passover 2021/5781 marks the first festival we are holding for second go-round during this pandemic. We have two intertwined responses to this reality. On the one hand there is exhaustion. We are sick and tired of living this way. On the second hand there is gratitude. In a year defined by a devastating amount of death, we know we should be appreciative to be alive. The one impulse need not negate the other. There is room enough in our minds, hearts and at our seder tables for the two of them. Our initial response is that that we really don’t want to be doing this a second time yet, on second thought, we know it beats the matzo farfel out of the alternative.
We do not have to act as if we are happy about a second Passover during pandemic. But we are not free to pretend this crisis is over or refuse to make the best of our options until it is. Last year I simply was not ready to hold a Temple seder via Zoom. A year later I have come to appreciate the difference between seeing one another digitally and not seeing one another at all. If you do not already have plans for second-night seder, please register for Sunday evening’s program. You can stop by the office by 4 p.m. Friday to pick up a hard copy of the Haggadah we will be using, request a pdf when you register or download it on our website. Last year’s Seder video playlist with Lorne Dechtenberg and I using the Hagaddah developed by Rabbi Kline is on YouTube and is highly recommended to everyone who does not have a Seder plan for Saturday night. The text for this service is also available at Temple, and you can find the pdf here.
For those who might welcome a respite from the usual seriousness of rabbinic remarks, tonight’s message will be in the form a somewhat sillier rhyming story about The Ten Plagues. In the spirit of trying to keep things as interactive as possible, the congregation will be invited to chime in on the final word of each couplet or type it in the chat. Please remember that we are co-hosting Passover services with OZS and Havurah on the Sunday mornings of March 28 and April 4 at 10 a.m. You’ll find the Zoom link here. Dianne Bazell will be chanting Torah and I will be giving the commentary on the 28th. Diane Arnson Svarlien and Emanuelle Wirtschafter Sippy will be chanting Torah on the 4th.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Passover,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
God of the hurting and heartbroken.
God of the powerful and the impoverished.
God of those blessed with abundance and those abandoned to abuse.
On this week where we read about the severe consequences for the Sin of the Golden Calf, we are reminded of how prone to error we truly are.
The same people who burst into professions of faith at the parting of the waters, succumb to panic when they cannot find Moses, and thank something they took from the furnace a minute ago for freeing them Egypt.
Moses cannot explain their actions, but he still pleads their cause. To expect consistency and rationality from those who have endured centuries of trauma, whose only priority has been survival is to expect too much.
On this week when our State Senate has received a bill that would ban the death penalty for those with severe mentally illness, we ask our legislators to remember that there are those among us who do not have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, whose culpability should be mitigated by their limited capacity, and whose lack of understanding should protect them from ultimate punishment. We cannot explain the fatal actions of those with severe mental illness, but we can still plead their cause.
Moses does not argue that the people who worship the Golden Calf are innocent. Rather, he convinces God that to destroy them is to break a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to compromise God’s own commitment to the covenant. So too we mourn the pain that those with severe mental illness have caused. We do not profess their innocence nor argue that they should go unpunished. What we do maintain is that to take their lives is to take compromise our love of mercy, our commitment to compassion, and our covenant with conscience.
It is true that Reform Judaism opposes the death penalty under all circumstances, but abolishing capital punishment is not in this bill or even remotely on the table in our state right now. The question is if people who cannot fully comprehend the consequences of their actions can be held to full account. Science and reason, compassion and mercy compel us to reply that the answer to that question is no. Just as God and Moses withheld death from some participants in the Sin of the Golden Calf, we ask that our State Senators withhold the death penalty from those with severe mental illness. Like the destructive deeds of the former slaves who went forth out of Egypt, we cannot explain the fatal crimes committed by those with severe mental illness. We are not called upon to comprehend them. What we are called on to do is to demand justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
May this be out blessing and let us say: Amen.
Please reach out to our State Senators by phone, mail and social media encouraging them to support this legislation.
February 26, 2021
February 19, 2021
February 12, 2021
February 5, 2021
February 5, 2021
January 29, 2021
Deliverance
God of Marvels and Miracles,
On this Shabbat when we hear the story of how You delivered our people at the Sea of Reeds, we pray to be delivered from this pandemic.
Our ancestors fled from Pharaoh. Now we are racing from a virus, hoping that enough of us can be vaccinated before it closes in on us.
We thank You, God, for our frontline workers, who waded into dangerous waters with no guarantee of safety, who put the survival of others before their own.
