Page 39 - Jewish News_may2021

COMMENTARY May 2021 39

Combating antisemitism: We need swivel-headed Jews Shavuos Torah indeed should go to mankind.
This fascinating encounter high- What we learned

lights a principal idea and vital theme
From of the Torah. That albeit the Torah’s from Covid
of the Arab media. sacredness, the intent of the lofty hid-
By all means, we must shout from the den treasure was not to remain only in By Margo Moore, President, Congregation for Humanistic Judaism
the rooftops our utter revulsion when the heavenly domain. True, the Torah’s ovid changed everything. mourners, and just plain scared.
Congresswoman Greene spouts her Bimah eternal sanctity will always remain in- When the fact that we would As the months went by, somehow
wacko theories, is assigned a seat on tact and will always retain its holiness, Cneed to stop meeting finally hit we shifted from crisis mode to some-
the House Education Committee, en- Rabbi Levi but the ultimate was not for it to be pre- home, almost a year ago, I had never thing else. At first, we didn’t trust our-
joys inexplicable support in her district Steinmetz – served in heaven, it was to be given to felt so helpless, or so scared for our selves to do our services alone, so we
and is reportedly attracting significant Chabad of the people. group, the Congregation for Human- got outside help for the High Holidays,
financial support. The angels’ perspective caused istic Judaism. We last met for Purim, which produced pretty services but
Jewish dismay also needs to be Downtown them disbelief as to how such a divine many in costume, and enjoyed a glori- didn’t satisfy our inner needs. We took
manifested when members of Con- Sarasota and Gdly possession can be degraded in ous sing-along. the plunge, got on Zoom and dove into
gress, from the other end of the spec- he entire Jewish nation, mil- the hands of humans – humans who are I had no idea of how to keep that our new world, by ourselves.
trum and a different party, level toxic lions of souls, men women and not perfect like angels, humans abiding high spirit going in lockdown, or how I don’t know what took us so long
dual-loyalty charges against Ameri- Tchildren, stood by the foot of in a physical world and who indulge to deal with all our personal fears and to tear through all of our own manu-
cans who support the U.S.-Israel rela- Mount Sinai awaiting the long-antici- in material matters. Clearly though, as confusion about the future. We were factured obstacles. But how long did
tionship, suggest that Israel is guilty of, pated event of the giving of the Torah. Moses’ undisputable response empha- simply in freefall. Worse, we were it take us to figure out that women
yes, blood libels, and support groups After 49 days of traveling through the sized, the true and ultimate purpose of hampered by our previously comfort- weren’t second-class citizens, that
calling for Israel’s disappearance. desert, and intensive preparations un- the Torah was that it be given to regu- able assumptions about ourselves: we people of color were entitled to equal
And add the small handful of fellow derway, the Jewish people were count- lar people to have access to spirituality, were older, retired and therefore enti- chances in society, that gay people
legislators who support them, as well ing down to the special occasion – the and for the material world to be affect- tled to not have to be tech savvy. Hoo were fine as mothers and fathers?
as those in Congress who endorsed magnificent experience which would ed by divinity. boy, were we in for an awakening! Covid pushed us to “grow up” in
their re-election last year and even, make them into a nation, becoming By the giving of the Torah, when Unwittingly, we had bought into a new sense, solve our problems our-
shockingly, contributed to their cam- Gd’s chosen people. Gd gifted the Jewish people with his the myth that we were somehow tech- selves and handle what life throws at
paigns. However, up on high, upon real- precious possession, the boundaries nologically disabled due to age. Hah! us. We learned there is nobody else, but
In other words, those who genuine- izing the destination of the holy To- between the physical and spiritual Yes, we were confused by varying we are enough.
ly care about antisemitism must open rah, the prized possession of the upper realms were broken, the separation be- health pronouncements, and had a few We dragged each other into the
their eyes wide and be swivel-headed realms, the distraught angels confront- tween the two domains were no longer. aches and pains, but our critical facul- new century, and we made ourselves
and not allow partisan political think- ed Gd expressing their dire concern. This was the revolution of that experi- ties were quite intact, thank you. responsible for the welfare of the con-
ing to narrow the field of vision and “The Torah is going to be given to hu- ence by Mount Sinai. The Torah being I think what was more crippling gregation as a whole. We learn all the
sense of outrage. mans?! This precious hidden treasure given to humans meant that honoring was our indeterminate sentence of time. This is the message.

