My Words At the Rally Celebrating Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom Petition "Turn In Day"

Today was a vitally important day in the struggle to ensure Abortion Care for all in Colorado. Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of faith leaders, community activists and concerned citizens who have been working to ensure that Reproductive Health Care will be affordable and available to all citizens of our State.  I was asked to speak last January at the kickoff rally for the initiative to gather signatures to enshrine this right in our State Constitution and place it on the ballot in November,  Today, I spoke at the rally celebrating the successful completion of this initiative.  These are my words:

My name is Rabbi Joseph Black.  I serve as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Denver. I stand here today to celebrate the fact that we have gathered enough signatures to ensure that the voters of our state will be able to enshrine abortion access in the Colorado State Constitution this coming November. I have come to speak because, in addition to strongly supporting the right for all to have access to health care, this is also personal.  When my wife and I decided to get married 35 years ago, we looked forward to raising our children in a home filled with love and Jewish tradition.   As a rabbi, I had worked with many couples in preparation for marriage and I knew that since both of us were Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jews, there was a slight possibility that one or both of us might carry the gene for Tay-Sachs – a rare, incurable genetic disorder that results in a painful and gruesome death - usually within five years of birth.  Both my wife, Sue, and I discovered that we were carriers of Tay-Sachs. Thankfully, 33 years ago, in 1991, we were blessed by the birth of our healthy daughter. 

Our luck changed with our second pregnancy, however. To hear from our doctor that the embryo that we so desperately wanted to bring to term had a fatal disease was devastating.  Thankfully, at that time, abortion was legal and safe.  As difficult as it was to say goodbye to the hopes and dreams of a second baby, the thought of having to care for and eventually bury a suffering child was unpalatable.  Termination of the pregnancy was the obvious choice. I thank God and modern medicine that we have two healthy children and a beautiful 9-month old grandchild.

I stand here today in support of this initiative because I believe strongly that government should never put itself in a position to legislate how people can care for their own bodies. Abortion care is health care.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 30, verse 19, we find the following text that is often used against abortion rights. It reads as follows:

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day: I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life, that you and your descendants may live! 

The words, “choose life” are quite powerful.  But they also can be spun and defined in a variety of ways. They can used to motivate us to live to our highest potential – choosing God’s loftiest ideals for our daily living and the choices we make, or they can be used as a weapon to narrowly define an agenda of intolerance.

There are too many individuals and organizations who want to impose their own fundamentalist and draconian definition of when life begins – For those who oppose Abortion Care, this means that the government has both the ability and responsibility to legislate individual’s bodies without regard to personal freedom, physical or mental health, abuse, rape, or economic hardship.

For me – the words, “Choose Life” mean that as humans blessed with the precious gift of life, we have a responsibility to live our lives in ways that affirm the highest aspirations of humanity.  It does not mean imposing our narrow understandings of life’s questions, traumas, and values on others – nor does it disavow us from disagreeing on the many complex paradoxes with which we are confronted on a daily basis.

The passions that inflame anti-Abortion advocates cross the line of healthy disagreement and enter dangerous authoritarian oppression of some of the most vulnerable in our midst. My wife and I, due to our outspoken support of Abortion rights have been targeted by activists with vile threats and condemnation of our personal choices.

To choose to terminate a pregnancy is not easy – but there are times when it is absolutely the correct thing to do. It is essential that such a decision should be made by individual people – who may or may not choose to consult with family (whenever possible), or clergy, or counselors or even God. But we have no right to legislate their personal and painful choices. WE also must ensure that the current ban on State funds covering the costs of abortion care is eliminated. Everyone should have access to health care.  Proposition 89will ensure that abortion will be safe, legal, accessible and affordable to all. Enshrining Abortion care in the Colorado State Constitution will help to ensure that every citizen of our state will have the right to make medical decisions free from government interference into the most intimate aspects of our lives. Anything else is antithetical to the foundation of the separation of religion and state upon which our nation was founded and for which too many have died.

Thank you.

6 Months After October 7th: Two Different Kinds of Fire

In the Torah portion that we read last shabbat, Parashat Shemini, we come across a strange and previously unknown concept – that of אש זרה (Eysh Zara) – a “strange fire”  offered up by Aaron’s sons. According to our text, Nadav and Abihu brought their firepans to the altar after the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was dedicated and proffered an offering to God that had not been commanded.

As a result of this action, a fire from the heavens descended and they died at the hand of God.

This story is unsettling for many reasons.  It is brutal, sudden and unexpected.  It doesn’t seem to be fair. It’s also incomplete .  We don’t truly understand what the fire was and why Nadav and Abihu deserved such a horrific punishment.

Over the centuries, commentators have debated the meaning of the fire and the circumstances that brought such a horrific punishment. Responses range from portraying Aaron’s sons as hungry for power, to being religious zealots – so overcome by their exposure to God that they acted impulsively.