Like Nachshon1, 2, they refused to allow fear to keep them from moving forward.
We remember Moses’ and Miriam’s words resounding over the waters.
We, too, wish to sing songs of rescue and rejoicing, deliverance and delight.
Our ancestors feared they would die in the desert.
We fear for the lives of family and friends.
Help us, O God, to cross safely to the other side of this crisis.
Bless us with patience and persistence, resilience and resolve.
As you rescued those who came before us, rescue us.
Then the words of Miriam and Moses will be ours, too.
Ozi V’Zimrat Yah, v’ay’hi li lishua.
“God is my strength and my might and has become my deliverer.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
_______________________________
1According to Midrash (Rabbinic folklore), Nachshon Ben Amindab waded into the sea even before Moses stretched his staff over the waters.
2 Exodus 15:2
January 22, 2021
Cherished Duties: Liberation, Inauguration and the Holiness of Long Hard Work
The rabbis of the midrash were puzzled by a detail of the liberation story we read this week. Devastated by the death of the firstborn and the nine preceding plagues, Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to depart. Indeed, having held them in slavery for more than 400 years, Pharaoh wants the Hebrews gone so desperately that he refuses to grant them time to pack. Many are familiar with the verse about the bread dough rising on the former slaves’ backs, but our sages draw our attention to a related element of the story. “Why did the Israelites, though they had cattle, carry their kneading bowls on their shoulders (Ex. 12:34)? Because they cherished their duties.”1
As President Biden and Vice President Harris shoulder the burden of leadership this week, this commentary reminds us that there are duties we should cherish. A kneading bowl might not seem to be a precious object that needs to be positioned on one’s person, but the behavior of our ancestors shows us otherwise. Sustaining one another, providing for one another, breaking bread with one another is a holy act rendering the kneading bowl a holy vessel to be carried by oneself. Leading us out of a pandemic is an urgent necessity and a holy task. It will not be pretty, romantic or glamorous. Like making bread, it will take hard work, mindfulness, patience and attention to detail.
If the last few months have reminded us of nothing else, it is that democracy is demanding work. We often talk about the rights, freedoms and liberties we cherish. We are not quite so quick to pair the word “cherish” with “duty.” Yet the perpetuation of liberty rests on duty’s shoulders. We can no more enjoy the fruits of democracy without the effort of elections than we can feast on fresh bread without someone kneading the dough first. Even with all the anxiety, turmoil and ugliness this election and its aftermath have produced, we must be mindful that the work of democracy is a duty to cherished.
Wearing an “I voted” sticker is not about bragging. It is about saying, “Democracy is important to me.” We thank poll workers and volunteers because without their dedication to duty there would be no democracy to wax philosophical about. The work of voting; counting; recounting; and texting, calling and knocking on doors to get out the vote is over for a while. Just as a dazzling autumn must cede the stage to a long hard winter, the dramatic season of competition must give way to one of disciplined cooperation. It is time to stop running for office and start (or restart) fulfilling its duties. We ask our elected and appointed leaders to approach their tasks like the cherished duties they are. And may we, the citizens whom they are sworn to serve, commit ourselves to doing our work in the same spirit.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
_______________________________________
1Plaut Commentary First Edition, 1981 pages 367, 1714
January 15, 2021
Hold Fast to Hope: Proclaiming King’s Message
Amidst a Pandemic
We gather this evening still shaken by the events in Washington last week and increasingly concerned about the prospects of a safe inauguration and peaceful transition of power. Every Shabbat when we cannot gather together in our sanctuary is a loss, but being unable to gather these past two Friday evenings feels particularly so. Moreover, given that the heart of his message was unity, there is something painfully ironic about being apart from each other on Martin Luther King Shabbat. We pray that this is the only time a pandemic will relegate this service, which we look forward to each year, to a virtual gathering.
We already have dealt with virtual Purim, Passover, High Holy Days, Sukkot and Hanukkah. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the pandemic we have run out of things we are missing out on for the first time, yet we refuse to give in to defeatism and despair. The scholar James Washington aptly titled his anthology of the essential writings and speeches of Martin Luther King “A Testament to Hope.” Dr. King’s life and leadership were just that. In spite of every reason to give up, he persevered. If we want to live up to his legacy, we too must “hold fast to dreams”1 even in the face of dispiriting realties.
