A Reflection on the Lag B'Omer Tragedy In Israel

Dear Friends,

On Erev Shabbat, it is customary to begin worship singing the ancient words, “Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah… – Come my beloved to greet the (Shabbat) Bride” that were composed by Shlomo Alkabetz – a 16^th Century Jewish Mystic who lived in the city of Tzfat (Safed) in northern Israel. The image that comes to my mind when I hear the many beautiful melodies of Lecha Dodi is that of the sun setting on Mt. Meron – which is visible from every point in this holy city – as worshippers rejoice in welcoming the sacred day of rest.

Unfortunately, in addition to the beauty of welcoming the Shabbat Bride, Mt. Meron will now also be inexorably linked to a terrible tragedy. Yesterday was Lag B’Omer – the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. In ultra-orthodox communities, Lag B’Omer is a time of celebration and pilgrimage. Many Jews travel to Mt. Meron to visit the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai – a pivotal figure in Jewish History who some believe to have been the author of the important Kabbalistic Masterpiece, the Zohar. Lag B’Omer is also the yahrzeit (death anniversary) of Shimon Bar Yochai. This annual celebration is a time of great joy as participants dance ecstatically at Bar Yochai’s tomb  - not to mourn his death, but to celebrate his life and legacy.

As many of us have already heard, this year’s Lag B’Omer celebration at Mt. Meron began with joy and ended with tragedy. As of this writing, over 42 people were killed in a stampede when the huge crowd got out of control.  Hundreds more were crushed and injured.

There are many questions that need to be addressed in the wake of this tragedy. While Israel has been a leader in vaccinations and containment of COVID-19, this festival set a dangerous precedent.  Health officials warned against such a huge gathering – but these warnings went unheeded by the Ultra -Orthodox Community.  The Government, in the midst of a contentious process of forming a new governing coalition, did not want to upset this vital demographic upon whom it relies for support and also played down the health concerns. Whether or not this contributed to this tragedy will be determined in the days and weeks to come.

Our task, today, is to show our support for our fellow Jews.  It is customary to celebrate weddings on Lag B’Omer. Today, in addition to brides, grooms and happy families, all across the State of Israel there will also be mourners and funeral processions. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and to all who are injured. We pray for healing and shed tears for lives lost. This horrific tragedy reminds us of the connections that we have with our brothers and sisters in the State of Israel – regardless of how they live their lives or express their faith. Their grief is ours.

In the last verse of Lecha Dodi, we recite the words: Boi V’Shalom - Come in peace:

“Come in Peace, beloved of her spouse, in both happiness and jubilation. Amidst the faithful of the treasured nation – Boi Kallah Boi Kallah­- Come O Bride, Come O Bride.”

We are all are one as we pray for peace: peace for the mourners and the injured; peace for the State of Israel and all who love her.

May their memories be for a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom

 

 

Opening Prayer for the State House of Colorado: April 29, 2021

 

Our God and God of all people:

We come to you this morning from many different traditions and cultures. You reveal many truths – it is our task to hear and heed them.

Merciful Creator, guide these Legislators as they go about their sacred work. May any conflicts that arise in the course of deliberation be seen as a reflection of diversity and not a cause for demonization.

Holy One of Blessing – help our leaders to see the good in one other – and let that goodness triumph over partisanship.

Help them to give faces to the faceless and hope to the hopeless.

May this day bring out the best in these men and women who have been sent here to bring about change.

Our God – though your presence is often illusive, we can see you in the longings of our hearts.  Some of us seek prosperity – others simply want a place to lay their heads in warmth and safety.

Some can find you in the hope for a better tomorrow –others – in the ability to feed their family today.

We have heard you in moments of wonder – when men, women and children have rejoiced in newfound freedom and acceptance.

We have sought your presence in the midst of debate and in the messy process of legislation.

On this day of deliberation, let us pray that our leaders and officials might find You within themselves. 

·         May they find You in their ability to hear one other – to respect one other – to do the sacred work of governing our State of Colorado.

·         May they find You in satisfaction that comes from hard work and due deliberation.

·         May they come to know You as they come to know each other – and respect the skills that each brings to the floor of debate.

·         May their discussions give way to a higher sense of purpose and understanding – and along the way, may it elucidate and elevate the decisions that are to be made.

We thank you for these men and women who serve our great state of Colorado.  Guide their deliberations with purpose and an awareness of the sacred.

And let us say,

AMEN

Opening Prayer for the Colorado State House After the Chauvin Verdict - April 22, 2021

 

Our God and God of all people,

Two days ago, the eyes of our nation and the entire world were focused on a court room in Minneapolis, Minnesota - a city I love dearly having served there 34 years ago as a young Rabbi fresh out of Rabbinical School. I spent 9 wonderful years there.  It was in Minneapolis that I met my wife, and both of our children were born in the Twin cities. This past Wednesday, our nation and people of conscience around the world held our collective breaths as Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis Police officer was convicted on three counts of murdering George Floyd. The video of the agonizing 9 minutes and 29 seconds it took from the moment that Chauvin’s knee was pressed into the back of his victim as he pleaded for life showed, in graphic detail, how easy it was for a human being to descend into the depths of depravity and evil. We then saw how the despair of those who had lost faith in the system and were convinced that justice was not possible was replaced by jubilation mixed with pent-up grief as a family and a nation learned that this time, at least, the system would be held accountable.

While justice was served in that courtroom, we all know that three guilty verdicts do not change the world overnight. That will take hard work, painful soul-searching, dialogue and meaningful prayer.

God, we ask for your help as we look deep into ourselves and our souls and pose essential questions about the meaning of hatred, racism and inequality. Let us question everything and remember that there were times in the not-so-distant past when this sacred chamber and others like it were used to maintain and sustain systems of oppression that all too often were created and enforced by those who used Your name in vain to prop up the status quo.

God - grant your blessings on our Great State of Colorado. Guide these legislators and those who work within these walls with the ability to shut out the noise of political posturing and hear, feel and respond to the pain, distrust and grief of too many of our citizens. Now is a time for study, dialogue and healing. While divisions and disagreements will always exist in the messy arena of crafting legislation, may any conflicts that do arise be for the sake of the common good. In this time of division, let us build on the yearning for justice and reconciliation that we are witnessing on the streets of Minneapolis and around the world. May demonization give way to declarations of solidarity and a desire to learn from the past - so that it may never be repeated.

We have work to do - all of us: from those crafting the laws, to those whose privileges have been gifted by the color of their skin or the accidents of birth. Help us to see Your presence in the faces of those whom we fear and those who fear us.

May we all live up to the promises of hope that brought us here today.

AMEN.