The basic idea behind every explanation is that there had to be a compelling reason for their punishment.  After all, God doesn’t act impulsively, right?

But what if there isn’t?  What if the deaths of Aaron’s sons were just a series of tragic events that led to catastrophe that had no real rationale or reason?

Or even worse – what if this story is a parable about the inevitability of violence, death and destruction in our world?

As we look at the world today and see how tragedies occur all around us - all the time, it becomes increasingly compelling to view the Eysh Zara as a horrific, mysterious event without explanation.  To try and rationalize tragedy places us in murky moral waters. The truth is, we can see potential alien fires all around us.

It has been six months since the tragedy of October 7^th. During this time, we have born witness to the destructive and devastating fire of the Hamas Terrorists who burned, beat, raped, kidnapped and murdered innocent Israelis: at a music festival, in their homes, on the battlefield and, in the process, ripped  hole into the soul of the State of Israel and the Jewish people around the world.

The fires that raged at Kibbutz Beiri, Kfar Aza, the Nova music festival and the entire Gaza envelope continue their destructive path to this very day.

Everywhere we look, we can see Eysh Zarah – “Strange Fire”:  

• The fires of war and the need to respond to the horrors of October 7^th – to rescue the hostages and ensure that Hamas’ infrastructure will be destroyed.
• The fires of hatred – the anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism that had been laying dormant and now have been re-ignited by a coordinated campaign: on the streets of our cities, on the internet, in college campuses and high school classrooms, in legislative halls and public events, activists are using the horrors of this war to justify their hateful rhetoric and simplistic canards that draw ignorant followers to repeat chants and enact legislation calling for the destruction of the State of Israel. So many innocents and ignorant young people are playing into the hands of the most radical regime in the world – Iran – and it’s proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
• The fires of fear and mistrust that many of those who were born in the past 50 years do not know first-hand – but are built into the inter-generational trauma that has been a part of our people from generation to  generation.

One thing about fire that we all know – especially here in the west where wildfires are a constant menace – is that once it is started, it tends to rage, grow and become increasingly difficult to extinguish.

Fire can and often does burn uncontrollably – and innocent lives are lost in the midst of the blaze.

War rages like fire. It cannot be controlled.  The loss of life on both sides of this horrific conflict increases exponentially:  from soldiers killed in the line of duty, to innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire; From terrorists who hide in the midst of the civilian population and who gain power with every death of a non-combatant; to aid workers who are killed as the result of horrific, inexcusable mistakes by the IDF – as we saw this past week with the tragic deaths of the World Food Kitchen volunteers.

This week marks six months of war in Gaza. What began as a clear and just counterattack against a vicious enemy who committed horrific acts of terror, murder, rape and violence has morphed into something else – an Eysh Zarah – a strange fire that has taken on a life of its own – destroying everything in its path:

Yes – much of Hamas’ infrastructure has been dismantled, but this has taken place at a cost of tens of thousands of lives. It also has bred more terror:  each family that has lost a loved one has also gained additional searing hatred for Israel as a result of their tragedy.  This in turn, is fertile ground for new recruits for Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

With each death of innocents, with every building that is destroyed, the ideology of Hamas – flamed by Iran and its proxies - grows stronger

The hunger that has engulfed the Palestinian people rages like wildfire

The grief of Israelis: those who have lost loved ones; those who wait in agony for news of their captive family members; those whose children fight in the streets of Gaza – also burns and destroys

The voices of hundreds of thousands of citizens protesting in the streets of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and almost every major city in Israel – demanding new elections and a reckoning from both the Government and the IDF for the mistakes that have been made and an end to racist, authoritarian and self-serving governance burns stronger every day as well

Maybe this is the lesson of the Eysh Zarah – the strange and destructive fires that we- as human beings ignite in order to show our strength, hatred and desire to control that which is uncontrollable…

There is another example of a burning fire in the Torah that appears to be a counterbalance to the blaze that consumed Aaron’s sons – that of the Burning bush encountered by Moses on Mt. Sinai. When Moses received his call from the midst of the flames, he understood that the fire that was burning was not destructive – but rather, it was a divine call for service and hope.

At this sober 6 month anniversary, may we find the strength to look into the fire – and not see hatred, but, perhaps, like Moses Mt. Sinai – see a bush that burns and is not consumed – sending a message of peace and hope.

Ken Yehi Ratzon – May this be God’s Will.

AMEN

 

Opening Prayer for the CO State House During a Holy Season - April 4, 2023

 

Our God and the God of all people:

God of the Left and God of the Right

God of the Judged and God of the Jurist

God of the Doubter and God of the Driven

God of those who have no God:

We are living in troubled times. We are part of a nation divided and a legislative body that finds it difficult to come together in spite of our differences. Divisions and distrust permeate everything that happens in this sacred space.

