Why Do We Pray?

This week with Parashat Reeh, we begin a series of portions in Deuteronomy in which Moses explains to the people that they have the choice between blessings and curses. They can choose to follow God’s commandments or to ignore God’s commandment. The text explains that there will be consequences of that choice. The people will be blessed if they choose to follow the commandments and cursed if they choose to turn away from the commandments.

The text does not say that individuals will be blessed or cursed as result of their individual acts. But rather that the nation will be blessed or cursed as a result of its collective acts. One of the issues of blessings and curses is weather.

In the Middle East this means rain in its season. In Israel it only rains in the winter. Each year in late fall the people look for the rain. If rain does not fall by December, people fear that it will be a year of drought. If no rain falls by January fear intensifies.

In the ancient days people believed that the lack of rain was the result of the sins of the people. The rabbis instituted fast days if the rains did not begin on time. According to our tradition, Rabbi Akiva composed a prayer to be recite on these drought fast days, “Avinu Malkeinu Haneinu Vaneinu Ki Ein Banu Maasim Asei Imanu Tzedaka VaChesed V’Hoshieinu.” This prayer forms the basis our famous High Holiday Prayer.

Our extreme weather this year may lead some to conclude that we are under divine curse. I do not believe that the world works that way. I do not think that God pulls the strings

Today Hurricane Irene is heading toward the United States. I do not think that God will choose where on the east coast this storm to strike because of the sins of the residents of that community. I do not think that God chooses which communities deserve to suffer. If the storm strikes Myrtle Beach and misses Charleston this is not because God sees the people of Myrtle Beach as evil and the people of Charleston as good.

Some years ago a hurricane threatened Virginia Beach, the headquarters of noted Evangelist Pat Robertson. Robertson prayed that the storm avoid his city. When the storm did not strike Virginia Beach, Robertson declared that his prayers moved God to protect the city. I could claim that my prayers protect our synagogue from tigers.

I am about to begin my 31^th year as rabbi here and not once have tigers attacked.

Am I arguing that prayer is pointless? No, I am not against prayer. You can quote me, I endorse prayer. I am not denouncing religion in general and Judaism in particular. I oppose a mechanical view of prayer. God does not control everything that happens. The events of the world are the result of a combination of human choices, the forces of nature and randomness.

So why do we pray? Why do I pray? I pray because God is at the center of my life. Saying the prayer remind me of that God provides meaning and purpose to my life. My sense of right and wrong come from God. I see God as a source of strength, wisdom and courage. I do not pray asking God to change the world. I pray to God seeking the strength, wisdom and courage so that I can join with others to change the world. I seek God’s blessing God’s blessings of strength, wisdom and courage.

Chalutzim 2011

I am writing today from Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Once again Congregation Etz Chaim has sent the most campers to OSRUI. This summer 72 of our children are here as campers. We also have several members of the staff.

50 rabbis, cantors and educators comprise of OSRUI each summer.

Earlier this summer Anne Stein was here working with Kallah Aleph and Rabbi Cosnowsky was here working with Avodah. Rabbi Cosnowsky returned to camp to be the scholar for the adults of a Lehrhaus weekend. I work with Chalutzim, the seven week Hebrew immersion program for High Schoolers.

Over the years we have held joint activities with the other Jewish camps in Wisconsin. Once a unit came to visit us from Ramah. Growing up in a Conservative congregation in Minneapolis I heard a great deal about Ramah in Wisconsin. I know they emphasize Hebrew. Every summer they put on a Broadway musical translated into Hebrew.

As part of the opening program I said some words of welcome in Hebrew. When the Ramah rabbi stood up to speak I expected that he would also speak in Hebrew. But he went back and forth between Hebrew and English. Later in the evening I had the opportunity to talk with him about this. He explained that if he had spoken entirely in Hebrew the day school kids from Chicago could have understood him. But the kids from Minneapolis, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Kansas City would not have been able to keep.

We have less than a handful of day school kids in Chalutzim. But we insist on speaking Hebrew. One might say that we are stubborn. I think we hold ourselves to a higher standard.

Chalutzim is the only Hebrew immersion program in the country. None of the other URJ camps offer Hebrew immersion programs, neither do the Ramah Camps of the Conservative movement. I did not create Chalutzim. It was here for 25 years before I became a part of it in 1985.

I am grateful for pioneering work done by my predecessors. I am pleased to work with my partners on the Chalutzim faculty. And I am proud of the campers  Sh'mdabrin Rak Ivrit, who speak only Hebrew.