As we study the 10 plagues in this week’s and next week’s Torah portions, we can see ourselves in the nightmarish society that tragically chooses to continue to suffer the consequences of injustice rather than discontinue its cruel practices of oppression. Tonight’s speaker, the Rev. Nathl Moore, pastor of Lexington’s First African Baptist Church, will address at least two painful issues plaguing our society in this difficult moment. First, why is it that Black people have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic of COVID-19? Why have more of them been infected, become seriously ill and died at higher rates than their white neighbors, and what are the lessons of health care inequality that must be learned from this devastating failure? Second, in light of last week’s assault on the Capitol fueled by white supremacists and snti-Semites, how can we, as Black and Jewish communities, demand accountability for those who encouraged, enabled and participated in an attempt to violently overturn the certification of a presidential election? How can we work collaboratively to address the hate, misinformation and violence that have stifled our nation’s efforts to realize King’s vision of “the beloved community.”
Please make a special effort to attend tonight’s service and think about what you can do to mitigate the plagues of systemic racism by alleviating hunger, homelessness and health care inequality in Lexington and throughout the country. We hope you will consider a contribution to the Lexington Chapter of the NAACP in honor of MLK Day and Reverend Moore’s message. Click here to donate or send contributions to Lexington-Fayette NAACP, P.O. Box 13655. Lexington, KY 40583.
You also are encouraged to check out the website of the Religious Action Center for ways in which we can address chronic disparities inconsistent with Jewish and democratic values by urging Congress to support an equitable public health and economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
P.S.: Thank you to Rev. Moore for filling in on short notice for our scheduled speaker, the Rev. James Thurman, who was forced to cancel his appearance because of health issues. We wish him a refuah shelaymah, a full and speedy recovery, and look forward to having him address our congregation when he is able to do so.
_______________________
1 “Dreams” by Langston Hughes, 1922
January 8, 2021
January 1, 2021
December 25, 2020
December 18, 2020
December 11, 2020
December 4, 2020
November 27, 2020
November 20, 2020
November 13, 2020
Tonight, thank goodness, represents a breath of fresh air, something of a return to normal at a time that has been anything but. For the first time since the pandemic, we will have a family service led in part by the students themselves. Not seeing kids in the building is one of the saddest things of this entire crisis. The hallways and classrooms are eerily quiet without children. Yet, just as we tell adults that “our building is closed but our congregation remains open,” so, too, we tell our students that “school is in session even if our classrooms are closed.”
May this week’s reports of a promising vaccine renew our faith and optimism. Let us practice the virtue of being hopeful, both for the sake of our children and ourselves. We are nowhere near “breathing easy,” yet but we can breathe a little easier when we stop to appreciate that the education of tomorrow’s Jewish leaders is in good hands.
November 6, 2020
Waiting
Wondering when we will have definitive results in this election has brought back memories of other waiting stories. Perhaps you have experienced similar thoughts, associations and reflections during this difficult week. More than 20 years ago, my rabbinical school classmates and I anxiously awaited the placement process phone calls informing us of which prospective congregations would invite us to on-site interviews and eventually job offers. One of our professors, Dr. Stanley Nash, gave us the following piece of wisdom: “Waiting is part of life.” He did not expand on the point. Like the loving rabbi and professor he is, he left the interpretation up to us. With gratitude for his teaching, I offer this prayer:
____________________________
Waiting is part of life.
Let us consider what the way we wait says about us.
Waiting is part of life.
Let us use our wait time wisely.
Waiting is part of life.
Let us make certain not to keep our state of waiting from paying attention to everything else.
Waiting is part of life.
Let us ask ourselves what is it that we are waiting for.
Waiting is part of life.
Let us discipline ourselves to wait cautiously.
Waiting is part of life.
May we practice the virtue of waiting peacefully.
Waiting is a part of life.
May we take heart by waiting hopefully.
Waiting is part of life.
May we cherish the value of waiting patiently.
As the Psalm for Elul, the gateway to the High Holy Days tells us:
Strengthen your heart with courage, and have hope in The Eternal.1
As Abraham and Sarah waited for the gift of children.
As Jonah waited in the belly of the whale.
As Elijah waited in a cave.
As Moses and the People waited for Miriam to recover.
As our ancestors in Egypt waited for freedom.
As the inmates of death and concentration camps waited for release.
So, too, may we proffer the prayer of those who came before us:
“We wait the morrow with hope made stronger by the vision of Your dominion, a world where poverty and war are banished, where injustice and hate are gone.