And yet - buried beneath the layers of legislation and protocol that consume every elected official, advisor, clerk, officer and servant of this chamber is a seed of hope – waiting to germinate and blossom into legislation that lifts up the Springtime possibility of promise.

We stand together at a sacred time for the Jewish, Christian and Muslim Communities.  The messages of rebirth and renewal that are central to the festivals of Passover and Easter compel us to find hope in times of trauma. The blessings of inner devotion and dedication to renewed moral and spiritual understanding underpin Ramadan’s fasts and celebrations.

How can we channel the values, spiritual depth and promise of this sacred time for three of the world’s great religions?

Perhaps, those who have been charged with leading our State and creating and protecting its laws - and all who labor to support them – should see how blessed they are with the potential to make a difference.

And so - may any arguments that arise be for the sake of Heaven.

Bless this house, O God. May enmity provoke aspiration.

May conflict dissolve into communion.

And may we all find Your presence in our lives as we witness the rebirth and renewal of this sacred season.

AMEN

  

Opening Prayer for the Colorado State House of Representatives at the Halfway Point of the Session

Our God who calls us to reflect on who we are and why we are here:

This morning, we come together in this sacred place as we near the half-way point of our legislative session.  We marvel at the passage of time while simultaneously feeling the anxiety of the layers of unfinished business that loom in front of us.  In a world that all too often demands unyielding perfection from its leaders, there is little, if any, margin for error.  Words of condemnation come easy in political parlance.  But as hard as we are on our colleagues, we are even more merciless on ourselves.  Those who have been chosen to serve feel the burden of answering the clarion call of the people:  to make a difference; to change the unchangeable; to fix the flaws in our laws, fate of our state and the holes in our souls.  And yet, the realities of time and space force us to acknowledge that we cannot complete every task.

 

And so we pray:

 

Dear God, You created us with imperfections.  Watch over all who serve in this chamber:  the legislators and the lawyers, the captains and clerks; the interns and the innovators.  Give them both the strength to pursue the task of governance, and the patience to accept that there is always more to accomplish than is humanly possible.  Protect the souls of your servants who are exposed to the harshness to human expectation.  Help them to support one another –even in the heat of debate and disagreement.  Let any conflict that arises be for the sake of the greater good and teach us to quickly forgive and forget the sting of slogans and slights that are thrown about in the messy process of  crafting legislation.   As the end of this session looms ever larger in the forefront of our consciousness, may every person here become reconciled to the sacred necessity for compromise and communion.

 

We thank You for the ability to make a difference.  We see You in the passion of our colleagues.  We seek Your presence in our daily lives.  AMEN

Opening Prayer for the Colorado House of Representatives on "Leap Day."

Our God who dwells on High.

Our God who walks in the street.

Our God whose voice rolls down like thunder.

Our God who we find in the doubts that plague us in the middle of the night.

Today is the 29^th of February. This day that only occurs every 4 years reminds us that, in our desire to find order in the chaos of the cosmos, we need to adjust our calendars so that we might continue to number our days in accordance with the seasons of the year. Time, as we understand it, is arbitrary. The years, months, days, minutes, and seconds that we use to track the passage of time are our own creation, not Yours. While we strive for consistency and absolute perfection in all that we do – we know that there are things that truly are out of our control. And so, we invent ways to adjust our lives to deal with inconsistencies and irregularities. If we did not add this one day every 4 years, we would be off kilter and our sense of normalcy would be disrupted.

On this day of deliberation – help these legislators to remember that the process of governing  - like our calendar -is imperfect. Let them find You – not in the absolute or categorical imperatives that draw lines in the ideological sands of partisanship; but rather in their doubts, in their questions, in their struggles to fulfill the needs of our community.  Help them to move one another and to be moved.  Open their hearts to the possible and the improbable.  Help them to find the human and the divine in their colleagues, their constituents and in themselves.

Help us all to stay balanced, O God.

Help us to find humor and banish hubris.

Give us – all of us – on this day of calendar correction – a moment of tranquility and transcendence so that we might rise above our ordinariness and glimpse the glory of Your greatness.

 Let us see it in ourselves.  Let us see it in these deliberations.  Let us see it in the imbalance that reminds us of our mortality – and the beauty that comes from imperfection.

Then, and only then, will we merit the gifts You have bestowed upon us.

May this day bring change.

May this day bring hope.

May this day bring love.

 AMEN

 

Opening Prayer for the CO House of Representatives around Presidents' Day 2/22/24

 

Our God and God of all people:

God of the rich

God of the poor

God of the refugee

God of the soldier

God of the homeless

God of the comfortable

God of those who have no God…

 

Today would have been my mother’s 98^th Birthday.  It also happens to be the birthday of our nation’s 1^st president, George Washington. Last Monday, our country celebrated President’s Day where we commemorated the leadership, dignity and Vision inspired by both Presidents Washington and Lincoln.

