Thought for the week by Rabbi Mendel Lew
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Thought for the Week
file:///C/Windows.old/Users/Gila/Documents/Thought%20for%20the%20week%20by%20Rabbi%20Mendel%20Lew%20Vaera%205781.htm[05/11/2020 16:57:02]
Thought for the week by Rabbi Mendel Lew
Picture by Dermot Carlin VAYERA 5781 - Lockdown-II It's now official. We are into another unfortunate lockdown. Our movements outside the home will be restricted, and our beloved Shul will remain off limits. In our understandable frustration, it is easy to overlook the fact that for many people lockdown has been a way of life since last March. They haven't enjoyed the opportunities at Shul which, despite the restrictions, has been a source of comfort to many in recent months. Take a moment to think about that. The goal of any lockdown is to limit a most human urge and need: social interaction. If people are not in close proximity, so goes the argument, the chance of the virus being transmitted is greatly reduced. In other words, removing one thing leads to an improvement elsewhere. Distancing from others keeps away good company. It also keeps at bay possible physical danger from the other. Distancing from others keeps away one other thing: the potential for conflict and disagreement. There was a time when having differences of opinion was just that. After all, it is quite normal for two individuals to have diverse outlooks on life, and to entertain different interests and hobbies. It's what makes life, and others, interesting. In recent years, however, intolerance has become the operative word. If one does not think like me, does not share my beliefs, and entertains different political views to mine, they are to be shunned and shamed. Utilising violence and aggression is not out of the question. Unfriending the other, removing them from my list of acquaintances, and cutting off all contact is now the norm. How sad. How pathetic. How dangerous. An election was just held in the USA. It brought out the voters in unprecedented numbers. It also brought out hostility, anger and rancour. It has unleashed further spite, hate and fear. All in the name of politics. ********************** As Jews, descendants of Abraham and Sarah, we have different role models worthy of emulation. The original Hebrew couple were not just hospitable and kind, they were paradigms of respect and concern. In this week’s Sidrah, we discover something else. A quality unparalleled in history; one which goes completely against human logic. Something so incredibly special and heartwarming. Definitely unusual.
file:///C/Windows.old/Users/Gila/Documents/Thought%20for%20the%20week%20by%20Rabbi%20Mendel%20Lew%20Vaera%205781.htm[05/11/2020 16:57:02]
Thought for the week by Rabbi Mendel Lew
Abraham is still digesting the unimaginable. He and Sarah are to become parents at an age when it is considered impossible. But, he doesn't have time to absorb this information. The news is grim. G-d is about to punish the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorra. To be sure, they were deserving of retribution for their callous and evil behaviour. But Abraham is not a man to sit by silently smug in the knowledge that these people were getting their comeuppance. He needed to do something. And he does. In an extraordinary passage in Chapter 18, Abraham pleads with G-d to spare them, if only in the merit of a small minority of good folk. Perhaps there are 50, maybe 30, even 10 good individuals. Surely, their presence would be cause for salvation. Gd assures Abraham that there were no good folk. This dialogue always moves me. If someone is guilty of wrongdoing, the normal reaction is that they are deserving of punishment. We certainly feel sad and disappointed for the evildoers, but justice must be served. Abraham's actions demonstrate otherwise. One should not only feel troubled. One should actually search hard and long to explore possible mitigating circumstances. Abraham disapproves of the ugly and barbaric behaviour of Sodom, but then proceeds to pray and beg on their behalf. Because people do make mistakes. They do have momentary failings. What they need is help and rehabilitation, not condemnation and ridicule. If this is how we must react to those who have committed truly unacceptable actions, certainly it must become our banner for the more usual, petty and minor skirmishes which often cloud our horizons. For the insignificant and annoying moments which get on our nerves and prickle our calm equilibrium. Rather than build up a steam of indignation, anger and frustration, just recognise that it's okay to be different. It's absolutely normal to celebrate tastes and behaviours which are diametrically opposed to our belief, style and way of life. It's equally perfectly acceptable to vote differently. There's no need to get so personal about it. We share far more in common than we care to realise. As Abraham and Sarah's descendants, this is our mission statement. To make the world a better place through respect, dialogue and peace. To embrace the other - even when they are ostensibly unlike us. The key to a healed world really is simple. Respect. Tolerance. Understanding. To fight. For, and on behalf of, the other! Have a great Shabbat - see you all on Zoom! Keep safe Much love Rabbi Mendel Lew
This page was updated on 09 August 52817
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