Teach us more and more to respond to share the pain of others, to heed Your call to justice, to pursue the blessing of peace.
Help us, O God, to gain victory over evil, to bring nearer the day when all the world shall be one.”2
May this be our blessing, and let us say: Amen.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
______________
1 Psalm 27
2 Aleinu, Version IV from Gates of Prayer 1975.
October 30, 2020
October 27, 2020
October 23, 2020
Nameless No More: The Legacy of Naamah on the Eve of an Important Election
I once read a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt containing an adage from her mother that the longest-serving first lady and human rights advocate wisely refused to follow: “A lady’s name should appear in the newspaper three times. When she is born, when she is married, and when she dies.” This week’s Torah portion, Noah, presents us with a similar problem. The Bible itself does not provide the namea of Noah’s wife or the wives of his sons. It is worth noting that we are not the first generation to be concerned about the omission. Rabbinic folklore and commentary from Genesis Rabba (circa 300-500 CE) and Rashi (1040-1105) tells us that the name of Noah’s wife was Naamah
Just as Noah is acknowledged for saving pairs of each animal, a modern midrash by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso credits Naamah with “collecting every seed and bulb so that the plants of the earth will also be saved from the flood.” Rabbi Jill Hammer celebrates Naamah as a woman who “endures while the world is destroyed and rebuilt around her. She preserves life and enters a new world to raise future generations. She holds the tools of life. She is the netzach in netzach, the deepest urge to endure. We are most like Naamah when we endure through the storm, prepared to create the future.”1
As we approach the centenary of women taking part in presidential elections, Rabbi Hammer’s words take on renewed importance. This coming week is a celebration of women who carry on Naamah and Roosevelt’s refusal to remain unnamed, unheard, unseen and unacknowledged. Our lineup of female Jewish scholars includes local and out-of-state talent focusing on the legal, historical and social implications of this pivotal moment for our nation. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 27 and 28, we will hear from this year’s Moosnick scholar-in-residence, Dr. Melissa R. Klapper. Her topic will be “Ballots, Babies, and Banners of Peace: American Jewish Women and First-Wave Feminism.” While we wish we could bring her to Lexington to speak, we are fortunate she will be engaging with us via Zoom. (For the link, click here.) At services next Friday, Oct. 30, we will have the privilege of listening to Dr. Karen Petrone, a TAI congregant and history professor at UK. She will share her perspective on women’s suffrage and what the struggle to gain the ballot can teach us today as progressive Jews seeking to meet the challenges posed by the #MeToo movement and the disproportionate socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on women and minorities. Our study sessions on Saturday, Oct. 31, will feature two more female scholars from our community. UK law professor and former TAI president and Religious School director Jane Grise will lead the 9 a.m. session. She will discuss how our courageous ancestors used lawsuits, protests and other avenues to achieve social change, and what we can learn from them. The 11 a.m. session will be led by Dianne Bazell, Ph.D., a former TAI treasurer, past president of Lexington Hadassah and, like Karen, a member of Shir Adat.
At a time when we are deluged by the destructive power of this pandemic and the divisiveness of political discourse, may the endurance of Naamah and Jewish women who played vital roles in the battle for suffrage inspire us to continue working for the day when no one will be deprived of equal rights and opportunities based on gender or treated like a second-class citizen because of their sex. May we put to good use the tools that Naamah and the suffragettes who followed in her footsteps gave us. Let us honor their legacy by enduring the storms surrounding us and preparing to create a more peaceful and progressive future. May the women of this world who bless our lives in countless ways be nameless no more.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
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1 Ritualwell.org “Omer Calendar of Biblical Women,” Rabbi Jill Hammer.
October 16, 2020
As we start the process of rereading the Torah this week with Bereshit, the first portion of Genesis, we are reminded of how beautiful and baffling beginnings can be. The Talmud endeavors to help us manage our expectations when starting new things. Kol chacholot kashot it tells us: “All beginnings are difficult.”1 We have read and reread the opening chapters of Genesis any number of times. What makes this year’s reading different is that, in our lifetimes, we have never begun a Torah cycle during a pandemic. What does creation and being creative mean during a time of such mass devastation? How do we maintain a difference between light and darkness as the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and the virus refuses to call it quits?
