Dear {{first_name}},
As we enter into the Shabbat of the Torah's third parsha, Lech L'Cha, in the week following Israel's election and preceding the US midterm election, I have been thinking a lot about some of our Midrashic tradition. Midrash is a form of rabbinic commentary on the Torah, which often includes powerful stories to fill in the gaps in the narrative. Many of us, for instance, are familiar with the story, based on this week's parsha, about Avram (Abraham) smashing his father's idols as a way of explaining his faith journey. There is another parable from a very old collection called Bereshit (Genesis) Rabbah that has real power to it. Here it is:
"And God said to Abraham: 'Go from your land, your birthplace, and your father's house...'" (Genesis12:2) — To what may this be compared? To a man who was traveling from place to place when he saw a palace in flames. He wondered: "Is it possible that the palace has no owner?" The owner of the palace peeped out and said, "I am the owner of the palace." So Abraham our father said, "Is it possible that the world lacks a ruler?" God peeped out and said to him, "I am the ruler, the Sovereign of the universe."
The metaphor of our world as a burning palace is intensely powerful and appropriate for our times, as we look out and see a world aflame with hatred, violence, division, war and climate catastrophe. Having faith and hope that there is some order in the chaos, some force that is in control is challenging for most of us at best. Abraham teaches us to look beyond the flames and see a bigger picture, a longer view; not in a passive way of acceptance, but more in a covenental way of partnership and agency. Abraham, while on his deep journey of faith, stands up and challenges God.
Last night was the opening of the Boulder Jewish Film Festival with the screening of a beautiful film called Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song. As well as telling the extraordinary story of the evolution of an iconic song through the decades, it also shares the biography of an amazing poet/artist/mystic. The movie shares part of an interview in which Leonard Cohen says "You look around and you see a world that is impenetrable, that cannot be made sense of. You either raise your fist or you say 'Hallelujah. ' I try to do both.” I find this so moving and inspiring and it could be a commentary on the midrash of the burning palace! Can we raise our fists and say Hallelujah as we vote and participate in democracy, as we engage in spiritual life and helping bring more justice and kindness to the world? Voting is so significant and important and can be a form of spiritual activism. I am including my friend and colleague Rabbi David Seidenberg's prayers for voting at the end of this, in the hope that it adds meaning and significance to our ballot in this election. VOTE!
Yes, the palace is burning, the world is frightening and it can be easy to despair. Can we challenge ourselves to see a force of hope and possibility peeping out from the flames, inviting us to walk on a journey of faith in the knowledge that our participation matters?
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marc
Prayers for Voting and Democracy
Rabbi David Seidenberg
May You tear out autocracy, tyranny and despotism,
break those who cheat and deceive,
and upend those who oppress the vulnerable.
Make the reign of the arrogant disappear from all lands.
May the people attacking democracies everywhere
stumble and fail, and may their plans be as nought
Stop them, humble them, bring on their downfall,
soon, in our days.
May You give to all peoples of the world
the strength and will to pursue righteousness
and to seek peace as a unified force,
so that violence be uprooted, and healing, good life
and peace may flourish.
And let us say, Amen!
Behold, I am intending
through my vote | through my prayer
to seek peace for this land and country,
as it is written (Jer. 29:7):
"Seek the peace of the city
where I cause you to roam
and pray for her to YHVH (Hashem/Adonai/God),
for in her peace you all will have peace."
May it be Your will, YHVH, that votes
be counted faithfully
and may You count my vote
as if I had fulfilled this verse
with all my power.
May You give a listening heart
to whomever we elect
and may it be good in Your eyes
to raise for us a good government
to bring healing, justice and peace
to all living in this land
and to all the world, and upon Jerusalem,
a government that will honor the image of God
in all humanity and in Creation,
for rulership is Yours.
Just as I have participated (or will participate) in the election
so may I merit to do good works
and to repair the world through all my efforts,
and through the act of kindness and justice
which I pledge to do
on behalf of all living creatures,
in remembrance of the covenant of Noah's waters,
to protect and to not destroy
the earth and her plenitude.
Give to all the peoples of this land
the strength and will to pursue righteousness
and to seek peace as unified force
to uproot racism and violence
and to make healing, good life and peace flourish
here and throughout the world
and fulfill for us the verse (Ps. 90:17):
"May the pleasure of Adonai our God
be upon us, and establish
the work of our hands for us,
and make the work of our hands endure."
And let us say Amen!