Our First President understood the necessity of coming together in unity against a common enemy.  He led the fight for our Independence and blazed a trail of Democracy that has continued to be an inspiration around the world for 248 years.

 

Lincoln came to power during a terrible period of national divisiveness.  He stood up to injustice and bigotry and forced our nation to come to a bloody self-reckoning that almost destroyed our Union. He paid the Ultimate Price for his steadfast belief in Humanity’s embodiment of Divine aspiration. 

My mother was born in Leipzig, Germany – just before Hitler came to power.  She and her parents narrowly escaped the horrors of the Holocaust and came to our country as refugees – I stand here today as a testament to God’s grace and the high ideals for which Washington, Lincoln and so many others fought and died.

 

Today, we as a nation are as divided as we have ever been. The fractured nature of national and regional discourse should be a cause for great concern. As we prepare to remember our greatest Presidents, we pray that we also might continue to strive to emulate them and all that they stood for.

This morning, we pray for our leaders of the Great State of Colorado that they might work together to legislate and forge new bonds of connectivity with our highest national values.

 

Guide them as they work, O God – not as partisans, but as partners – transcending pettiness and finding holiness in this august chamber. Let all debate be for the sake of a greater good.

 

Bless all who come to this place:  elected officials, advisors, administrators, those who keep order and those who come simply to observe the magic and the messiness of creating laws.

 

We thank you for the opportunity to make a difference.

We thank you for extraordinary leadership.

We give thanks for the privilege to live freely in our nation.

 

AMEN

 

 

 

Breaking the Chains of Captivity in Gaza - Israel Blog

I spent this past weekend in St. Louis, MO where I attended Songleader Bootcamp (SLBC) – a yearly celebration of Jewish music, spirituality, and leadership. This is the 5^th year that I have been honored to serve as a Core Educator at SLBC. In that role, I taught classes, helped to lead services, shared my music, and helped to create a sacred community.

This year’s SLBC was filled with many memorable experiences that I look forward to sharing with you in the near future.  As always, the many sessions of prayer, singing, and learning were inspiring and fulfilling.  We were joined by a cadre of national thought leaders, musicians, artists, and clergy. For the past several years, much of our learning was facilitated by Rabbi David Ingber – the founder and visionary of a synagogue named Romemu in New York.  Rabbi Ingber is a remarkable scholar and someone who has become a dear friend.

At one of his sessions, Rabbi Ingber asked us to think about one particular section of the service  Birchot HaShachar – the morning prayers. These daily blessings thank God for things that we all too often take for granted. Here at Temple, at our weekly Shabbat morning service, it has become our tradition to recite them and then ask people to share their own “blessings”. 

This is always a powerful moment in the service. The members of our sacred community share how the past week brought them joy and fulfillment:    

• A wedding
• The birth of a child or grandchild
• Recovery from illness
• A new job
• And so on…

Sometimes in our rush to share our own blessings, we don’t take the time to probe the deep wisdom of our traditional prayers. Rabbi Ingber taught that we really can’t understand the power of these prayers until we experience them directly. For example, when we say:  “Praised are You, Adonai our God, who opens the eyes of the blind,” unless we have lost and regained our eyesight, we cannot possibly comprehend the deep meaning of the miracle of sight. Similarly, when we pray “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, who heals the sick,” the words gain great power when we – or someone we love – has risen from the sickbed.

We then focused on the blessing: “Praised are You, Adonai our God, who frees the captives.”

Until recently, these words did not have all that much impact. The concept of captivity was merely a metaphor – or a historical reminder of the suffering of our people in the past. After the horror of October 7^th, however, this prayer has taken on a whole new meaning and become a hauntingly powerful reminder of the fact that there are still men, women, and children – babies – who are languishing in horrific conditions in Gaza – imprisoned by terrorists who have shown their brutality by murdering, raping, and plundering the homes of innocents whose only crime was the fact that they lived in the State of Israel.

Those who languish in the terror of captivity in Gaza remind us daily that that their fear, helplessness and terror continue to fester like wounds that have anguished the entire State of Israel – along with all of us who grieve with them.

As we watch the horrors of war play out in the streets of Gaza, we must never lose sight of the fact that the IDF is fighting against an enemy whose modus operandi is the sacrifice of innocent lives - Palestinian and Jewish alike – in order to accomplish their goal of eradicating the Jewish State. The devastation of innocents caught up in Hamas’ evil could easily have been prevented had Hamas not set the stage for its own destruction by creating the conditions and provoking Israel to perform the mitzvah of Matir Asurim, freeing the captives.

