ROSH HASHANAH 5780
FORGIVENESS – DIVINE AND HUMAN
September 26, 2019
26 Elul 5779
The Book of Jonah, read on Yom Kippur afternoon, affirms both the power of repentance and the ever present possibility of forgiveness. It's a familiar story: Jonah, the reluctant prophet, is dispatched by God to the city of Nineveh to warn its inhabitants that unless they repent in another forty days, the city will be overthrown. It was a stark and frightening message that alluded to the well-known catastrophe of the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The inhabitants of Nineveh, together with their King, donned sackcloth, fasted and engaged in a community wide repentance. They voiced the hope that that God would relent, turn back from His wrath and spare them. Lo and behold God did acknowledge and accept their repentance "and renounced the punishment He had planned to bring upon them" (Jonah 3:10).
Jonah, who believed the sinful city should have been destroyed, berated God for "being gracious and compassionate" (ibid 4:2). To which God responded that He rightfully accepted their repentance because He did "care about Nineveh, the great city, in which there were more than a hundred and twenty-thousand persons … and many beasts as well." (ibid 4:11) He thus affirmed the Divine power of repentance and the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.
What of us? It is not uncommon to be rightfully furious with family and friends who may have not only disappointed us, but actually caused us great harm. Yet if and when they turn to us in true contrition, seeking to make amends and repair the relationship, are we capable and willing to emulate God who embraced and forgave Nineveh's truly repentant sinners? Will we reject Jonah's adamant refusal to accept the possibility of re-conciliation?
When, on the other hand, we have been the perpetrators of hurt and disappointment, will we strive to demonstrate the courage to reach out to ask for forgiveness and hopefully achieve reconciliation?
Will the account of Jonah sensitize us to the possibility and the willingness to turn a new leaf and respond to honest attempts to let bygones be bygones?
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From the holy city of Jerusalem, my best wishes for a Shanah Tovah u'Metukah, a good and sweet year. May we be blessed with good tidings good health and the ever present capacity to reach out to, and to be touched by, the healing power of forgiveness, both divine and human.
Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman
EKEV 5779
NOT A BANANA REPUBLIC
August 22, 2019
21 Av 5779
In political science, the term "banana republic" describes a politically unstable country with an economy dependent upon the exportation of a limited resource or product, such as bananas or minerals.
Moses, in this week's Torah portion, prepares the new Israelite generation for its entry into and settlement of Eretz Yisrael. Since that day, millennia ago, when Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, there has never been a day devoid of Jewish presence in Israel.
There were the glory days of independence and expansion under Kings David and Solomon and, centuries later, under the Hasmoneans. For the most part, Judea was a vassal state and, at various times, under the rule of Babylonia, Rome, the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. Jewish hegemony was restored in 1948 with the creation of the State of Israel. Amazingly, this fledgling state survived the invasion of seven Arab armies and, during the past seven decades, has succeeded economically and militarily beyond all expectations. It is an independent nation that lives with the obvious tension of being in control of a large Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
From its inception, modern Israel has had a special relationship with the United States, born of common interests and shared values. American aid and support have been important to Israel, with both countries benefiting from this relationship.
There were, however, tricky moments when Israel was confronted with what it considered inappropriate American demands. It wasn't always easy for Israel to assert its independence when subjected to American pressure, but it did hold its ground.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan sent a letter to Prime Minister Menachem Begin calling for Israeli withdrawal from all lands captured in the 1967 war. Begin's response is instructive: he threw the official diplomatic envelope in the lap of the US Ambassador, declaring: "Israel is not a Banana Republic." This assertion of Israel's fundamental independence has been a continual source of pride for Israelis.
Much has been written about the granting and then the withdrawing of the permission to the two Muslim Congresswoman, who are clearly hostile to Israel, to enter the country. From the get-go, it was obvious that their visit to the Palestinian territories would highlight their perception that Israel is a colonial empire that continually denies the basic rights of the Palestinian population. They are avid supporters of BDS and have seized every opportunity to demonize Israel and its American supporters. There was little doubt that television cameras would accompany them every step of their visit and record their continuous stream of anti-Israel invective. Yet, Israel by initially allowing them to enter demonstrated respect of Congress as well as asserting confidence in its policies.
Following the intrusion of President Trump, Israel was encouraged (coerced?) to withdraw the invitation. This was consistent with President Trump's interest in depicting the two women, and their two colleagues of the Squad, as the face of the Democratic Party. Thus, the withdrawn invitation sadly co-opted Israel into his campaign strategy.
To my mind, had Begin been confronted with this request, he would have reiterated his 1952 reply to Reagan and, once again, demonstrated the glory and the blessing of Israel's independence.
Israel has been compromised, but, hopefully, the history of mutual respect and support will reassert itself to the glory and benefit of our two beloved democracies.
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From the holy city of Jerusalem my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach – a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.
Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman
*Shalom. For the past seventeen years following my retirement, I have prepared and distributed this weekly MaNishma. Sharing Torah and our Tradition's perspectives on our world has been a wonderful way to stay connected. I am now, however, beginning a new writing project and will be suspending MaNishma for the foreseeable future. I do look forward, with God's help, to resuming the column at some point. Until then, please feel free to reach out to me; it is a pleasure to hear from family and friends.
