Page 33 - Jewish News_January 2020

COMMENTARY January 2020 33A

Jewish values

Jews pursue justice through tze- small scale (giving to a food pantry). The underlying theme of justice in
dakah, gemilut chesadim, mitzvot and Pursuing justice through gemilut Judaism has to do with community and
From Torah. chesadim also involves thinking about relationships. Justice involves obliga-
her that they had not been forgotten Tzedakah is monetary gifts in sup- the greater good, the social justice is- tions that we have to one another, and
but would be announced at the con- the port of people and institutions who are sues of our society. It takes us beyond to the Divine.
clusion of the concert, just before the in need. It is not the same as charity, ourselves and our own backyards to Tzedek reminds us that we are part
encore. Bimah which is voluntary. We are commanded the needs of the larger community and of something greater than ourselves.
Indeed, when the last scheduled to remember those who need our help those of our planet. We find meaning in relationships,
piece ended and the audience’s ap- and to reach out to them. Even the Mitzvot are the commandments. not abstract images or concepts. We
plause had brought conductor Robert poorest among us are expected to give We often think of the word mitzvah as find God in the minutia of our lives, in
Romanski back to the stage, he made Rabbi Jennifer Singer tzedakah, even if the amount is minis- meaning a good deed, but that is only love and laughter, in the joys and the
special mention of the group. This Congregation Kol HaNeshama cule. It is a way to empower everyone part of it. Living a mitzvah-centered sorrows that we share.
prompted the audience to offer a stand- to be an active part of a community that life means fulfilling God’s command- And when we are in a relationship,
ing ovation with several people com- f someone asked you what is the takes care of each other. ments by living according to high ethi- when we understand that we are part of
ing over to the survivors to convey most important Jewish value, what Gemilut chesadim are acts of lov- cal and moral standards. something greater than ourselves, tze-
their regard. Iwould you say? Many people quote ing kindness. This engages us on an- And Torah? Judaism asks us to en- dek comes easily. Tzedek, tzedek tirdof
The conductor then shared a story Hillel’s reply when he was asked to ex- other level than tzedakah does, asking gage with our sacred texts and their mes- – Justice, justice you shall pursue. Not
about when, at the age of 35, he accom- plain Judaism while standing on one us to get directly involved in helping sages for our entire lives – to remind seek, but pursue. May we be blessed to
panied his mother to a deposition about foot: “That which is hateful to you, do others, whether on a large scale (serv- ourselves of our obligations to ourselves, remember this sacred task.
a car accident she’d been involved in. not do to another.” ing on the board of a non-profit) or a our families and our communities.
Under oath, her revelation that she’d That’s important, but I don’t think
been married prior to her marriage to it covers enough situations. And be-
the conductor’s father shocked him. cause it is voiced in the negative, I find
Later, she recounted that her father, it less than inspiring. I want a positive
a German cab driver, convinced an value that I can use to guide me.
American serviceman to meet his So what about pikuach nefesh, sav- FUNERAL SERVICES
daughter, whom he then married. The ing another’s life? This is so important
two subsequently moved to the United that we can break virtually any other
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Romanski indicated that if not for one’s life. If I was in the medical field
that marriage, his mother would prob- this might be helpful, but in most of
ably not have survived the war. He our everyday lives we don’t get many Specializing in local burial, out-of-state transfers,
expressed deep respect for what the opportunities to observe this mitzvah. and burial in Israel
survivors had endured in escaping the While thinking about this, I was
cruel fate so many others suffered. intrigued when a non-Jewish friend • REFORM • CONSERVATIVE • ORTHODOX •
Following this, Romanski proceed- asked me to explain the word tzedek,
ed to lead the symphony in the playing which he translated as righteousness.
of John Williams’ haunting, piercingly While this is true, generally Jews un- • Chevra Kadisha
inspiring theme to Schindler’s List. derstand the word to mean justice. The • Pre-need Trusts
Several of the survivors wept. They first phrase that always comes to mind • Cremations
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Though this encore had been swer. Tzedek, justice, is the Jewish val- 24 Hour Information at (941) 955-1075 Michael, David, Pati and Steven Gross
planned for the concert long before ue that I hold dearest, a universal value
Anna called the symphony’s executive that we can use to guide our lives on a HebrewMemorialSarasota.com
director, it felt as if it had been fore- daily basis.
ordained because, as the Baal Shem
Tov famously asserted, “There are no
coincidences.”
Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a
Community Chaplain and Director of
JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program. His
position is underwritten by The Jewish
Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.