Jewish New Year Reflection

[foxfroggy]

In the spirit of ecumenicalism, I want to share a quote and a short comment. May all our friends her be inscribed in the Book of Life.
"By the Grace of G-d
Erev Rosh Hashana, 5762

Dear Friends,

Standing only a few hours before Rosh Hashanah, when we pray to G-d to
demonstrate His mercy to the entire world, please allow me to share with you
some reflections about the recent events that have so affected us.

*

We all look for consolation and we seek to console. But the sheer enormity
of the evil we just experienced is so hideous, so repellent, we're left with
no words.

Of course, we stand behind our military, our intelligence agencies and our
elected leaders in their efforts to eradicate this evil.

But we shy away from personally looking this evil straight in the eye, we
shrink from taking it on. Timidly, we prod and encourage each other to
"return to normal life."

For how could anyone of us purport to combat something so grotesque and so
awesome?

I'd like to propose, though, that we can and need to do just that.

Much has been written about the motivation, the conditioning, the
bloodcurdling ruthlessness, the precision of last week's crimes against
humanity.

All accounts and hypotheses point to the same simple truth: The primary
motivation, the underlying force behind every action executed by last week's
murderers was: Hatred.

Pure, unbridled, blind, indiscriminate Hatred. Hatred of freedom, Hatred of
democracy, Hatred of "infidels," Hatred of Jews, Hatred of anything and
everything besides the murderers themselves. Wanton, simple hatred.

It is this that we must combat. It is this that we must eradicate.

What is the remedy to Wanton Hatred? The Lubavitcher Rebbe of righteous
memory answered this many times, with clarity and certitude: Wanton Love.

Raw, cold-blooded, fanatical, baseless, relentless hatred can be matched and
combated only with pure, undiscriminating, uninhibited, unyielding,
baseless, unsolicited love and acts of kindness.

But we need not just plain love. We need love that costs us. Love that we
get nothing back for.

The barbarians willingly gave up their lives to sow their hatred. We need to
be willing to lose sleep, to suffer losses, to be uncomfortable, to
sacrifice our pleasures, in order to help another human being -- with at
least the precision, determination and passion that Evil's compatriots of
last week employed to fulfill their mission of hate.

Every one of us can make a difference.

The Rebbe would always quote the Maimonidean adage: Each person should see
himself as though the entire world is on a delicate balance and with one
deed he or she can tip the scales.

Only a few handfuls of terrorists turned our world upside down. Let us not
underestimate the power of each of us to turn it upright again.

Every good act, every expression of kindness and love, will be a thousand
antibodies to neutralize the viruses put in place by the forces of evil.

In response to darkness, we will fill the earth with light. To defeat evil
we will saturate our globe with good.

And when we do our part G-d will surely do His part to protect us and
transform our world to the one we all hope and yearn for, one that will be
filled with His glory, like the waters fill the ocean."
(chabad online 9-17-01)

Tradition says that Hashem each year at this time writes in the Book of Life the names of those who will live another year. Last week reminded us all too strongly how fragile life is and how uncertain that "next year" most of us take for granted really is. May we spend this New Year of Israel in all her scattered lands reflecting on the gift and blessing life is and resolving to hold it precious, with awe and gratitude.

Let us embrace those we love as if we might never see them again. Let us pray for the repose of those who only a short time ago were robbed of the gift of life in the name of hate, but who we will make immortal by the bold witness of wanton love.

L'shanah Tovah!
Shalom
Pat

(edited because you should never try to spell "ecumenicalism" when you are this tired.)

[ThePirateKing]

Thank you, Pat. That was marvelous.

[Redlass]

It was (is)! I've sent copies of it (with the credit) to several people.

[taurusmoon]

Thank you Pat.

Sara

[jo.com]

Thanks, Pat..I wish I had caught the beginning of what Rabbi Kushner said but it went something like this...I can't quote it...There were 2 prisoners in a concentration camp. One of praying to G-d. The other said, "What are you praying to G-d for?" and the other answered, "I'm thanking G-d I'm not one of them."