Rabbi Ackerman's Blog
07/24/2009 - Shabbat Devarim-Hazon
A well known local rabbi used to teach that a coincidence represented God's way of remaining anonymous. I've been reminded of that thought on a couple of occasions this week.A new Hebrew month, Av, began on Wednesday. The Talmud describes the beginning of Av as a time of withdrawal from activities that lead to joy. "It is taught - from Rosh Hodesh until the fast (on the 9th of Av) the people limit their business dealings refraining from commerce, from building and planting, and from celebrating weddings and engagements." [Bavli Yevamot 43b] The early days of Av call for a stepping back from the normal, hopefully productive work of everyday life.
The very same day served up a solar eclipse - the longest of the 21st century apparently - that could be viewed across the bulk of the planet's eastern hemisphere. From India to China millions experienced the darkness of night in the middle of the day.
I lost count of how many times I heard parts of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' on the radio this week. The fortieth anniversary of Apollo 11's lunar landing was the reason for Pink Floyd's ubiquitous presence this week, but the image of the moon's dark side very much stuck with me. An eclipsed sun and a darkened moon strike me a perfect images for our tradition's understanding of the month of Av's opening days and of the grief filled fast that takes place next week. That's coincidence number one.
Coincidence number two arrived on the front page of this morning's NY Times. Above the fold on page one, the lead article on the left side detailed a shift in Hamas circles from armed resistance to what the reporter described as "cultural" resistance. Whatever the form, Hamas directs its resistance at Israel and by its own declarations at all Jews.
The lead article on the right side, accompanied by a rather jarring photograph, outlined yesterday's corruption arrests in New Jersey which involved a number of public officials and a full handful of rabbis.
This week we've begun the reading of the Torah's fifth and final book. Among many topics and themes, Sefer Devarim contains the Torah's central statements regarding war and its conduct. A significant pair of passages in Deuteronomy begin with these words: "when you take the field against your enemies."
Rabbinic readers of the Bible have long wondered which enemies to fear more, the external ones or the internal ones. Today's Times, Erev Shabbat Devarim, raises that very question anew. Without meaning to minimize very real threats that our people faces from the outside, the enemies within worry me more.
Even as we contemplate darkness of various kinds, we blessedly possess the safe haven of Shabbat within which we can enjoy the light of Torah and of one another's presence. I hope that we'll get to see each other tonight and tomorrow.
Shabbat Shalom.
Previous Posts
08/02/2010 - Palestine in 1912 (Most Recent)04/09/2010 ספירת העומר Omer Counting
03/27/2010 - Time Out From Pesah Cleaning Reading
01/23/2010 - Shavua Tov - A Prayer for Haiti
01/22/2010 - MLK Unity Service - Shabbat Bo
11/24/2009 - Parashat Vayetze & Thanksgiving
10/18/2009 - 30 Tishrei 5770 - Rosh Hodesh Heshvan
10/13/2009 - Rabbi Mordecai Waxman, a Tribute
09/28/2009 - Yom Kippur Sermon 5770
09/27/2009 - Kol Nidre Sermon 5770
09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day Sermon 5770
09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah First Day Sermon 5770
09/17/2009 - L`shana Tova Tikateivu v`Teihateimu
08/21/2009 - Rosh Hodesh Elul
08/18/2009 - The Torah of Trees
08/14/2009 - Parashat Re`eh
08/05/2009 - Tu B`Av [The 15th of Av]
07/24/2009 - Shabbat Devarim-Hazon (Current display)
07/17/2009 - Parashat Matot-Masei
07/10/2009 - Parashat Pinchas