Our scope of creative freedom has been curtailed by COVID-19; not so the creative instinct. The impulse to create is still within us. The new Hebrew year is an invitation to try new things. Why not challenge ourselves to learn something new, to try a creative undertaking we have resisted? We do not have to become experts at it. We call them “creative pursuits” for a reason. It is the pursuit, not the proficiency, that counts. According to the Midrash (rabbinic legend), the opening words of the opening portion are meant to teach us that not even God is happy with the outcome of all creative endeavors. Why does Torah say: When God began creating heaven and earth? In answer to their own question, the sages reply that there were numerous attempts, discarded drafts, underwhelming outtakes of Creation with which God simply was not satisfied.2 Fortunately for us, God didn’t quit — and neither should we.
Frustration, aggravation and disappointment are part of the creative process. We cannot have creation without the creative process. If creation is holy, then the creative process is holy. It doesn’t matter how many pictures we delete, cookie batches we burn or drafts we throw in the recycle bin. What matters is that we honor our Creator by being creative. We bring holiness to this chaotic world when we counter the destructive impulse with the creative one. We have to begin somewhere, so why not here? We have to begin sometime, so why not now? May we find delight in new beginnings, no matter how difficult they might be.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter
_____________________________
1 Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 10b
2 Genesis Rabbah 3:8
October 9, 2020
October 2, 2020
September 25, 2020
September 18, 2020
September 11, 2020
September 4, 2020
for Parshat Ki Tavo
August 28, 2020
August 21, 2020
August 14, 2020
in a Time of Rapid Change
August 7, 2020
of What We Cannot Do
for Parshat Naso
on Shavuot at a Time of Pandemic
May 8, 2020May 1, 2020a Summer of Limited Options
For tips from ReformJudaism.org on how to talk to your children about canceled summer plans, click here.
April 24, 2020Before Israel Independence Day
April 17, 2020To allow members of our communities to follow along with the livestream of our services, URJ has created:
April 10, 2020
April 3, 2020
March 27, 2020 March 20, 2020 March 13, 2020
March 6, 2020Thoughts for Hadassah Shabbat
February 28, 2020to bring me gifts; you shall accept gifts for me from every person
whose heart is so moved.” (Exodus 25:1)
February 21, 2020As we gather in the comfort of our sanctuary and the warmth of our homes, we are confronted with the painful reality that thousands of internally displaced people in Syria have nearly nothing to cover them from the wind and cold. They have been rendered homeless by a civil war now approaching its ninth year. They will die if they return to their homes, and they will perish if they remain where they are. There is no roof over their heads. Their improvised tents are made from blankets.
Right now, our fellow humans, with little cover between the elements and their skin, are crying out while world leaders leave them exposed to starvation, exhaustion and bitter cold. Perhaps we moderns don’t fear personal retribution from the Divine. Maybe God won’t judge us harshly. But make no mistake: If our leaders refuse to act, history will judge us harshly, and deservedly so. Here at Temple Adath Israel, our Shabbat evening announcements always end with these words. “As we leave, may we take the joy of each other’s company.” Instead of taking the warmth and joy of this place and of our homes for granted, we should share it with others. There are people in our country and around the world who need. No one should be left with nothing to cover them from the cold.
February 14, 2020(2) Deuteronomy 6:5
February 7, 2020Voting for World Zionist Congress
January 31, 2019 January 24, 2019 January 17, 2019 Attica Scott and the Women of Exodus
January 10, 2019 We readers have known for a while that Joseph is safely in the palace. But according to a particular midrash (rabbinic folklore), Joseph’s brothers fear that he ended up selling himself on the streets of Egypt.[1] Sex slavery also asserts itself earlier in the biblical narrative, when Judah, one of Joseph’s older brothers, takes responsibility for his widowed daughter-in-law only after she “plays the harlot” for him.[2] Disguising herself as a prostitute was not something Tamar wanted to do; it was the only ploy she could think of to prevent actually becoming one. Clearly, “human trafficking,” though a relatively new term, is anything but a novel concept, as we as a people are well aware, having experienced poverty and persecution from slavery in Egypt, and Nazi concentration/extermination camps.
Turning fellow humans into slaves, including sex slaves, has been with us throughout our history. Forcing anyone into prostitution is cruel and abusive. To target refugees, the undocumented, and those fleeing poverty and violence is even more disturbing. Over and over, Torah teaches us not to oppress strangers, foreigners, widows and orphans because we ourselves were oppressed in Egypt.
