5770 Rosh Hoshanah Sermon
Hineni, by BAJC President Marty Cohn
As president of BAJC it is my honor to address the congregation on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. I’ve been thinking about what to say for over a month. George Burns said that the secret of a good speech is not the content. Rather, the secret of a good speech is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and to have the two as close together as possible.
In Judaism, big ideas often come in small words. Many of us might be familiar with the word Shalom. It means, among other things, hello, goodbye, and peace. In the Torah reading tomorrow, another word stands out. We encounter it when God first turns to Abraham and asks him to take his son Isaac to the top of the Mountain. We encounter it when Isaac turns to his father and asks him where the sacrificial offering is. And we encounter it at the top of the mountain, when the angel of God stops Abraham and tells him not to strike his son. The word is Hineni. …Here I Am.
Every time Abraham says Hineni, here I am, he is confronted with the the challenges and temptations--each of us faces. Each Hineni is like an arrow, pointing upward to God and inward to ourselves.
As I studied this word, "hineni ," I discovered that is repeated twenty-two times in the Hebrew Bible. It reflects our ancestor's readiness to do God's work, to take up whatever task was theirs. The word "hineni" appears four times in the story of the Binding of Isaac and five more times in the stories of Jacob, Esau and Joseph. In each instance the word connotes something more than mere physical presence. "Hineni" means that "I am here with all of my being, physically and spiritually, ready to do what I need to do and fully present in the moment."
Let us look at the first instance. The biblical passage begins simply: “And God decided to put Abraham to the test.” We are about to witness, it seems, a test of Abraham’s faith. We will see if Abraham obeys God’s request to sacrifice his son. This immediately raises an important question. Why would God create such an awful test? There is no unequivocal answer. In the Reform movement, we look at the Torah as a product of its time, with an eternal message. According to biblical scholars, child sacrifice was practiced by other ancient near eastern religions of the time. By asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and then stopping him, God may have been teaching that this new religion, Judaism, would not follow this practice.
Be that as it may, our focus in modern times is different. We are not focusing on what Abraham was asked to do. We are looking at how he responded. We are looking at Abraham’s development, not the legitimacy of the test he was asked to undertake. That development begins with Abraham’s answer to God's opening question “Ayekah--where are you? God asks. "Hineni," Abraham answers. Here I am. God was not asking a mere geographical question. God knew Abraham’s physical location. Rather, God was asking a spiritual question. Ayekah, "Where are you on your life's journey? Are you ready for a new and extraordinary challenge?” Abraham could have answered differently. Isaac was the fulfillment of his dream, the son he had prayed for. The question God asked likely filled him with fear. Yet, despite his fear, Abraham answered, "Hineni. Here I am.”
At some point in our lives, we have all been Abraham. We have faced tremendous challenges and difficult choices. Perhaps we had gotten comfortable with life. Perhaps we had achieved something we longed for. In the case of Abraham, he had finally gotten the son he prayed for. Yet, for Abraham, as for all of us, something happens. Our plans are changed. Our path takes an unexpected turn. We face challenges we could not have imagined.
Over a decade ago, Yael met someone on the Internet who claimed to be a distant relative. Despite our initial suspicions, we have discovered a wonderful branch to our family. It turns out that this family was headed by Holocaust survivors who became Israeli pioneers. In America, while their children experienced interfaith marriages Max and Lien managed to secure their Jewish identity by holding regular Shabbat dinners at which all the families came together. Aside from Shabbat, the most important Jewish holiday was Passover. Each year, Max would create a family hagaddah that was shared by all. About four years ago, Max’s eyesight began to fail and he asked me if I would take over this family tradition for him. So now, Max listens as his family comes together to tell the story of our exodus from Egypt.
Saying Hineni for ourselves is the first step. As Rabbi Hillel famously said, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" Yet, another question follows: "If I am only for myself, what am I?" Life gains meaning only when we begin living for something larger than ourselves. Reaching this state takes time. Some people may never get there. Yet, we must try. Abraham does. On their journey up the mountain Isaac turns to his father and says, "Abah, Father,” and Abraham answers “Hineni Beni, here I am my son.” I am with you. Things may not seem right. I am frustrated and afraid. Our future looks uncertain. But Hineni, I am here with you.
