Page 33 - Jewish News_Sept2021

COMMENTARY September 2021 33A

To live as a Jew Spirituality and religion

would have ended Isaac’s life. The days are filled with mundane things,
ram, on the other hand, represents the the minutia of daily life.
Judaism is far less concerned with
From fact that Isaac’s life was spared, for the From spirituality, and much more interested
ram replaced him.
the Hashanah teaches us that our focus the in communal interaction and respon-
The mitzvah of the shofar on Rosh
sibility. The Talmud sums it up in five
Bimah must be to live as Jews rather than die Bimah words: Kol Yisrael aravim zeh bazeh.
as Jews. In our history, we sadly were
All of Israel is responsible for one an-
forced to embrace the knife and sacri- other.
fice ourselves for our Jewishness. We My spiritual nature is inextricably
Rabbi Sholom Schmerling are here today because of the sacrifices Rabbi Jennifer Singer tied to my Jewish practice. To be Jew-
of our ancestors. Yet, these are the trag-
Chabad of Venice & North Port ic periods of our history and never our Congregation Kol HaNeshama ish is to be part of a community. To be
part of a community is to be respon-
“
ne of the primary reasons we to live, to love life, to celebrate life, to I sible for each other. My spirituality is
desired ideal. As an ideal, Judaism de-
don’t need religion. I’m spiritual.”
blow the shofar, the ram’s mands of us to seize every opportunity I have heard this statement a linked to yours. If you are hungry or
Ohorn, on Rosh Hashanah, is thousand times. I like to ask, afraid, I am obliged to help. And in so
to commemorate the unforgettable cherish life, to create life and to give “What do you mean when you say that doing, I uplift both you and me. Both
episode we read on the second day of life. you’re spiritual?” Most people talk of our hearts are opened to the Divine
Rosh Hashanah, in which G-d instructs The archenemy of the Jewish peo- about nature, love, moments of tran- spark that resides in each person.
Abraham to offer his son to G-d. Abra- ple, the prophet Balaam expressed scendence. They often say something But how do we do that during a
ham obeys. He ascends Mt. Mariah, the contrary: “Tamos nafshi mos ye- about “a higher power,” but that’s as pandemic? How can we care for each
builds an altar and binds Isaac on it. At sharim,” “Let me die the death of the close as they get to defining it or actu- other, share meals and prayer, and stay
the last moment, when Abraham takes righteous.” (Numbers 23:10) Balaam ally relating to it. in close contact with the people who
the knife in his hand and is about to wanted to die a martyr’s death. Con- More often than not, they want to make up our community?
slaughter his beloved child, G-d sends trary to Balaam’s philosophy, we cel- tell me everything that’s wrong about With Covid and its Delta variant
an angel to stop him. “Don’t lay your ebrate not the knife but the shofar. We religion. Which, according to them, is forcing us to stay apart, this commu-
hand on the lad; don’t do anything want to live for G-d, not die for G-d. pretty much everything. I get it. They nal aspect of spirituality can be diffi-
to him.” Abraham then offers a ram, This is also the meaning of Moses’ want to concentrate on religious wars cult to attain. You can’t see the other
“caught in the thicket by its horns,” in words to the Jewish people at the end of and persecution of the Other. When I person’s expression if she is wearing a
lieu of his son. G-d promises Abraham his life: “See, I have placed before you point out that religion also has given mask. Praying in a minyan on Zoom is
an eternal nation that will be a blessing life and death; you shall choose life.” the world much that is good, they dis- an oxymoron as we are simultaneously
to all other nations. Do we really need Moses to teach us miss it with a wave of the hand. separate and together.
The shofar, then, represents Abra- to choose life over death? Which fool And what about spirituality within My answer is this: We use the tools
ham and Isaac’s limitless loyalty and would choose otherwise? religion, I ask? The I’m-just-spiritual at our fingertips. We pick up the tele-
commitment to G-d to the point of ut- Moses knew that Jews would en- crowd will tell you that religion gets in phone. We write cards. We stand in
ter self-sacrifice. This merit, we hope, dure tremendous suffering. As a result, the way of spirituality. Religion, they front of each other’s homes and sing
evoked infinite Divine blessing and they may come to cultivate a culture of declare, is filled with empty rituals. “Happy Birthday” at the top of our
mercy on the Day of Judgment. death, celebrating death. When you en- They don’t need ritual. They prefer the lungs, holding homemade posters. We
Yet, here is the question: If so, counter so much death, you might just freedom of just enjoying a sunset. send group emails with jokes and up-
why is the mitzvah not to lift a knife make it your priority and your focus. And do you have a spiritual prac- lifting words. We carefully gather in
on Rosh Hashanah instead of the sho- But we never forgot Moses’ com- tice, I ask. “Oh yes,” comes the reply. small groups outdoors. We pray togeth-
far? The ram was the substitute for mand: “You shall choose life.” So we “I do yoga on the beach, I meditate, er and we bless each other. We zoom
Isaac. Yet the knife represented Abra- always chose life. The day the Jews I even have a beautiful altar with in- into services and revel in seeing each
ham’s actual readiness to offer his son were liberated from Auschwitz, they cense and sacred stones.” other’s faces and a tiny bit of every per-
Isaac. Why then do we not display the asked themselves how they will recre- I push a little harder. And do you son’s home. We sing the prayers of our
far more potent and direct symbol of a ate life. We have to love them for this. do any of these things daily? Do you people with full hearts, even though we
knife to portray Isaac’s willingness to Let us pray that 5782 be marked by connect with the Divine and feel it in can’t hear each other.
be an offering to G-d and Abraham’s health and happiness, and that we all your life? Some people do and proudly The things that others call empty
willingness to offer him? be inscribed for a good and sweet new tell me so. Others? Not so much. rituals are anything but empty if you
Chassidic master Rabbi Simcha year. With wishes for a meaningful I can sympathize. A spiritual prac- imbue them with meaning.
Bunam of Peshischa presented a beau- and joyous holiday experience. Shanah tice, whether within the confines of a My spiritual experiences are linked
tiful answer: With the knife, Abraham Tovah U’Metukah! religion or one’s own concept of spiri- to my community, and my community
tuality, doesn’t come easily. It takes ded- has learned to rise to the occasion. We
Opinions printed in The Jewish News of ication. It asks you to do spiritual things don’t want to stay physically apart, but

Sarasota-Manatee do not necessarily reflect even when you don’t feel spiritual. we know how to stay in touch, how to
The transcendent moments we feel
adapt Jewish practice to meet our needs
those of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- in nature, seeing the stars at night or today and how to engage in communal
Manatee, its Board of Directors or staff. a rainbow, or even sitting quietly with spiritual experiences that benefit each
a candle flickering in front of us, are
one of us. Kol Yisrael aravim zeh ba-
easily accessed. It’s harder when your zeh. Together, we soar.

MOVING?

Take The Jewish
News with you!

FRI SAT SUN | 9am-2pmT SUN | 9am-2pm
A
FRI S

1445 Second Street | Sarasota, Florida 34236
www.99bottles.net