Let us pray for an end to this horrific war, for the captives to be returned to their families who wait in anguish, for the eradication of Hamas and the beginning of hopes for peace.

Amen

Love Lessons for Legislators - Invocation for the Colorado State House for Valentine's Day

Our God and God of all people.

We know you by many names:

God of mercy, God of Justice, God of Salvation, God of all Humanity

But this morning – let us call you God of Love…..

Today is February 15^th. Yesterday was Valentine’s day.

Some here today – the more cynical among us - might think that a day set aside to focus on love is a ploy to sell chocolate and flowers. And they may be right. After all, shouldn’t we show our love every day? Shouldn’t we be grateful for the laughter and the tears, the kisses and caresses, the support and joy, the passion and the playfulness we share that makes each day seem brighter than the one before? The love that we give and receive makes us better human beings…….

But we aren’t always aware, are we? We are forgetful. We are creatures of habit. We take the people around us for granted and we expect them to love us nonetheless. And the crazy thing about it is that they do. Most of the time….

Dear God,

Our diverse traditions teach us that Your essence is love. You love us –otherwise why would you tolerate us?

If You did not love us, how would you be able to stand idly by while we diminish Your image by despoiling your beautiful world?

If You did not love us, how could You let us live when we ignore the suffering in our streets or the violence that is daily fare for those persecuted because of the color of their skin, their faith, or birthplace, who they love or how they love?

If you did not love us, you would not permit the toxicity of discourse that makes legislation so painful.

If You did not love us, you would not have given us a conscience that wakes us from our slumber and forces us to realize our weakness, our frailty, our greed and our hubris.

Help us to love You  - O God of Love. Help us to love one another – so much so that we might rise above the partisanship that all too often places stumbling blocks in the path of governance.

Help us to live so that we see that our very ability to love is a gift.

Bless these legislators O God. Bless all who labor for the sake of our beautiful state of Colorado. Help them to love one another. Help them to love their compassion and their quarrels. Help them to love the differences and the moments of clarity that occur when they do Your sacred work and help to perfect our world.

At this season of Valentines day – may we all find ways to rejoice in the love that makes our lives complete.

It takes time to love – it takes patience. Sometime it even takes chocolate and flowers.

But sometimes, our love makes Your love a reality.

May it be so today.  AMEN

Can We Have Nuanced Conversations About Israel?

 

I recently heard from a colleague serving a medium-sized congregation on the West Coast that he is very afraid to talk about Israel from the pulpit. He fears the reactions he might receive from his community. If he is supportive of Israel’s war in Gaza, there are many who will condemn him for supporting the “genocide” of the Palestinian people.  On the other hand, if he is critical, there are those who will accuse him of being a traitor and a supporter of Hamas.

Similarly, in a rabbinic Facebook group of which I am a part, a colleague shared an Email from a potential congregant that said something along the lines of: 

Hi! I am a deeply committed Jew and I am looking for a synagogue to call home. I also believe that the State of Israel is guilty of racism, hatred, and violence against a defenseless Palestinian population. After much thought and personal prayer - and considering the injustice I see playing out in Gaza and the West Bank, I have concluded that I cannot support Israel or Zionism. Given that I hold these views, would I be welcome in your congregation? (Note:  This is not the exact text - I am paraphrasing in order to respect confidentiality)

The responses from my colleagues were quite diverse. Some said that they would never allow someone who held those beliefs to be a part of their community. There is no room for an anti-Zionist within their congregation.  Others said that the email was an opening for a conversation, and that once they met with the rabbi, they would learn the errors of their ways and change their position. Others said that this letter was indicative of many conversations that they have had with college and High School students on a daily basis. Many said that we should not have litmus tests for membership. We don’t require congregants to believe in God, keep a kosher home, marry only Jews, or attend services. While they may disagree with this potential member, condemnation of Israel is not – and never should be – a prerequisite for becoming part of a holy community. After all, what if there are currently members of the community who share the views of this potential new member?  Should they be expelled?

These two examples highlight the complexity and explosive nature of the current level of discourse the Jewish community is facing as we deal with the trauma of October 7^th and its aftermath. The problem is amplified by the toxicity of anti-Israel protests that are taking place online, on college campuses, and in the streets and halls of government. Many of those who defend Israel are increasingly strident in their absolute rejection of any criticism.  

Here in Denver, we have witnessed the recent chaos that erupted in the City Council as a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was hotly debated and ultimately defeated. We also saw how the Colorado Speaker of the House succumbed to pressure from extreme members of her caucus and disinvited family members of the hostages in Gaza from entering the House Chambers- a position she later on regretted and apologized for taking. These and similar scenes around the country only serve to increase the polarization and disinformation that is currently gaining traction.

