Bereshit: Holiness and Helplessness

 

Why do we have a story of creation at all?  What purpose does it serve?

I suppose we could say that it needs to be included in order for us to know from whence we came…but I believe that there is much more to the story than the fact that we had to start someplace.

Our task, as Jews - as careful readers of our sacred scriptures - is to see the world  from the perspective that all we experience must be filtered through the prism of the promise that we are created in the image of God – that we are to be a blessing – and we need to live out that blessing. 

We can go on with our lives oblivious to that message and charge, but if we do, we lose a basic existential understanding of what it means to be Human – to be created in the image of a benevolent and Divine sacred being.

If we look at all the stories that follow Bereshit, they can be understood on their own, but if we place them in the context of God’s creation, they show us a radically different perspective.

In addition, each story builds upon the one that preceded it:

·        God calls Abram and Sarai and tells them Lech Lecha – go forth – and be a blessing

·        God tells them that through their offspring, goodness and blessing will flow throughout the world

·        Through trial and error – the messages of God’s presence and the demands that God makes upon us become manifest.

·        Our forefathers and Mothers were imperfect beings – they make mistakes, and yet, they grow and ultimately learn that they – and we who are their offspring - have an obligation to be a blessing – to build upon the lessons learned in previous generations; to avoid making the mistakes of those who came before us– to see the holiness in all of God’s creation.

You see, the function of Bereshit is to teach us three basic ideas

1.     Life is a gift

2.     We are imbued with a capacity for experiencing and expanding holiness in the world

3.     Because we see life as a gift and experience the holiness that is a consequence of our creation, we must work to increase the good in our world.

In Pirke Avot 3:14  we find words that encapsulate these three ideas: 

“Beloved is humanity for we were created in the image [of God]. Especially beloved is humanity because we were made aware of the fact that we were created in the image [of God]…”

This awareness is a key component of both our humanity and the holiness within us. As we both observe and participate in the world, Judaism teaches that the decisions we make – about ourselves, our communities – even our elected officials – must reflect these basic ideas and values.

God’s Creation is in turmoil right now. We who have inherited the legacy of Bereshit face multiple threats – here in American and around the globe:

• The Pandemic that has radically reshaped our world shows now signs of slowing and, as we have learned today from both our Governor and Mayor, the dangers of infection are exponentially increasing.  Our healthcare system is stretched to the limit and our ability to help those impacted by COVID-19 is increasingly being tested.

• In addition to those who are ill, so many others have been hit hard by economic turmoil.  Each day that we are unable to resume “normal” life increases the pressure on our livelihoods.
• The economic divide between the wealthy and poor is growing. While a select few are enjoying enormous success, the vast majority of our society is languishing. 
• Racial tension increases every day. 
• Our climate is threatened. The Wildfires that ate raging in our State of Colorado and around the world are stark warnings of the hubris and harm that we have inherited.
• The political and ideological divides that face our nation are widening. These toxic tensions are eating away at civility and I fear for the repercussions of our post-election society.

Now, more than ever, we need to focus on finding the holy in our lives-wherever and whenever we can.  This does not mean that we avoid the problems that we are facing.  The other day, I had a conversation with a friend who shared with me that he is uncomfortable when issues that he deems to be “political” enter into our worship experiences. “I come to services as an escape, Rabbi.  I don’t want to hear about current events!” he said.

I shared with him that I agree that politics have no place on the pulpit (or zoom screen as the case may be…), but prayer must never serve as a means to avoid the tensions that surround us. A central purpose of worship is to acknowledge both the holiness that exists in the world, as well as opening a portal to perspective.  As I am fond of saying, Rav Kook – the first Chief Rabbi of the modern State of Israel taught that one should never pray in a room without windows. In order for prayer to be meaningful, we need to see God’s creation Spread out before us – warts and all.  If worship – if prayer - merely serves as an escape, then it is not real. If our liturgy does not reflect the reality of what is occurring around us, then it is merely words – with no efficacy, meaning or purpose.

To be created in the Divine Image is to accept the radical and life-changing awareness that we are partners with God. Like the flaws in our ancestors; like the prophets that God sent to chastise the people for their inability to see the ugliness in society and in themselves, our partnership with our Creator is not only efficacious when times are good – no – our awareness of the potential for holiness within us calls us to strive to perfect this all too imperfect world every day.

This week, we have begun a new chapter of Torah. Let us pray that other new beginnings will soon be upon us – replete with opportunities to make real change.

AMEN  Shabbat Shalom.