I read an interesting story about Rabbi Larry Kushner who served for 28 years as the rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He recounted, "When my wife Karen was pregnant with our second child, we lived in a little shoebox of an apartment in the town of Marlborough outside of Boston. In the dead of winter, and the middle of the night, she awakened me with a confession.
‘Larry, I know this sounds crazy, but I would give anything for a chocolate bar, especially one with almonds.’
Before she could even call it a request, I jumped out of bed, pulled my Levi's on over my pajamas, a sweatshirt, then my snow parka, boots, hat, gloves.
‘Don't worry about a thing, sweetheart,’ I said.
When I got downstairs, I realized that it had been snowing for a few hours. The car was covered with a few inches of heavy, wet slush. But only after I had managed to clean it off did it dawn on me: Where would I find a chocolate bar in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the middle of the night, in a blizzard? And then it hit me: Of course, at the Holiday Inn out on I-495.
The night clerk watched incredulously as a man in pajamas and a snow parka skidded to a stop under the portico, ran inside, punched quarters into the candy machine, waved and drove off into the snowstorm.
I presented my offering. Karen was a little embarrassed, but unequivocally grateful. As for me, I had learned something precious about myself. It made me happier to drive around in the middle of the night looking for a chocolate bar than to do what I wanted and remain in a warm bed. By letting go of myself, I was happier than if I had tried to please myself.
This truth applies to all of us. By living for others, we can transcend ourselves. We can also heighten the possibilities of every moment. Every moment is a chance to say Hineni, here I am, to our loved ones.
Every moment is chance to give, to learn, to share, to grow. Every moment we can jump out of the warm selfish bed of complacency and drive up the snowy magnificent road of caring and loving.
Following this road, we arrive at our final scene. Abraham and Isaac have reached the peak of the mountain. Isaac is bound to two pieces of wood. Abraham has his knife raised. Suddenly, an angel cries, “Abraham, Abraham.” The angel said Abraham's name twice out of a sense of urgency. The angel needed to get Abraham's attention before he let the knife fall. Abraham, Abraham, stop. Listen. Pause. You have become so bound up in your task that you cannot listen or hear anything or anyone else. Step back.
It worked. “Hineni,” Abraham answers, I am here. I am aware. I am fully present. This Hineni is one of intense feeling and recognition. It is as if Abraham awakens from a stupor and comes to a new appreciation of the fragility of life.
This awakening can also happen to us. When we go through times of pain, of trauma--in our work, in our family, in our mental or physical health--we can lose touch with reality. We can fall into an emotional stupor. We might, like Abraham, need some help in returning to life. It need not be an angel with wings that assists us. In fact, an angel can be an ordinary individual who, without even realizing it, brings a divine scheme to fruition. An angel can be an acquaintance or friend who sees what we do not see. By calling out to him, Abraham’s angel helped him break old patterns of behavior. Through this experience, Abraham developed a new perspective, a deeper sensitivity to all of life, an ability to say Hineni and be truly present to himself, to his family and to God.
Traditionally, the purpose of the President’s message is to give you a state of the Temple address. How are we doing and what have we done since last year at this time. While it’s true that we provide the same information at our annual meeting in July, I notice that most of you must have had a conflict that kept you from attending the annual meeting. So, let me briefly recap what you missed.
We held seven member coffee klatches at which 46% of our members participated. Many good ideas were generated that were then discussed at a Board retreat.
A team of Keene State College architectural students presented us with a concept for expanding our Greenleaf Street shul.
Shabbats, holidays, and life cycle events — b’nai mitzvah, weddings, baby namings and funerals —were lovingly overseen by Jim Levinson and the Ritual Committee
And we experienced many members who said “Hineni”. As we begin this High Holiday season, I ask anyone who I inadvertently leave out to forgive me.
Wendy Bayliss, Paul Berch, Sandy Brodsky, Mary and Stuart Copans, Vikki Dunn, Michael Knapp, Bobbe Ragouzeous, Joe Rosen, Allen Ross, Abe and Faith Schuster, Julie Strothman, Jeff Teitel, and Randy Terk have spent hours around our Board of Trustees table to discuss important issues that maintain our shul.