While it is essential that the hostages in Gaza be released and that Hamas be defeated, there are legitimate questions that need to be asked regarding the way that this war is being waged.

• Is there a limit to the number of Palestinian casualties that the IDF can inflict before it is too much?
•   Can we negotiate with a terrorist group (Hamas) whose stated goals are the destruction of the State of Israel and the Jewish people?
• What will happen once the war is over and the dust settles in Gaza? Who will rebuild it? Is there any path towards peace?
• Should the main focus of this military campaign be the release of the hostages or the destruction of Hamas?
• When will elections be held and, hopefully, a new government be put in place that does not contain extremists, racists and religious fanatics?

In the chaos of war, it is very difficult to focus on anything other than the battles at hand, I pray that those who have the ability and responsibility to affect change and make policy do not wait to address these vitally important issues. If they do not, then the lives that have been lost and the pain and suffering that has been inflicted on all sides will be in vain. I also pray that we learn to engage in real conversations with those with whom we disagree. Diatribes must be replaced by dialogue.

 

 

Differing Perspectives on the Gaza War

Each week, as we read the news, it becomes increasingly difficult to come to terms with the reality that is unfolding in Israel and Gaza. The situation of the Palestinian population becomes more dire every day.  We hear reports of the destruction and devastation of huge amounts of territory controlled by Hamas. The casualty reports continue to grow. The IDF has unequivocally shown that hospitals, schools, mosques and even UN relief agencies have been used as terrorist headquarters, weapons depots and staging grounds for attacks on Israel. The fact that United Nations personnel have not only been colluding with Hamas, but were participants in the October 7th attacks is horrific. Against international law and conventions, the practice of endangering civilians and using them as human shields has always been Hamas’ modus operandi. Most of these locations have been neutralized, and many non-combatants were placed in harms way. As a result, some medical procedures are taking place in unsterile environments without anesthesia.  Mothers are giving birth in makeshift tent encampments. People are dying, not only as the direct casualties of war, but also because of Hamas’ careless disregard for human life, as well as disease, hunger, and lack of basic supplies. Truly, the situation in Gaza is horrific. 

What the media is NOT reporting, however, are the methods that the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is taking to minimize casualties – often at the risk of putting their own soldiers in greater danger. Much of the relief supplies that have been allowed into Gaza from both Israel and Egypt for civilians has been stolen by Hamas operatives for their own use. In addition, many locations in Gaza have been booby trapped – increasing the risk for IDF fighters. Israel has done everything from dropping leaflets that show areas of safe passage before attacking military targets, to calling individual cell phones with information about safe areas. These actions are unprecedented in military history. Nonetheless, the number of civilian casualties has been high. There are also reports of Hamas terrorists preventing civilians from fleeing in order to increase casualties. We also hear very little about the fate of the hostages in Gaza, the continued rocket attacks from the North and the South, and the massive international propaganda campaign that is being waged – with the financial and technical backing from Iran. 

Those who support Israel’s right to defend itself against a terrorist organization bent on its destruction continue to become targets of activists who hurl accusations of genocide, colonialism and terror. Simultaneously, calls for a unilateral ceasefire are increasing.  The horrors of October 7th and the fate of the hostages are quickly becoming lost in the barrage of misinformation and ignorance that are fueling the attacks. Calls of “From the River to the Sea, Palestine must be free,” are heard on college campuses, social media, and cities across the globe. The fact that most people have no idea which river or sea this refers to, or that this is a rallying cry for the destruction of the Jewish State is inconsequential. It is becoming increasingly clear that this campaign is not designed to put a stop to this conflict, but, more ominously, to challenge Israel’s right to exist as a Sovereign State.

I know that I’m not sharing anything new to most of us, but context and perspective are essential tools for those who crave truth. While we all want to see a cease to the carnage in Gaza, the fact still remains that there WAS a ceasefire in place on October 6th which was horrifically breached by the HAMAS terrorists who massacred over 1400 innocents, took over 22490 hostages, and raped and brutalized many victims on October 7th.  While Israel’s stated goal is to both free the hostages and eliminate Hamas as threat, it is also clear that the immediate release of all the hostages would be enough for military action to cease. The fate of the hostages weighs heavily on our hearts and news that over 30% of them have probably died as of this writing gives added urgency to the IDF’s mission.

Increasingly, we are seeing more and more calls on Israel to implement a ceasefire from WITHIN the pro-Israel camp – both inside and outside of Israel. The carnage in Gaza is very hard to witness. The question of how much blood can be shed in order to fulfill military objectives is real and pressing. Many people and organizations that I respect have determined that a ceasefire is necessary – in order to preserve human life and cap the damage to Israel’s international reputation. The Biden Administration has been clear that, while it supports Israel’s right to defend itself, there are limits. The political pressure that they are facing is also very difficult to withstand.