Tonight’s Shabbat speaker is here to help us better understand the extent to which human trafficking has become a crisis not only in our community and our country, but throughout the world. More importantly, she is here to tell us what we can do about it. Jacob and his children were far from perfect. So, too, are we. But we don’t have to be perfect to demand an end to human trafficking. Slavery, including sexual slavery, an act of gross inhumanity, can be alleviated only if we have the humanity to combat it. In this year that marks the 400th anniversary of bringing enslaved Africans to this continent, let us confront slavery in all its forms, no matter the victim, no matter the victimizer, no matter the type of force or coercion involved. As we turn from the grand aspirations of Genesis to the brutal suffering of Exodus, the time for The Well’s message is now.
January 3, 2019 A Test of Compassion at a Time of Crisis
December 6, 2019 THE INTEGRITY OF “I DON’T KNOW”:
Jacob’s Admission and the Journey of Humility
December 2019 Bulletin Article
What Hanukkah teaches about making
things happen
According to the Talmud, when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, they found a cruse of oil thought to contain only enough fluid to burn for one day, but miraculously it lasted for eight. The tale is intriguing on so many levels. What does it teach about sacred space, use of resources and what we leave behind? To some degree the story is reminiscent of how the Prophet Elisha feeds the masses with loaves and fishes that could only serve a few. The lesson seems to be that the question before us is not one of resources but of faith. If God sees that our needs are legitimate and our intentions are good, then what seems insufficient will suffice. The issue is not scarcity of material but our readiness to believe in miracles.
If only it were so. Rather, it seems that people prefer to rely on miracles than to formulate plans. For better or worse, real life is not like the Torah or Talmud. Coaches, instructors, teachers, mentors and friends impart different articulations of the following lesson: The best we can expect at game time, performance time or test time is that what we do then will be as good as our best practice, rehearsal or preparation exercise. Expecting that we will somehow be better, perform better or do better is wishful thinking. There is nothing wrong in wishing or praying for a miracle. What is wrong is to mistake hoping for a miracle with making a plan. Moreover, it is irresponsible to rely on a miracle when people are counting on us to meet our obligations.
The miracle of the cruse of oil teaches us that people are relying on what we leave behind. What story would there be if those who fled the Temple had not secreted away any oil at all? Someone had the composure and foresight to think about what the redeemers of the Temple might need one day. Someone had to have faith that despite the military unlikelihood of it, the Temple would be ours again, and oil would be needed. Faith is not a license to forgo responsibility to the future. Faith requires the commitment to a better future even in the face of present circumstances and demands.
We cannot relegate the responsibility of leaving a sustainable congregation, community, nation or planet to hopes and prayers. Leaving behind insufficient resources and utter messes for future generations is to break faith with those who provided for us and rightfully expected us to do the same for those to come. We cannot justify leaving only enough breathable air and drinkable water to last a few years because we are counting on science and technology to make it last for centuries. “Maybe they will find solutions we cannot even imagine” is not a plan; it’s a cop-out.
The story about the cruse of oil still has the power to inspire. Finding something useful amidst disaster is a theme worth employing to rekindle our efforts when morale is low. But the only practical way to leave enough oil for eight days is to provide enough oil for eight days. Future generations, faced with the challenges of managing congregations, communities and indeed the world itself, will receive little comfort from the knowledge that we fervently prayed for a miracle. What is required of us is to take the difficult measures and make the necessary sacrifices for our descendants to have an existence as good as, if not better than, ours. The Maccabees did not rely on a miracle to save them. Through remarkable efforts they achieved a result we call miraculous.
Happy Hanukkah!
Rabbi David
November 22, 2019
November 15, 2019of Terrorist Attacks in Louisville and Pittsburgh
November 8, 2019November 1, 2019The Great Flood and Our Great Challenge
The offenses compelling God to wipe out the entire earth in this week’s Torah portion, Noach, are rather short on details. The Creator’s blanket indictment that the world is full of “corruption and violence” is lacking in who, what, when, where, and why. God wipes out everyone and everything except Noah’s family and one male and one female of every species, hence the “twosies twosies” lyric in the Sunday School classic “Rise and Shine.” All joking aside this is the ultimate reminder that it’s not our earth, it’s God earth. Or if you prefer a secular articulation of the same assertion; It’s not for any one of us to treat the earth as if it were ours alone or to be inhumane to fellow human beings. This planet belongs to all humankind and all humankind should relate to it and one another accordingly.
