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 31th 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.