Allen Ross chaired our ad hoc Brit Kodesh Committee and produced a beautiful document.
Deb Hall chaired our ad hoc Hebrew School Director Search Committee and successfully identified our own David Arfa who began the school year this past Monday.
Susan Auslander chaired our Fund Raising Committee and held our 3rd Annual Israeli Film & Food Festival that not only raised significant dollars for BAJC but also increased awareness to Israeli cinema and our shul.
Bobbe Ragouzeous coordinated our consistent participation at this year’s Overflow Shelter.
Andi Waisman, chairing our Adult Education Committee, once again provided a wide variety of educational offerings.
Sandy Brodsky, chair of our membership committee, submitted a grant, which we were awarded, to the Union of Reform Judaism for us to offer the special program “A Taste of Judaism” this year.
Norma Shakun, chair of our cemetery committee, ensures that our cemetery is not only maintained but available to our Jewish community
Our Ritual Committee chair, Jennifer Mazur, coordinated the oneg that celebrated Jim’s many contributions to our shul.
Paul Berch, after completing his work as chair of the nominating committee, has stepped up to be the chair of the Rabbinic Search Committee.
Julie Strothman, our vice president and web maven, produced the wonderful supplement created by Rabbi Jan Salzman and Kate Judd that we are enjoying at these services.
And, our dear Faith and Abe Schuster, who give so much of themselves for the benefit of BAJC.
I could go on because with each name that I have recited there are members of committees who worked tirelessly on behalf of BAJC.
To paraphrase that famous Jewish philosopher, John F. Kennedy, ask not what BAJC can do for you - ask what you can do for BAJC.
As we enter our 40th year, BAJC continues to serve as a Jewish spiritual center in Southeastern Vermont. We are a vibrant and growing congregation because of the dedication of our members.
But we need help. We need someone to step forward to work on our Adult Education committee. We need folks to volunteer to serve on our Sunshine Committee so that we can reach out to those congregants facing illness and crises. We need someone to chair our Buildings and Grounds Committee so that our the facilities are maintained. And, we need lay leaders to help us conduct Shabbat services until such time as our Rabbinic Search Committee completes its work.
Speaking of the Rabbinic Search Committee, a letter and email have been sent out with an invitation to meet on any of three Sundays to share your vision for our new spiritual leader. Please participate.
That’s the human need. Now, I must talk about the financial need.
While all members are asked to pay dues, no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. Membership dues help pay the costs of running and maintaining our building, religious school, newsletter and website, spiritual leadership, and other membership services.
However, the word dues in not correct. I would rather use the word investment. Because, by becoming a member, you are investing in our temple and the future of Judaism.
Elliott Greenblott has donated a tree of life for our building at 151 Greenleaf Street. This tree of life, with all its leaves, will be used to honor a person or life cycle event, with all the monies being dedicated to our building fund. You can see a display of this beautiful sculpture in the lobby and more information can be found on our Web site and October newsletter.
If for whatever reason you choose not to become a member, please consider a donation to help us fulfill our mission to provide a context and structure for people to be Jewish together in a rural environment.
I'm reminded of the Rabbi who announced to the congregation that he had good news and better news. The good news was that God had blessed the congregation by giving it enough money to accomplish its goals for the year and even form a nice endowment. The better news is that God gave that money directly to the congregants, who could then experience the mitzvah of donating it to their synagogue.
The shofar is our wake-up call, our summons to have our eyes open and our souls alive to what is going on in our hearts and our world. It is the time to know that there is more to life than getting by. It is the time to enrich our life by widening its outlook. It is the time, as Rabbi Harold Kushner put it, to undergo a "Near-Life Experience." A near-death experience is one where people are close to dying and gain a heightened sense of the feelings that might accompany it. A near-life experience is one where we feel a more acute sense of living. Where we feel engaged, connected and responsible to those around us. Where we feel the fierce urgency of now. Where we can turn upward, hear the sound of our name and answer “Hineni, Here I am.”
On behalf of the BAJC Board of Trustees and my family Yael, Rachel and Jessica, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Shana Tova.
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