I wish that I had easy answers to the quandaries that Israel is facing - and that we here in the diaspora are confronting as well - but I don’t. There is a lot that we do not know.  What we DO know, however, is that Hamas is a terrorist organization that will stop at nothing to accomplish its goal of eradicating the Jewish State through any means possible.  We also know that Israel has both a right and a responsibility to defend itself and its citizens. 

We pray for the safe return of the hostages, for an end to the fighting, and security for all sides in this conflict. Let us remember that the real enemy of peace is not Israel, but Hamas and its backers - primarily Iran. 

 

Reflections on the Prayer for The State of Israel

 

Like many synagogues around the world, praying for the safety and health of the State of Israel has taken on new importance in the aftermath of October 7^th. While I know that many of us have questions about the theological and philosophical efficacy of petitionary prayer in general, the act of coming together as a community in worship and publicly affirming our fears about and connection to the State of Israel feels essential - especially at this troubling time. Here at Temple Emanuel we have now added the Tfillah  L'Medinat Yisrael (Prayer for the State of Israel) into every service.

In making the decision to add this prayer to our weekly services, the question arose about which version we should utilize – as there are many variations Recently, I have been looking into the origins of this prayer, and how they have evolved over time.

When the Modern State of Israel was established in 1948, the newly appointed Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion tasked the Chief Rabbis of Israel – Yitzhak HaLevi Hertzog and Ben Tzion Meir Hai Uziel - to compose a suitable prayer commemorating the occasion – a prayer that could be used in Synagogues around the world asking God’s blessing on and protection of for the nascent Jewish state.

The full text of the original prayer is rarely used in most synagogues today. It was written in the aftermath of the Shoah and reflects both the pain of our people’s experience and the desire for Jews to gain power over our enemies so that there never could be another Holocaust.  In particular, the phrase, “…send us quickly the Messiah son of David, agent of Your vindication, to redeem those who await Your deliverance,” shows the pain of a people who directly experienced the terror of the Nazi regime, as well as the fear of our enemies and concern for those who remain in peril.

One phrase that has remained constant though, is the description of the State of Israel as “Reishit tzmichat  g’ulateynu” – “The beginnings of the flowering of our redemption.”  This phrase was reportedly added by Chaim Nachman Bialik, who is widely recognized as the most famous of all modern Hebrew poets. There are multiple ways to interpret this phrase. The meaning of ‘redemption’ can take on Messianic overtones, historical longings, and/or a statement about Jewish self-determination. The implication of the prayer is that redemption is not only in God’s hands, but that we can bring it about by our actions and intention. Bialik’s words reflect a belief in the fact that, for too long, Jews were subject to foreign rule. Now that we have a State of our own, we have the ability and responsibility to raise ourselves up out of the morass of subjugation and take matters into our own hands.

Another component of the original text calls for God’s protection and guidance over the government, armed forces, and all religious, judicial, and secular leaders of the State. These words have remained intact in most versions of the prayer, but sections of the prayer that ask God to destroy our enemies so that we might prosper are problematic and have been edited out of most versions.

Many feel that it is also important to stress the hopes of peace – even in times of war – and, in the spirit of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, to remind ourselves that all of humanity is created in the image of God. Given that certain Far-Right elements in the current government are vocally calling for “resettlement” of Palestinians in Gaza, it is vitally important that the language of prayer rejects this draconian and racist agenda.

Here at Temple, we use the following text:

God who watches over the world, bless the State of Israel- first fruit of the fulfillment of Your promise of hope and peace. Protect it with Your care – that it may serve as a light to the world. Spread over it the shelter of Your peace. Extend the light of Your wisdom to all who govern and advise that they may work to create a society based on safety, equality, and love. Establish peace in the land and grant fullness of joy to all who live there.

Eternal God, we ask you to spread your shield of protection over all who are in harm’s way

And let us say, Amen.

It is incumbent upon us to  pray for peace in Israel for all – Israelis and Palestinians alike – so that we can work towards the day when conflict will cease and cooperation and coexistence will take root – flowering like the hopes for redemption that is the central theme of our prayer.

 

Opening Prayer for the CO State House on Tu B’Shvat

Today is the Jewish holiday of Tu B’shvat – the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat – also known as the New Year of the trees.  On this day, Jews around the world give thanks for the gift of trees.  Today is the “Jewish Arbor Day,” a day when we realize the importance of these magnificent plants that sustain us all.

Trees grow with their leaves spreading to the heavens – giving us oxygen to breath, wood with which to build, fruit to sustain our bodies and beauty to sustain our souls.

We live in and among them and there are many lessons we can learn from their magnificent beauty.

