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May 27, 2022 (26 Iyar 5782) Another Tragedy Dear Holy Friends, I hope this correspondence finds you in good health and good cheer. We look forward to you joining us this Shabbat at 10:30am for our hybrid services, which will be conducted in our beautiful sanctuary and also be available through our regular Zoom webinar prayer link. We also look forward to you joining us for Shavuoth, which will take place on Sunday, June 5th and Monday, June 6th at 10:15am. We have great stuff going on! Please make an extra effort to attend these services, so we can recite Hallel, read from the Torah, and celebrate the receiving of the Torah together. Also, join us for the People of the Book program at 3:00pm on Sunday, June 5th. Unfortunately, I write this Reflection with a heavy heart. Just a couple of days ago, we learned about the tragic incident at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which took the lives of 19 young, innocent children and 2 dedicated teachers. What a tragedy and what a trauma for those who witnessed such an incident! The severity of the tragedy could even be heard on sports radio, to which I listen to “religiously” on my morning and afternoon commutes. Michael Kay, the voice of the Yankees for over two decades, was so emotional (he has two young kids) that I literally had to turn down the volume, so as not to be overcome and distracted by his authentic sobbing, while I was navigating the Garden State Parkway. While there is renewed debate about the Second Amendment (for which the founders of our country never envisioned the use of automatic weapons), we should consider teachings from Jewish tradition, which speak to this situation muck like it does to many other contemporary issues. Here are just two teachings: On the pro-gun side, there is a famous Talmudic dictum: If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first (Messechet Sanhedrin). This statement from the Talmudic sage Rava is derived from a Mishnah passage that permits a homeowner to kill an intruder in self-defense if the trespasser arrives during the night. Some Jewish gun proponents have argued that since the Torah commands self-preservation, acquiring the means for that preservation is also a religious requirement. Some interpretations go so far as to suggest that gun control laws prevent Jews from exercising their religious obligations. On the other hand, the Torah emphasizes the sanctity and primary value of human life. The Bible commands us, "Thou shalt not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The Talmud teaches us, "He who takes one life it is as though he has destroyed the universe and he who saves one life it is as though he has saved the universe" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). In an increasingly impersonal and alienating society, the dehumanizing of the human being and the carelessness with which human life is taken, stand in direct violation of these affirmations of our tradition. Some religious leaders share frightening statistics, noting that this year there have been 27 elementary school shootings and that there are over 300 million guns in the hands of our citizens. Furthermore, over 17,000 people in the United States this year have perished due to gun violence. Every forty minutes, more than three people will die by a gun. As our hearts and prayers go out to all affected by this latest tragedy, as we enter Shabbat, let us consider the prophetic vision of a non-violent world as cited in the Book of Isaiah (2:4), “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Let us pray for peace and healing. Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Eric Wasser, EdD, Hon.DM
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