“Aching Hearts,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings
November 15, 2024 | 14 Cheshvan 5785
Welcome to Shabbat Awakening as we move into Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here .
“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery, rather than avenge it?”
With an “aching heart” — Eleanor Roosevelt wrote these words after visiting with survivors from German concentration camps in a displaced persons camp. (My Day, February 16, 1946)
In this week’s Torah portion, the Biblical inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed, caused by their grave and unpardonable behavior. Though God informed Abraham of what was about to happen, the patriarch stepped forward, in a proactive attempt to prevent the potential misery.
Abraham challenged God’s plan.
“Will You sweep away the righteous along with the guilty? What if there should be fifty righteous within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for [their] sake…Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:23-25)
Abraham continued to negotiate with God until they reached an agreement that as long as there would be ten righteous people, God would not destroy these towns.
Much attention is given to Abraham’s assertive interaction with the Divine. He may have risked his life to argue with God in his audacious anticipatory attempt to prevent catastrophe. Moreover, Abraham called upon God to do what was right, just as Abraham would be expected to do as well. A moral standard holds up even for the Divine.
It is not easy to step forward, to stand up, or to stand out. Unfortunately, in this story, it doesn’t change God’s intent. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed along with all their inhabitants. However, the call for ethical behavior does not diminish. The need for morality does not disappear. Justice remains an imperative.
“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery, rather than avenge it?”
The story of Abraham and God is a pivotal moment. Justice is an intentional, deliberate act. It demands that we imagine what is possible so that we proactively set in motion what is right and just, as opposed to react to what is wrong after it has already happened.
There is so much that makes our hearts ache and yet there is so much we can do to bring justice, righteousness, and kindness to our lives and those around us.
I pray Shabbat may give us the strength to set in motion, proactively, that which brings forth tender goodness for us all.
Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום
Rabbi Elaine Zecher
I truly welcome your comments, reflections, and thoughts. Connect with me here.
Enjoy Qabbalat Shabbat together, which begins at 6:00 p.m. We look forward to welcoming Elana Arian, our artist in residence. I have known her for a really long time and admire her for her inspiring music and spirit. We will also enjoy dinner before services with kids and families at Shabbat Mishpachah.
I also encourage you to check out Torah study on Saturday morning. It starts at 9:00 a.m. with a short, informal morning service and then moves into an engaging, welcoming and inclusive Torah study for everyone and anyone. We will be exploring more on the themes of compassion and kindness.