Daily Prophets
Day 10
Continuing with Amos’ exhortations to Israel we see the sadness of God when Israel and Judah break the Covenant and forget their Redeemer. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in his book The Prophets writes: “Yet the nations were not, like Israel, condemned for internal transgressions”. I understand this to mean that while the “ignoring of the covenant of brotherhood” is a terrible crime, it is even more devastating when we break a deal made a long time ago, while Israel was in Egypt and then at Sinai, and made directly with God. This internal hurt is so much more devastating and personal. Israel and Judah have a personal relationship with God and they have been unfaithful to the Covenant. While it is common to see anger in Amos’ words, I see his being the bringer of God’s sadness that the people God redeemed, the people that God took to be God’s own, the people that God saved from Egypt have “Spurned the Torah of Adonai…beguiled by the delusions after which their fathers walked”(Amos2:4). I am struck power of these words. I want to hide in embarrassment for all the times I have spurned the Torah of Adonai and the delusions I have given into. When we confuse role for entitlement, when my actions are based on my role and not my soul, I am giving in to the delusions of grandeur that I have from time to time. I call it buying my own press/BS. I realize the subtle ways I have both spurned the teachings of Torah and given into the delusions of my mind. I am aware of the devastating pain when an internal relationship ( a close relationship that has a bond/covenant to it written or unwritten) is broken, especially with no recognition of the harm, rather blame the one who is harmed. I have done this and I have had this done to me. These are truly the greatest hurts and pains. This, I believe is what Amos is speaking of, as Rabbi Heschel teaches us. Yet, the pain we feel does not mean we lash out and do the same, we don’t get even. I have to own my part and have Divine Pathos for those that can’t own their part, as Dr. Susannah Heschel taught me. I am not speaking of the Halacha as the Rabbis have codified, I am speaking of the Torah’s path to living well and decently. Again, I am speaking of the internal relationships, the close covenantal ones. None of us are perfect and that doesn’t mean we don’t have to be responsible and growing. Are you aware of your path away from the Torah of decency and kindness? Are you aware of the delusions you still follow? Are you willing to do T’Shuvah for the
I am thinking about our current experience in the United States and how members of Congress were not willing to hold Donald Trump accountable for his transgressions and instead went along with his lies and tried to end our democracy. These people have spurned the Torah(teaching and words) of the Constitution! Not only Donald Trump is Amos speaking to, he is calling out to all of us and especially the enablers among us. “Because they have sold for silver those whose cause was just, and the needy for a pair of sandals. You who crush the heads of the poor into the dust and push off the road the humble of the land”(Amos 2:6-7) Amos is railing against the rich and powerful, the kings and the priests who have sold not only others, not only crushed people, but have sold their own souls as well. God is calling out Israel for being unjust. God is calling our Israel for mistreating the poor and the powerless. God is calling Israel out for “thereby profane My holy name”(Amos2:7). These words describe our country now and we need to make the changes so as to not destroy ourselves. Our internal transgressions have never been fully healed and acknowledged, which is why the reckoning with our Racial Inequality and our hatred of “the other” is being addressed now and needs to be! The Congress has sold its soul for silver, it has crushed the poor, the needy, the just and the humble in order to curry favor with their party and get reelected. It is time for all good people to stand up for their country. Not some political agenda, the agenda of the USA, the agenda of the Bill of Rights, the agenda of those who fought and died for our freedom, the agenda of every immigrant, from the Mayflower to today, the agenda of decency, justice, kindness and truth. This is true whether one is a Republican or a Democrat, conservative or progressive or, like most of us-in the center, a little right, a little left just not at the extremes. When getting elected is more important than fighting for truth and right, we are living the way that Amos rails about.
“You made the nazirites drink wine and the prophets not to prophecy”(Amos 2:12) As a recovering Alcoholic who has not ‘drunk wine’ in over 32 years, I understand this to mean going against sacred vows we make. I am thinking of how I have made myself go against the different vows I have made. I am thinking of why we have the Kol Nidre Prayer each year, we will go against vows and we will fall short, that is not the issue for Amos, I believe. The issue is how we break our vows and then defend ourselves and/or deny that we have. I know that I have been indecent at times and wrapped myself in some righteous garment. I know that I have that person and I am sorry for the times I have and be more vigilant in the now and forward. Reading these words of Amos reminds me of Rabbi Heschel’s introduction of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Rabbinical Assembly Convention in 1968, 10 days before he was killed from the book Abraham Joshua Heschel Essential Writings selected by Susannah Heschel. “Where in America today do we hear a voice like the voice of the prophets of Israel> Martin Luther King is a sign that God has not forsaken the United States of America. God has sent him to us.” As I ponder this introduction, I think of all the people who have spoken out and been cut down and/or silenced and marginalized, I am frightened. We can no longer be a cookie cutter nation with everyone in lock step with each other and/or one’s side. We have to listen to the prophecy of others, we have to learn/relearn how to hear each other and not believe we are the only ones who know truth and everyone else is fake news. We cannot have the Capital attacked anymore. It is up to our leaders to compromise and do what is best and right according to a higher good: caring for the widow, the stranger, the poor and the orphan. Leaving our racist past in the rearview mirror and looking forward with everyone in the car and on the bus. Judging people based on the “content of their character and not the color of their skin” as Rev King taught and I would include not the religion they practice is not only a goal, it is our destiny, as Jews and as Americans. How have you “ordered the prophets not to prophesy and made the nazirites drink the wine”? How have you stifled your own inner voice, the voice of God to make your actions okay? Stay safe and God Bless, Rabbi Mark