Studying the Korach Story

In the Torah Portion for this week Korach and his collaborators attack Moses and Aaron. Korach, a Levite, like Moses and Aaron, criticizes the brothers for elevating themselves into positions of leadership. Korach says, “You have gone too far! For all the community is holy and the God is in their midst. Why do you raise yourself above the God’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3)

Korach wants to take the place of Moses. Korach is fine with the idea of a single Levite leading the people. He just wants it to be a different single Levite, himself.

Korach does not understand the source of Moses and Aaron’s status. Why should the people listen to Moses? Why should the people trust Moses? The answer, of course, is God.

Over the centuries many political leaders have claimed that their authority to rule comes from God. They argue that God made them King, therefore the people should listen to them.

In a democracy the trust that comes with political office is easily lost. We can all easily mention too many examples. So many politicians have acted so poorly that many people distrust politicians as a category.

Trust has to be earned. I am not pleased when people say, “Trust me.” Don’t say, “Trust me.”  Show me I can trust you. Actual trust worthy people do not have to say, “Trust me.” People who have earned the trust that comes with their position, do not have to remind people of the position they hold.

During his political decline, Richard Nixon declared, “I am the President.” His need to make that proclamation illustrated that in fact he had lost the trust of the American public.

A parent should not have to say, “I am your father” or “I am your mother.”

When the faculty of the Hebrew Union College gave me the title rabbi they were in essence saying, “We trust you.” When people call me rabbi they express their trust in me. I am aware that I have to be worthy of the title every day.

Father’s Day was a few days ago. The information that I am the father of three, is a biological fact. The trust my children place in me has been earned.

Sometimes those who we thought were our friends disappoint us. We discover that our trust was misplaced. Or sometimes we disappoint our friends and must work to again earn their trust

Moses had an advantage we do not have. God could vouch for Moses. We have to let our deeds vouch for us.

Report on AIPAC Conference May 2011

Dear Friends,

A few days ago I returned from the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington.  The media has been filled with reports and interpretations of what has been said about Israel by American leaders. Pundits make their living by generating heat. I am more interested in light. I want to look clearly at exactly what has been said.  Then I want to draw your attention to the genuine key issues.

AIPAC is dedicated to promoting the America/Israel relationship. At AIPAC we heard speeches from a broad range of American political leaders, including President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer. I also participated in lobbying meetings with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk and Sixth District Congressman Peter Roskam. In addition, I had individual conversations with senators ranging from Minnesota’s Al Franken on the political left to Texas’ John Cornyn on the right.

I am happy to report that all of the above American political leaders expressed complete devotion to the America/Israel relationship. American support for Israel is bipartisan.

Much has been made about President Obama’s reference to the pre-1967 borders in his May 19^th speech at the State Department. The full phrase was “1967 lines with land swaps.” Identical language has been used by American leaders since the Israel/ Palestinian peace process began with the Oslo Accords in 1993. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used this phrase at AIPAC in March 2010. President George W. Bush used this phrase, as did President Bill Clinton.

In his speech at AIPAC on Sunday morning, President Obama went into detail about the meaning of “agreed upon land swaps.” He said:

“….since my position has been misrepresented several times, let me reaffirm what ‘1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps’ means. By definition, it means that the parties themselves, Israelis and Palestinians, will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967.

That's what mutually agreed upon swaps means. It is a well-known formula to all who have worked on this issue for a generation. It allows the parties themselves to account for the changes that have taken place over the last 44 years. It allows the parties themselves to take account of those changes, including the new demographic realities on the ground and the needs of both sides.

The ultimate goal is two states for two people: Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people, and the state of Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people, each state enjoying self-determination, mutual recognition and peace.”

President George W. Bush in January of 2008 said the following during a visit to Israel:  “Achieving an agreement will require painful political concessions by both sides. While territory is an issue for both parties to decide, I believe that any peace agreement between them will require mutually agreed adjustments to the armistice lines of 1949 to reflect current realities and to ensure that the Palestinian state is viable and contiguous.”

In 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We believe that through good-faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines with agreed swaps.” She repeated those words to AIPAC in March 2010.

President Obama’s use of that phrase is, in truth, nothing new.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the AIPAC Conference on Monday evening and to a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday morning. I would urge you to watch a video of his address to Congress. It is a strong and clear presentation of his position which he delivers artfully. You will notice that three times he expresses his ideas by quoting President Obama. He does this to indicate the closeness of his positions to President Obama’s.

Other members of the Etz Chaim family participating in the AIPAC conference included Larry and Barbara Margolis, Jacob and Asher Margulies, Samantha Margolis, Ron and Bruce Weininger and Dan Krauss.

Next year’s AIPAC conference will be March 4-6^th

We hope that more of our members will be able to join us for this exceptional event.

President Obama at AIPAC

Menu of videos of speeches at AIPAC

Video of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

Transcript of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

Transcript of Chris Matthews Show