One Good Sermon

Shabbat Turnabout, February 23, 2002
Rabbi Aaron always jokes with me that we all have one good sermon. I
had my moment eight years ago in 2002. On the Shabbat preceding
Purim, Rabbi Aaron and I turned the bimah on its head when he acted
as Cantor and I was the Rabbi. Here is my “one good sermon!”
The Jewish people are very funny people. When I was a young boy
growing up in London, Ontario, I remember how my family used to
prepare to go to shul on Kol Nidre night. We would dress in our most
elegant clothing, and rush to arrive in time to get the best seats in shul.
(My shul did not have reserved seating). Kol Nidre is the “world series”
of Jewish events -- yet not even into the 2nd inning of the service, one
could find the Moses boys (3 brothers and father alike) fast asleep
throughout the Rabbi’s sermon.
I have a confession to make. Many years ago, during one of those
sermons, the Rabbi said something that has stayed with me to this day.
He spoke of three fundamental things that are essential to leading a
fulfilling life – “something to do, someone to love, and something to
look forward to.” I must have been 14 years old on that Kol Nidre night,
but I still remember that key phrase. Throughout a person’s life the
driving force behind their very existence in this world revolves around
being busy. Having something to do is what makes us jump out of bed
in the morning, instead of pressing the snooze button on our alarm
clocks. It is written in Pirkei Avot, in the ethics of the fathers…one
whose wisdom exceeds his deeds – he is like a tree with many branches
and few roots, so that when the wind comes, it plucks it up and turns it
over. But one whose deeds exceed his wisdom, he is like a tree that has
few branches but many roots, so that even if all the winds in the world
come and blow upon it, they cannot move it out of its place. Life is not
only about possessing knowledge or wisdom; it is about actions and
deeds. It is our constant challenge as human beings and as Jews to take
initiative – to use our unique qualities in order to make a difference and
to contribute to a collective whole. No matter what stage of life we are
in, we should always set new challenges for ourselves – at the office, on
the golf course and in our community. Constantly setting and
redefining goals for ourselves help us realize our fullest potential –
because the amount we get out of life is a direct co-relation to how much
we put into it.
“Someone to love” – One of the nicest aspects of my profession is
experiencing the love shared by families. The Rabbi and I attend
weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, baby-namings, funerals and shivas
regularly. We sit on the front lines observing first hand the emotions felt
by those who love someone dearly. Love is certainly a part of life that
nothing can really prepare you for. Love causes us to act in haste, often
showing jealousy or impatience. The story of Purim tells us that King
Achashverosh found Esther so beautiful and loved her so much that he
hastily concluded he would find no one finer. He immediately placed
the royal crown upon her head, pronouncing her his queen and
dismissed all of the other women.
In today’s society we are so busy that we don’t dedicate the necessary
commitment to work at the relationships that we so often take for
granted. Wouldn’t we be better people if we took time out to examine
the relationships in our lives? If we could only recognize that those who
are truly rich are those who have family and friends with whom to share
the joys of every passing day -- spouses to rejoice with, parents to
complain to, children to nurture, and grandchildren to spoil.
The Shabbat which precedes Purim is Shabbat Zachor -- the Sabbath of
Remembrance -- named so because we are commanded to “Zechor
Amalek,” to remember the heinous deeds committed by Amalek. Why
must we remember? By recalling these incidents, we enhance our
sensitivity to human suffering and confront the need to do something
about it. We are pained to think of the needless destruction of human
life experienced by our ancestors. Should we be any less distressed by
the destruction of human life today? Mordechai and Esther had the
vision and the leadership to look forward and to know that we could not
be defeated. Their leadership reflected intellect and heart, a love of the
Jewish people and compassion for the future of the Jewish nation.
In a little less than two months we will celebrate the 54th anniversary of
the State of Israel. As Jews we all know that bearing witness to such a
magnificent event is testimony to the forward thinkers who were able to
look beyond the horrors of World War II. They created what so many
would have thought an impossible dream. As I look at our beloved State
of Israel today, I feel sadness -- for the victims of terror and their
families, for the senseless waste of human life, for the lack of tourism
which Israel depends upon so greatly and for the constant attacks Israel
faces in the media. Above all, I feel that we betrayed a man who had a
vision to see the bigger picture. I lived in Israel when Prime Minister
Rabin was assassinated – a casualty for the cause of peace. I remember
the devastation of the nation as it digested the grim reality that one of
our own could turn against us. As Jews we know that we must look
forward to a time when conflict can end, and the work of visionaries can
come to fruition.
On Yom Kippur we looked back on our lives and reflected upon our
good and bad deeds. We even fasted to cause affliction unto ourselves,
for fear and hope that we may begin the next year with a clean slate. On
Purim we are also commanded to fast. The fast of Esther is observed on
the day before Purim. The Jews fasted and prayed on the 13th of Adar
in preparation for their defense against Haman's decree to kill the Jewish
people. The aim of the fast is to affirm that a man does not prevail by
physical or military strength. This is not a fast of sadness. Rather, the
purpose of the fast is elevation and inspiration since Purim is a time for
rejoicing.
In all phases of our lives we must realize that looking forward to the
good that lies ahead provides us with the love of life essential to embrace
every new day. “Someone to love, something to do and something to
look forward to.” Let this Purim encourage us to love, respect and trust
others with the beautiful gift of love so that we may embrace those we
feel closest to. May we accept the challenges that every new day brings
and share in even greater accomplishments. May we always look
forward to, and fully appreciate the coming of every new day we share
in this world together.
May it be G-d’s will – ken yehi ratson.