We are alarmed at the way God expresses displeasure in this story, yet the narrative seems more and more relatable to our present-day reality. How many times can we have two five hundred-year floods within five years of each other and continue to act as if we should just keep on declaring state of emergencies without doing anything to prevent them? Isn’t “corrupt” a fitting term to describe a society that would
rather appease wealthy polluters than protect vulnerable people? This does not mean that the frequency and intensity of floods are God’s way of punishing us for our sins. What is does mean is that we need to take these things more seriously and act with a greater sense of urgency. To think about and relate to the environment as our responsibility and not someone else’s. That there is a social and moraldimension to how we treat the earth. That there are lessons to be learned from what is happening, particularly when the same things keep happening.
Whether you are a member of TAI or visiting us from another house of worship, please consider attending the “Single Use Plastics Summit for Faith Communities” Tuesday, November 19, 6-7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, donating to your favorite environmental charity, and improving your current recycling and composting efforts. The least we can do to cherish the beautiful world God has given us is not to take it or one
another for granted.
October 31, 2019
A year ago tonight religious leaders, elected officials, public safety workers, and neighbors of all faiths filled Nordsworthy auditorium to show their support after the fatal terrorist hate crimes in Louisville and Pittsburgh left us grief stricken. We will never forget this act of kindness and solidarity. Thank you especially to the FCPS main office for providing a space that could accommodate the overwhelming turnout. Our congregation will commemorate the anniversary of the violence on the Hebrew date, but it seems only fitting to thank our neighbors according to the calendar we share with you.
May love and reason yet triumph over fear and hate. May our country become a place where civility and decency are practiced by all of us, no matter our religion, race, class, gender, sexual orientation or nation of origin. May the words we heard and things we witnessed a year ago tonight inspire us to lead lives of goodness everyday of our lives.
To our fellow Lexingtonians we say Todah Rabah. Thank you for the message your presence sent to us a year ago. To watch that auditorium fill up with friends was an act of love we will never forget. As the psalm teaches: “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.” In the Jewish world when we depart from a house of mourning we say “Next time on a simcha, (a happy occasion). May we soon gather together in the hundreds to celebrate the defeat of racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, bullying, violence, selfishness, greed and deceit.
As Rev Mark Johnson of Central Baptist teaches: “It’s not OK but it’s going to be OK.”
A day of truth is coming. A day of justice is coming. A day of freedom is coming. A day of love is coming. A day of healing is coming. A day of joy is coming. And although it can’t come soon enough the time is coming soon. May all of us live to dance and sing on that great day. And let us work to make it so.
October 25, 2019
October 11, 2019
October 4, 2019
celebration for Sukkot and Passover. The Sabbatical laws include the commandment that every seven years farmers are to let their fields lie fallow. But of greatest relevance for tonight’s celebration is that the second half of the Jewish wedding service contains the unit known as the seven blessings. In fact, some people use the words sheva brachot (seven blessings) as another term for a wedding ceremony. So, in honor of the seven couples gracing us with their presence, here are seven blessings for reaching the 50-plus milestone:Just as you have blessed and inspired us with your love
for one another, tonight we share this blessing with you.
May the Source of Love bless you with abounding affection.
May the Source of Strength bless you with patience,
persistence and perseverance.
May the Source of Compassion bless you with kindness
and gentleness.
May the Source of Wisdom bless you with discernment, judgment and insight.
May the Source of Courage nurture your resolve to face challenges with hope and optimism.
May the Source of Joy bless you with happiness and
holiness, lots of laughter and long life.
May the Source of Peace bless you, your families, and all who love you with the wholeness and oneness that only peace can provide. And let us say together: Amen.
September 27, 2019
and 2 More Communitywide Opportunities
September 13, 2019
September 6, 2019
Judges
This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, (meaning judges) begins with three interrelated commandments. First the community must appoint judges and magistrates. Second these individuals must be impartial and free from corruption. Thirdly the people must pursue justice if they hope to thrive in the promised land (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). Peace and progress are not unconditional guarantees. They are contingent on a society dedicated to justice. Judges can not maintain justice in a vacuum.
Ironically, it was just yesterday that we rabbis who have had the good fortune to travel to Guatemala with American Jewish World Service received word that any number of judges in that nation are now afraid for their lives. Judges who maintained the rule of law, sent corrupt officials and war criminals to jail, and refused to be intimidated by government threats are now terrified about the potential fall out of anti-corruption laws being overturned and those who violated them released. Human rights advocates lauded these judges as Guatemala’s fire wall against things becoming even worse. That fire wall has now become imperiled by approaching flame. We sometimes forgot how dangerous being a judge can be, especially in dictatorships, failed states and countries coping with extreme poverty and violence. I can’t hear about foreign journalists being imprisoned, kidnapped or killed without thinking about my brother Jacob. Nor can I learn about judges anywhere being threatened without thinking about my brother Benjamin, a Superior Court Judge in California. No righteous judge anywhere in the world should be faced with threats of retaliation for fulfilling their obligations to justice. There can be no just society when judges are coerced or corrupted by injustice.
On this Sabbath named for judges may we be mindful of the role they play, grateful for the integrity it requires, and watchful so that no nation can intimidate its judges with impunity.
August 30, 2019
August 23, 2019
August 16, 2019
July 19, 2019
July 12, 2019
We cannot continue to hold them captive, certainly not under the conditions that have been verified by multiple agencies.
and will not free all captives under any and all circumstances. The voice of idealism maintains that if we cannot even wish or pray for the freedom of children in captivity, if we do not acknowledge to God and to one another that the current situation is unacceptable, then how can we even begin the work of demanding their release? On this day after Independence Day, a day celebrating our freedom from being governed in a way our founding fathers deemed unjust, let us demand immediate changes to conditions in detention centers that we know to be unjust. If we cannot safely and speedily set these children free, we must at the very least
implement radical reform of the places in which they are being held captive. Baruch Atah Adonai matir asurim. Blessed are You, O God, who frees the captive.
June 28, 2019
Just as the River Jordan parted for Joshua and the people on their way to the Promised Land,* would that the waters of the Rio Grande have parted this week for Oscar Ramirez and his young daughter, Valeria, fleeing poverty in Central America.
May the drowning of Oscar and Valeria Ramirez move us to action as well as tears. May their deaths help us to see that no democracy can continue to drive imperiled people to such desperate acts. Let’s go down to the river to pray and to repent. Because teshuvah (repentance) is called for now. Repentance for enabling circumstances contributing to such fatal outcomes. From now until the crisis stops, let us approach all rivers in the spirit of repentance.
June 21, 2019
June 14, 2019
June 7, 2019
May 31, 2019
May 24, 2019
May 17, 2019
May 10, 2019
May 3, 2019
April 26, 2019
April 19,2019
April 12, 2019
Congratulations and Concerns
April 5, 2019
“I Am Not a Leper!”
Rescuing Humanity from Humiliating Afflictions
January 19, 2024
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All or Nothing: Reflections on Parashat Bo The following narrative in this week’s Torah portion takes place in the prelude to the plague of locusts. After seven plagues, cracks are starting to form in the court of Egypt. An unrelenting tyrant has found willingness to compromise — within limits. Pharaoh’s courtiers said to him, “How long shall this one be a snare to us? Let a delegation go to worship their God! Are you not yet aware that Egypt is lost?” So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh and he said to them, “Go, worship your God. Who are the ones to go?” Moses replied, “We will all go — regardless of social station — we will go with our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds; for we must observe God’s festival.” But he said to them, “God be with you — the same as I mean to let your dependents go with you! Clearly, you are bent on mischief. No! You gentlemen go and worship God, since that is what you want.” And they were expelled from Pharaoh’s presence. (Exodus 10:7-11) The passage is a powerful reminder of how different parties approach the same situation. Pharaoh is sufficiently worn down that he is willing to relent a little on his refusal to let the people go. He approaches the conflict as a negotiation. Moses and Aaron, on the other hand, insist that the people’s freedom is not about give and take but rather a divine demand requiring full cooperation. The interchange teaches us that freedom, and by extension all forms of a better life, are not merely something for a select few. Progress, the expansion of rights and liberties, is for everyone. Their willingness to continue the fight into the plague of darkness and tragically the death of the firstborn conveys how serious they are about this all-or-nothing approach. Rather than acquiesce to the exclusion of their wives and children, they walk away from the conversation until Pharaoh is ready to listen. Practicality typically cautions against all-or-nothing approaches as too idealistic or extreme to achieve success. These verses are an important exception. In some circumstances, compromise is a luxury we cannot afford. The cost of a compromise that leaves undervalued people no better off than they were before while others are afforded the chance at a better life is a price too high to pay. May the example of Moses and Aaron inspire us to stand firm during difficult circumstances and remind us that we cannot negotiate away the future of those who need us. As the great Jewish-American poet Emma Lazarus wrote: “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” |
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wirtschafter