This Shabbat, join me in person to show appreciation to Cantor Lorel Zar Kessler, who has been with us this past year. Her lovely voice and her spirituality go hand in hand. She has brought a unique joy to our davenning. This is not a goodbye to her, but rather a chance to show our gratitude for her enrichment of our Shabbat mornings. We will also reflect on the current state of Israel and sing songs being sung throughout Israel today.
We will have special treats after the service, so come and enjoy!
How often do we say, ‘I promise,’ or ‘I will’ but then we can’t fulfill the task we had every intention of doing? We get busy, or an emergency comes up, or we forget…we don’t mean to but it happens to all of us.
This week, our double parasha, Matot-Ma’aseh begins with a vow one makes. The verse says that we must carry out ‘all that has crossed’ our lips.
אִישׁ֩ כִּֽי־יִדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֽוֹ־הִשָּׁ֤בַע שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ כְּכׇל־הַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּ֖יו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃
If a householder makes a vow to יהוה or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.
Immediately following this verse, however, comes a set of circumstances that might occur that keep the vow from being fulfilled. The Torah recognizes that not every vow can be kept. Our intentions may be good, and our promise whole-hearted, but other people and events sometimes enter our frame of reference that take precedence over our vow. Life, and circumstances, end up annulling our vows even when we want to keep them.
At the same time, some vows must be kept, for the well-being of others, like picking up a child at school or camp, or, in a larger example, being faithful to your partner. Societies also need a respect for promises. In our Constitution, we swore that all will have ‘the blessings of liberty…’ But we have not followed through on that oath. Poverty, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and prejudice of all kinds have made it impossible to ensure that all have that liberty. Our struggle to keep that promise for all citizens has led to a breakdown in the well-being of our society.
Our beloved State of Israel is also struggling with its promise in its Declaration of Establishment, that the State of Israel would ‘be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex…’
In the last few months, we have seen extremist settlers create pogroms against Palestinians in Israeli governed villages, rampaging, burning, and killing their neighbors. We hold our breath, watch, and protest as the Knesset, led by far-right politicians, seeks to overturn the Supreme Court of the land, and take away its ability to ensure all have equal rights.
We know that the vows Israel, America, and ourselves, make are made with best intentions. And sometimes we break those promises. But our country, and Israel, cannot survive if the vows of equality and liberty for all are broken.
This Shabbat, as we read about keeping or breaking promises, may our countries’ declarations of liberty and justice for all be realized. May the leaders in Israel and America be inspired by our parasha to work for the good of all inhabitants.
May our homes be filled with commitment to promises, teshuvah when promises are broken, and a renewed determination to keep them.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb
