Comments on: Conservative Movement: Hatikvah Instead of Shofar

By: Carlos Yantorno

Carlos Yantorno — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:47:54 +0000

Although I am not a Jew, I am subscribed to this blog because I care about the plight of Jews and Palestinians.
Rabbi Rosen’s words, as well as those of many here, are in accordance with what I understand the Abrahamic faiths stand about, leaving aside their outer difference, that human beings are created in the image of God, that they are by essence sacred, and that to destroy ONE life, is like destroying a whole universe.How is it possible to say we love God if we do not love human beings, His highest creation? How is it possible that ANY state, a political creation, may be more important than a single life? I refuse to believe it is God’s plan that some human beings use human lives on behalf of the “spiritual” rights of others, be they Jews, Christians , Muslims or whatever. That is a worldly scheme, a political agenda. There is nothing spiritual about it, just like ther is nothing spiritual about nuclear weapons, be they in the hands of Iran, the USA, China or Israel.
If I were granted one wish, it would be that “world leaders” showed just a little of the compassion and sensibility people like Rabbi Rosen show towards humanity.
Thank you.
Shana Tova.
Carlos Yantorno.

By: Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg

Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:33:13 +0000

The objection to Hatikvah on the High Holidays, especially at this moment in Jewish history, demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of what Israel is and has been to Judaism. The two are intrinsically intertwined. Hatikvah is a prayer. The Bible a Zionist document. We say in the birkat hamazone bracha for Israel rasheet smichat geulatenu-the dawn of our redemption. You can try and claim Israel is a political, sovereign nation only, but that is not based on Jewish theology. For most Jews, the State of Israel is a valid, spiritual dimension of being Jewish and worrying about its security is a real as anything else. I understand there are Jews who do not accept this this.

By: Mark Braverman

Mark Braverman — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:14:48 +0000

Brant, I was appalled and disgusted by the RA letter. Sing Hatikvah, indeed. It says it all, doesn’t it. Sing a Zionist anthem in shul? Pray to the State of Israel (not for — I can think about how that might be done, but to), and on this issue of all things? I agree with you, this is idolatry. We are in big trouble.

It goes directly, directly, in the face of tshuvah.

Not the shofar, but a great, piercing cry from Jews everywhere is called for at this juncture. I thank the RA for making so clear what we have to do.

Perhaps the shofar is the very thing, the very symbol, in contrast to fasting. Fasting is so quiet, so passive. But the shofar — it shouts, can even be made to scream, it demands to be listened to. Let our voices go out. Let our screams of anger, protest, shame and pain be heard.

Mark

By: nancy fuchs-kreimer

nancy fuchs-kreimer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:25:05 +0000

Brant,
Thanks for letting us know about this.
I hope that this missive was sent out by someone in the R.A. office in a moment of high emotion that he/she has come to regret.
There are so many things wrong with this idea that it is hard to know where to begin! As a life long Reconstructionist Jew who believes critical inquiry is at the heart of a Jewish life of integrity, I found the strangest part was that folks are asked to write letters of protest about a report that they are not being asked to read.
I am going to assume that most conservative rabbis adapted this unusual request and created something more meaningful for Rosh Hashanah than described here to respond to the challenges of our times.
Keep up the great work, Brant.
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer
http://www.multifaithworld.org

By: David

David — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:14:12 +0000

A letter from Michael Oren was read in the Conservative shul in my community (JPEG of letter):

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n7RltmTdk-g/SrcLA0DpJ3I/AAAAAAAAL9o/BIGRWkuR2Y4/s1600/Oren%2Bletter.jpg

This was read in shul, on the bima, to the congregation:

“We are facing a critical juncture in our history. The Jewish community must confront this unprecedented threat before it is too late. I urge you as leaders of the Jewish community to impress this situation on your congregations. It is imperative to act now, at the start of a new year, and to join our voices in doing what absolutely necessary to stop the Iranian nuclear threat.”

By: Jeff Winter

Jeff Winter — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:12:52 +0000

Making a political statement during davening is a troubling way to go. There are times and places for bringing forth causes and other ideas, but the silence of the shofar already speaks volumes.
To begin conflating parts of the service with a political agenda is a slippery slope if ever there was one. I don’t know what process was used to put this idea out there but I think this one isn’t ready for prime time. I would think it would be divisive and distracting for many if not most of those in attendance.
What will be next? Maybe those few moments between shacharit and the Torah service would be a good time to promote a cause…

By: Eric Selinger

Eric Selinger — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:53:56 +0000

Dan,

You ask Brant this: “Would you care to comment on whether his words border idolatry?”

I wish that I thought you were asking a real question here, but it doesn’t sound that way.

It does strike me that questions of human suffering are much less likely to be idolatrous than declarations of solidarity. Maybe than anything.

Just a thought.

By: Rabbi Brant Rosen

Rabbi Brant Rosen — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:26:09 +0000

Dan,

I don’t want to speak for Brian, but my sense is that he is referring to the High Holidays as a time of teshuvah and communal self-reckoning. He asks: how can we do a do an honest self-accounting of our moral failures of the past year and not question our treatment of the Gazan people? I think this is a justifiable and extremely important point – and am not sure how it might be considered “idolatrous.”

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:22:26 +0000

Rabbi Brian Walt, co-founder of the Jewish fast for Gaza posted the following paragraph on his blog.
“Today the day before Rosh Hashanah, The Goldstone Comission Report presents us with a moral challenge: Will this report move more Americans, more American Jews and more rabbis to speak out against the present policy of the Israeli government in Gaza? Will it move more Israelis to demand a truly independent Israeli investigation into all the charges? Will it move more Israeli Jews to ask questions and open their hearts to the suffering that the policies of their government are inflicting? I truly hope so. If this does not happen, I am not sure what our earnest prayers over the coming sacred holidays mean.”
Nowhere does he approach the concept of proclaiming G-d as our ruler during the Rosh Hashana prayer. In fact, he says that if we don’t raise the questions of the sufferings of the Gazan people, then he isn’t sure what our earnest prayers mean. Would you care to comment on whether his words border idolatry?

By: Renee L

Renee L — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:33:41 +0000

We did sing Hatikvah yesterday, at our rabbi’s request. Only after this did he read the letter and say that (1) this was irregular as part of the service, (2) he had not realized that the threat to Israel by Iran was “so dire,” and (3) while other countries have a march as an anthem, Hatikvah is not a march but “a prayer.”

The whole thing struck me as strange. Why were we asked to sing before we knew the reason? Why, if the rabbi was ambivalent, did he require the singing of Hatikvah? And why describe Israel’s anthem as a prayer (it’s a poem or hymn, not a prayer) while describing others as marches (the US national anthem is not a march)?

This entire affair has left a bad taste, and sent me directly to the web in search of the thoughts of others.

RLS, Portland OR