– you seek to entrust with flesh and one’s mother and father is doing some- house arrest, that Death could actually We grow inside when we push our-
blood?!” thing holy, fulfilling a command of Gd, lurk on the street or at the supermar- selves to spread knowledge and sup-
The Talmud relates this metaphori- a mitzvah. This physical act infuses the ket, and that so many of our fellow port each other and make a difference
cal conversation, which continues with person, the object and the world with Americans had gone crazy and were in the world. And we are never too
a response to the angels. Gd called gdliness, with the spiritual in the phys- putting us at risk. We were depressed, old.
missing family, unable to comfort our
upon Moses to address their concern, ical.
to which Moses pointed out what is This is the same idea as a holy
actually written in the Torah. “Hon- object – the scroll of a Torah retains
or your father and mother,” “I am Gd holiness. The skin of an animal, and
which took you out of Egypt,” “Don’t the leather of tefillin can become holy,
kill, don’t steal.” once a mitzvah is performed with it.
“Do you angels have parents to When we do a mitzvah, when ful-
honor?” Moses asked. “Were you tak- filling a command, although to the sim-
en out of Egypt? Are you capable of ple eye it seems as an ordinary act, in
stealing?” Moses rested his case and truth, through the Torah, a great divine FREE VOLUME 2 | 2020-2021 FREE
the angels concurred. There was no energy is included with it, bringing a INSIDE UPDATED
counterargument for the angels to Mo- great powerful light into the world. FIND THE LOCATIONS Sarasota-Manatee VOLUME 2 | 2020-2021
DISCOVER ALL THINGS JEWISH
Synagogues, Food, Culture & More
LEARN ABOUT YOUR FEDERATION
History, Programs & More
On the Detailed Map Locator
SHALOMSRQ.org
ses’ reasoning. The angels agreed the A PUBLICATION OF UPDATED
Why WE belong F RE E JE W I S H SHALOMSRQ.org Sarasota-Manatee
FREE JEWISH

INSIDE
DISCOVER ALL THINGS JEWISH
Synagogues, Food, Culture & More
LEARN ABOUT YOUR FEDERATION
History, Programs & More
FIND THE LOCATIONS
U
RC
SO
E
D
!
E
On the Detailed Map Locator
I
E
R
U
G
A PUBLICATION OF
As the people who came before us RESOURCE GUIDE!
established this Jewish community SHALOMSRQ is the ultimate resource guide to everything Jewish
in Sarasota-Manatee, the new in Sarasota and Manatee counties! It covers everything a local
campus project will impact resident, visitor or newcomer needs to know:
generations long past us,
for the thriving Jewish • Synagogues & Temples • Jewish Housing
community to come. • Jewish Clubs • Jewish Youth & Teen Programs
• Jewish Cultural Arts
• Jewish Calendar
Wayne Ruben, Chair, • Jewish Education • Israel Connections
CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION • Jewish Food • History of Jews in Sarasota
COMMITTEE
(pictured with Ronna Ruben) • Jewish Gift Shops • Maps with Drop-pin Locators
• Jewish Service Providers AND MORE!
What better way to enjoy a Jewish Florida lifestyle than with a
publication that will help make life easier!
To view SHALOMSRQ, go to
SHALOMSRQ.org
or get the FREE magazine mailed to you by contacting
Bonnie Souther at 941.371.4546 x.0 or bsouther@jfedsrq.org
JFEDSRQ.org/ProudStrong SHALOMSRQ is published by The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at jfedsrq.org/jewish-news