How Does One Achieve Trust?

This past Shabbat we began reading the Book of Numbers. In this book Moses does not have an easy time as leader of our people. Again and again he encounters resistance from the Israelites. They complain. They challenge his leadership.

 

In the story of the spies in Parashat Shelach Lecha, the people tell Moses they want to go back to Egypt. In Parashat Korach some of the people openly rebel against Moses and Aaron. Korach, a Levite, like Moses and Aaron, criticizes the brothers for elevating themselves into positions of leadership.

 

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? 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 individuals achieve high office because people trust them enough to vote for them trust replaces faith as the source of authority. 

 

Trust that comes with political office is easily lost. Here in Illinois 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 their position. During his political decline, Richard Nixon said, “I am the President.” His need to make that proclamation illustrated that in fact he had lost the trust of the American public.

 

Trust has to be earned every day, in families, in friendships and in religious settings.

 

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.

 

In a few weeks it will be Father’s Day. 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.

Shavuot - The Counting of Omer

Each Wednesday at this time of the year, our Hebrew school students find pictures of a popular animated television character on the door to the sanctuary. Each Wednesday we attach pictures of Homer Simpson to this door. Today the students will see 25 pictures of Homer Simpson on the sanctuary door. Why Homer? Why 25? Each Wednesday between Pesach and Shavuot we count the pictures of Homer. This is to help the students understand that we are counting the Omer.
 

When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, on the second day of Passover an omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering. This grain offering was referred to as the Omer. We can no longer bring an omer of barley to the temple, but still Jews count the Omer to mark the days between Pesach and Shavuot.
 

Pesach and Shavuot are linked together. In our tradition they have equal status. I recognize that Pesach is a far more popularly observed holiday among Jews today. But Pesach is only half the story. On Pesach we celebrate freedom. We recall that God took us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
 

The freedom we celebrate on Pesach is not freedom to go where you want to go, do what you want to do. God does not take us out of Egypt and say, "Have a nice day." God takes us out of Egypt for a specific purpose. God delivers us from slavery in order to go to Sinai and receive the Torah. Pesach commemorates the beginning of the story. Shavuot commemorates the conclusion.
 

In our congregation we have created new rituals to celebrate Shavuot. The giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai is traditionally called Ma’amad Har Sinai, standing at Mount Sinai. On Shavuot we fully unroll the Torah scroll. It encircles the congregation. Leaders of the congregation hold the scroll. We stand inside the circle. Young people who have become Bar/Bat Mitzvah since last Shavuot will stand in front of their Torah portions. In turn, they will each read their Torah portions.
 

We observe Ma’amad Har Sinai, standing at Mount Sinai by standing and hearing the words of Torah. In hearing these words read by our young people, we link ourselves to those who first heard the words of Torah. We link ourselves to those who have studied these words of Torah over the centuries. We link ourselves to those who will study them in years to come.
 

We count the Omer from Pesach to Shavuot to connect the Exodus from Egypt to the revelation at Sinai. We count the Omer to remind ourselves of the approach of Shavuot. If today is the 25th day in the counting of the Omer, we can know that Shavuot is 24 days away, on May 26th.