We can measure their growth against the sky, but it is what we do NOT see that truly should inspire us:  the miraculous anchors that sustain them – the roots that are planted firmly in soil – that keep them strong as they battle against the stormy winds of change and the seasonal upheaval that threatens their survival.

Trees are home to a variety of God’s creatures: all have a place among their branches; all are welcome to find their home in the cocoon of their canopies.  It is only when the balance of nature is upended and one organism becomes dominant that they become weakened by parasitic pests that strip them of their bark and feed on their foliage.

God – help us to learn from their majestic beauty – as well as from their fragility. As these legislators work to better our society may they come to value the deep roots implanted within our society:  roots of tolerance and trust; of mutual respect and an awareness of the call to both compassion and compromise.

May they continue to hold sacred the diversity of our state and our nation and hold fast against the rising tide of isolationism, divisiveness and brinksmanship that threatens to weaken the core values that keep us united and strong.

Help us to find you in the branches of government born out of a desire for dialogue and debate and the belief our national motto: E Pluribus Unum – from diversity comes unity.

And may we take time from our day – every day – to gaze up at the beauty of your creation- and in doing so – recognize just how fortunate we are to be here together.

AMEN

  

Thoughts About Israel on Tu B'Shvat

Dear Friends,

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage, it is becoming increasingly difficult to watch the news unfold around us. While the IDF continues to fight against the terrorist infrastructure – every day uncovering more details about the labyrinth of tunnels, ammunition, and the lengths to which Hamas has plundered the resources of Gaza to implement its plans to attack the State of Israel and the international Jewish community, here in Denver – and, indeed, around the world, the noise of protest continues to grow louder and more strident. Many of these protests cross the line between criticism of the Israeli government and military and are focused on attacking the legitimacy of the Jewish State in and of itself. We are also experiencing a dramatic rise in anti-Semitism thinly disguised as Anti-Zionism.

In addition, the plight of the hostages in Gaza grows more dire every day as hopes for negotiated cease-fire that would guarantee their release seem far away. The number of casualties in Gaza – as reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry – continue to grow and it becomes increasingly difficult to watch the cost in innocent lives – many of them women and children. The fact that Hamas has the ability to end this conflict (as, indeed they started it) by releasing the hostages and disarming seems to be irrelevant to the protestors around the world who can only paint Israel in negative tones.

Israel is now defending itself in a biased trial in the Hague where the horrific brutality displayed by Hamas is overlooked and Israeli military operations are portrayed as terroristic – in a Kafka-esque reversal of facts and narratives.

Meanwhile, the far-Right-wing Netanyahu government seems hell-bent on imposing its will upon a nation that overwhelmingly rejects its racist and self-serving attempts to reshape Israeli society in the image of a fundamentalist dictatorship. Many pundits in Israel see the current government doing all that it can to raid the coffers of the Knesset before they are ejected in new elections. But the current wartime footing of the nation makes it difficult to make any real electoral change.

The question of “what next?” after Gaza looms large in the minds of all who care about the future of the State of Israel. The hopes for a two-state solution grow smaller every day as the willingness of both the current government to hold it up as a goal and the lack of a true partner for peace within the Palestinian people continues to plague its supporters.

So how do we, as lovers of Israel and committed Jews, cope with the multitude of seemingly gordian knots that we face daily? Our own feelings of security are threatened by the increase in the numbers of hate-filled rhetoric and attacks that more and more are becoming the norm.

I don’t have answers to many of these questions – except to remind us that Jewish history is filled with periods of tension and insecurity. Those who are students of history understand why most of our Jewish ancestors fled the countries of their birth to come to America – the Land of Promise. Truth be told, despite the rise in anti-Semitism we are facing and the subsequent insecurity it has birthed within us, we still are incredibly fortunate to live in a time when we are not forced to be the only ones speaking up on our own behalf. We have many more allies than enemies. Our voices count and our friends have not all deserted us.

Today is the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat – also known as Tu B’Shvat – the “birthday of the trees.” This holiday reminds us of the importance of the leafy canopy that surrounds us. Trees provide us with shade, oxygen, wood, food, and beauty. We can measure their growth against the sky, but it is what we do NOT see that truly should inspire us:  the miraculous anchors that sustain them – the roots that are planted firmly in soil – that keep them strong as they battle against the stormy winds of change and the seasonal upheaval that threatens their survival.

Our task, during these trying times, is to continue to focus on the roots of our faith and history. We cannot stop raising our voices and speaking truth to ignorance, hatred and racism. Like the trees that sustain and inspire us, may we, too find ways to dig deep and harvest the bounty of our faith, courage, conviction and history. It takes a long time for a tree to mature – some take decades until their full potential is revealed.  May we learn a lesson from their patience and progress.  I have confidence that we will prevail and that peace will come – maybe not tomorrow, or the day after, but soon.

L’Shalom, 

Rabbi Joseph R. Black