Our Jewish Passions
Rosh Hashanah, First Night
September 15, 2004
One of the main events of this past year
that most touched the Jewish community was Mel Gibson's
making of the Passion of the Christ. Months before its well
timed appearance at Easter, the Jewish community was
objecting to its anti-Semitic portrayal of Jews two thousand
years ago. We have suffered a great deal over the
centuries for the charge of deicide leveled against us. We
could not be blamed for being concerned that these charges
were being leveled against us again in 2004. While
relations between the Catholic, Protestant and Jewish worlds
have improved a great deal since Vatican II, we were
concerned that this film could set us back fifty years.
As it turns out, the movie came and
went making tons of money for Mel Gibson and I neither
heard or read about any real anti-Semitic incidents as a
result of viewers watching the movie. One thing we know
for sure is that the controversy that we helped create
helped sell tickets and made Mel Gibson even richer. Mr.
Gibson may now have a newfound fondness for the Jewish
community.
From what I have heard and this is
purely anecdotal, Christians watching the movie were so
taken by Jesus's passion that they weren't all that
focused on how the Jews of that day were portrayed.
Whether we understand it or not, millions of Christians
were deeply moved by what they saw as the passion of their
lord and it is fair and accurate to say they are
passionate about their lord.
We, in the Jewish community, might do
ourselves a service by asking a different question from
whether this movie will evoke anti-Semitic sentiment from
its Christian viewers. The question we would do well to
ask is what is our passion as Jews. As Jews, what are we
passionate about. Passion means a deep feeling that goes
even beyond reason, sort of like love. Passion is a deep
affection, a strong liking or desire or devotion to some
activity, or object or idea. There are some other meanings
to passion which I'll passover on this first evening of
Rosh Hashanah.
I hope we are passionate about our love
for our spouse, our family, perhaps our work, maybe
music, a sport, a team, an issue of social justice and
these passions are all for the good. As this new year
begins, I am speaking specifically about our Jewish
passions.
What are our Jewish passions? What are
we passionate about as Jews? What do we especially love in
our Jewish world? About what do we have a deep feeling
that goes beyond even reason?
Mordechai Kaplan, one of the most
important Jewish thinkers of the 20th century published
his magnum opums 70 years ago this year in 1934, Judaism
as a Civilization introducing the concept of Judaism
as a religious civilization. He was right and he
influenced many others in the Jewish world. Some years
ago, I was asked by a member of our congregation, to
recommend some Judaic reading material as she was
preparing for her son's Bar Mitzvah. Knowing her
intellectual acumen, I suggested this 522 page text of
Kaplan's. To make a long story short, she read it. She
became passionate about Judaic learning, she applied to
rabbinical school and today is a rabbi. She too was
deeply influenced by Kaplan's thinking. There is so much
in our Jewish religious civilization about which we can be
passionate. My passions may differ from yours and we can
both be passionate Jews. That is what we can become in the
new year, passionate Jews.
I have a deep love for Israel and for
the Hebrew language. Being in Israel and speaking Hebrew
brings me a special joy that comes out of this special
love. This year, I got a satellite dish to be able to
watch Israeli TV, which is, of course, in Hebrew. Since
childhood I have always had a love for the synagogue and
services. I have that same love even more so today. I have
a passion to read more and to learn more in Jewish
history, Jewish thought, Judaic texts. I have a passion to
celebrate the Sabbath as a special, holy day. I have a
passion to see that Jewish children get the best Jewish
education possible. Jewish education is the key to our
Jewish future and I am passoinate about the future of the
Jewish community in America, in Israel, throughout the
world and in my own little corner of the world, here in
Bucks County and so I am passionate about the Jewish work
I do. What areas, items of Jewish life do you love and
care so deeply about that they draw your love and deep
affection and your passion.
As Janie was walking from the kitchen
towards my study at home, out of the clear blue sky, I
said Janie, would you say you have Jewish passions. This
is not a question you expect to be asked. Most people
would be caught off guard but almost standing on one
foot, Janie said Israel, family, Shabbes dinner, Pesach
Seder, but not the preparing. I asked her about her
father's passions. She said, shul, davening, Torah
learning. I think G-d was a passion to this survivor of
Auschwitz as well. At this point I was on a roll. I
interrupted what Samara was doing and asked her if she
thinks she has Jewish passions. She looked like this is a
rather odd question to be asked just like that and I
guess it is. She said she thinks so. Good answer if your
step father is a rabbi. Then she said, Camp Ramah and
Jewish education. Your Jewish education has to be a
passion if you travel almost an hour and a half each way
to get to school. Another good answer if your step father
is a rabbi. Good answer if Judaism will be important in
your life.
On Sunday, when I came home from
officiating at a wedding - I don't know if I can say
officiating at weddings of young people who grew up here
is a passion but it is one of the happiest things I do.
When I got home there was an e-mail from Jordana. "Dear
Eliott, Thanks so much for your kind wishes. I promise to
write more next time - I'm just so tired - the hike though
was fabulous - we're going to have to go hiking when you
guys come in dec - what a beautiful country....." I can
tell Jordana is developing a passion for Israel that she
did not yet have when she left home in August.
Along with other Jewish passions Elana
has become a dedicated Israeli activist. At Barnard
College part of Columbia, Elana is president of Lion Pac
the Israel student organization. She worked for an Israel
advocacy group this summer and lobbied on behalf of Israel
at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Universities have unfortunately not been citadels of
support for Israel and too many of our young people are
influenced by the harsh critique leveled at Israel. We
could create a far different environment on the campuses
if our young people could develop a caring and love for
Israel. Tomorrow morning, you will hear just that from
some of our young people who recently visited and
returned.
For some of us in the Jewish
world, the greatest passion is in fighting anti Semitism.
That is why Mel Gibson's movie evoked such a visceral
response from the Jewish community. With anti -Semitism
rising especially in Europe and towards Israel, we need
that passion but the future of the Jewish people is not
coterminous with the eradication of Anti-Semitism. We need
passions not only against but for those areas of Jewish
life for which we feel a deep, loving attachment and
commitment. It may not be an exaggeration to say that the
future of the Jewish community in America is dependent
upon our Jewish passions. Nothing less will sustain a
people that is less than two percent of the population.
I have never heard someone say, I have
a passion for something and that something makes me
unhappy. Passion for and happiness go almost hand in hand.
To be passionate about of Jewish life, I believe will
enhance our lives and I also believe there is so much in
our Jewish tradition worthy of our attachment, our love,
our passion.
Let others have their passions. G-d
knows there is so much in our Jewish tradition worthy of
our love and our passion. If our children see our passion,
they will likely come to feel it as well. It may never
become a movie and it won't gross millions but it will
enrich us
immeasurably.
To our new years greetings, let me add
this element of passion.
My best to you for a happy, healthy, sweet and ....... a
passionate new year.
Shanah Tovah!
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