Life can change completely in a day. Things happen that turn our lives around overnight--babies are born, loved ones die, and, of course, terrorist attacks shake our world. Brief moments turn life upside down.
Our parasha on this Shabbat Shuvah is Vayelech, which is the shortest sedra--only 30 verses. Moses speaks briefly, but his words are powerful. They contain his blessing to the Israelites; his last will and testament, in a way.
Another biblical significant event happened on this weekend, Shabbat Shuvah, which was powerful and occurred on a single day. According to the midrash, guilt and repentance were created on the same day that human beings were first created. There is a midrash about Adam running into Cain, after he had killed Abel, on Shabbat Shuvah. Adam said, Cain, where is your curse? Cain said, God created teshuvah (repentance) on the same day that God first created you. I repented and God has forgiven me. The midrash ends with a lovely gesture: Adam strokes Cain’s cheek.
On a single day, God created perfect human beings, then made us flawed, and also gave us the path to return to perfection.
In a short span of time, everything can change.
On September 11, 2001, the whole world changed, and the reverberations continue to this day. In one day, Americans, and the West in general, watched our invincibility come crashing down.
This Shabbat we will mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and we will celebrate Shabbat Shuvah. Both remind us that everything can change in a day, for the ill or for good. We cannot change our past, but we can make a change for our future. We can make decisions today that will change our lives for the good. Teshuvah today will lead to holiness tomorrow. Forgiveness today will bring healing tomorrow.
Join us tonight, tomorrow morning and Saturday night for outdoor services and a lively musical Havdalah and concert as we use music, dancing and joy to inspire us.
Join us for this Shabbat day: a better future awaits you.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb
