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Dear Friends, This week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, tells the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. You remember the story: two cities so corrupt that neighbors no longer treated one another as neighbors, and strangers were met not with kindness but with cruelty. Their moral decay was so complete that, as in Noah’s generation, God determined they were beyond redemption. But then something remarkable happened. God shared the divine plan to destroy the cities, and rather than quietly accept the decree, as Noah did, Abraham pushed back. He stood before God and demanded justice: “Will You sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?” It’s one of the most powerful moments in all of Torah. It is an act of extraordinary moral courage. Yet a small, easily overlooked detail deepens the story. Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer (25) notes: “Abraham stood alone before the Holy One… and none among his generation joined him.” Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “The prophet’s word is a scream in the night. While others are intoxicated with the trivial, the prophet is overwhelmed by the pathos of God.” In that moment, Abraham became the first prophet, not because he predicted the future, but because he refused to be indifferent. He felt God’s anger, he feared for others’ suffering, and he could not stay silent. This year, I found myself drawn to the image of Abraham standing alone before God. In that moment he wasn’t just arguing with the Divine. He was standing against a world that had normalized cruelty. He saw injustice, took a risk, and spoke truth, even though no one stood beside him. That kind of isolation is never easy, but when our values are clear and our priorities grounded in moral conviction, there are moments when silence simply isn’t an option. Perhaps the real test of faith isn’t whether we believe in God, but whether we are willing to stand for what is right when no one else will. Whether it’s pushing back against the rolling back of civil rights here in our own country or countering the lies and misinformation being spread about Israel, the Midrash reminds us that moments of moral clarity can often feel like moments of isolation. Speaking up, especially when done respectfully with love and conviction, can be lonely work. Rabbi Donniel Hartman teaches that faith is not measured by obedience but by moral responsibility. He writes, “The covenantal Jew doesn’t wait for God to fix the world; we partner with God by bringing justice and compassion into it.” That’s precisely what Abraham modeled in this week’s portion. He didn’t abandon his faith. He fulfilled it by attempting to hold God to the very standards of justice that faith demands. And perhaps that’s what makes this story feel so timely right now. Whether in public discourse, in Israel, or within our own communities, moral courage often feels like a solitary act. But Abraham reminds us that standing alone doesn’t mean standing apart. When he stands before God, he is really standing up for humanity. The challenges facing our world, and our Jewish community both here and in Israel, are greater than at any time I can recall. It would be easy to become overwhelmed and throw up our hands in despair. But in those moments, we must remember Abraham’s example and Heschel’s warning that “indifference to evil is worse than evil itself.” Their example calls us to question, to act, and to believe that even when we feel alone, we are never truly standing by ourselves. Shabbat Shalom, |
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Rabbi Joe Black: November 21st When the Adult Education Committee began planning this year’s programs, they asked if there was anyone I would especially love to bring in as a Shabbat Scholar during my final year. I’m thrilled to share that our next guest is exactly that. On Friday, November 21st, my colleague and friend Rabbi Joe Black will join us for Shabbat. Rabbi Black recently retired after a distinguished tenure as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Denver, Colorado. In addition to being a respected rabbi and teacher, he is also a gifted singer-songwriter whose music has inspired and uplifted people for decades. That evening, Rabbi Black will join Cantor Moses on the bimah during services, offer reflections on his creative process, and following our Shabbat dinner, share some of his songs and the spiritual inspiration behind them. It promises to be a truly special evening—one filled with music, spirit, and heart. I hope you’ll join us and help fill the sanctuary as we welcome Rabbi Black. I have no doubt you’ll leave inspired and deeply moved by his music and message. |