Responding to the Call of the Shofar

Whether you are young or old, the call of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah is a very powerful sound.  It speaks to our hearts reminding us to wake up, to think about our actions and the needs of others.  Unlike the sounds that jar us individually from our sleep on an ordinary day, the shofar reminds us that we are listening and responding as an entire people.  “It calls each of us to stand up and be counted and to commit ourselves to transforming this coming year from one of apathy into one of action.”  (AIPAC Synagogue Initiative). 

Our apathy might show in our lack of action but in reality it is not the result of possessing a lack of energy.  It is the result of our deciding that no matter what we do or don’t do, the results will be the same.  When we fear that we cannot possibly affect the course of human affairs, we don’t even try.

This is a period of time in the history of the Jewish people and the State of Israel that we cannot afford to be apathetic.  We are at a crossroads.  Iran is pushing forward with its goal of having 55,000 operational centrifuges and an industrial enrichment capability that would enable it to produce high enriched uranium.  There are several aspects of fearing Iran as a nuclear power. Three of the reasons listed by ADL include:

·         A nuclear-armed Iran would embolden Iran's aggressive foreign policy, resulting in greater confrontations with the international community. Iran already has a conventional weapons capability to hit U.S. and allied troops stationed in the Middle East and parts of Europe. If Tehran were allowed to develop nuclear weapons, this threat would increase dramatically.

·         Iran is one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism through its financial and operational support for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and others. Iran could potentially share its nuclear technology and know-how with extremist groups hostile to the United States and the West.
 

·         A nuclear-armed Iran poses a threat to America's closest allies in the Middle East. Israel is most at risk as Iran's leaders have repeatedly declared that Israel should "be wiped from the map." America's moderate Arab allies, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and others are already alarmed at Iran's aggressive regional policy and would feel increasingly threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran.  

So here we are and you’re probably wondering why is she speaking about such worldly problems on a day like Rosh HaShanah!  I’m doing it because it is Rosh HaShanah.  In Maimonides’ Laws of Repentance he wrote about the power of community.  “He asks:  What if I am tired of praying in synagogue where I have to greet other people and they disturb my concentration, where I might speak slanderously or be distracted?  I can probably be a better Jew living out my own in the woods in a little hut, spending my days in meditation and prayer, becoming more spiritual on my own.  In essence, what if I want to be a Jewish monk, cloistered by myself, shielded from the rest of the world?”  The answer he gives is pointed. “One who separates himself from the ways of the community, even though he did not violate any transgressions, rather he separated from the community of Israel and does not perform mitzvoth in their midst, and does not enter into their anguish and does not fast on their fasts; rather he goes along his own path like one of the nations of the world as if he is not part of them-  this person has no portion in the World to Come.”

In other words, we have an obligation to take the time to involve ourselves in the needs of our community and the Jewish world.  Being Jewish requires being connected to community.  Being American means we can help shape American policy.  As Jewish Americans or American Jews, however you think of yourself, we need to act to be involved in making sure that our elected officials are educated and committed to Israel’s security.  We must make sure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is a positive one.

It is quite in character with the nature of synagogues that such a message be issued from the pulpit.  During the Holocaust, communities learned about the horrors taking place in Europe in their synagogues.  When Soviet Jewry needed to be supported, we did it from our synagogues.  It is the one place that we can gather to discuss ways in which we can make a meaningful difference to the outcome of world affairs.

We have one congregant who comes to mind when I think about individuals who care about keeping our congressmen aware of Israel’s interests, that is Bob Evnen.  Perhaps he can instruct us how to form a cadre of congregants who will join him in his efforts.  Certainly signing petitions, having letter writing campaigns, and distributing information on our website about the U.S. – Israel relationship are ways of involving greater numbers of us in this very critical issue.

Elie Wiesel once wrote:

What does it mean to be a congregation?  It means to care about each other.  Pray?  We can pray at home.  We come together as a congregation in order to share in each other’s lives and in order to share in the life of the Jewish people past, present, and future.

We need to answer the call of the Shofar…we need to wake up and respond without lethargy and without feeling that too much is being asked of us.  The safety and well-being of Israel is important and the Jewish world needs us to act to ensure that America understands this as well.  We need to prioritize our time to reflect our understanding of this very important imperative.