Turning Our Worry Into Action

When I was in college I spoke to my parents about once a week, usually on Friday afternoons.   In addition to the general back and forth, my mother would usually ask if I was getting all my work done.  

I wondered at the time why she was still worried about this.  I was, after all, 20 years old and managing reasonably well.

Years later, when I was a rabbi and we would talk before the holidays, she would ask if I was getting my work done.  Are the sermons going to be ready?

I used to think that my mother worried more than my father since she usually asked the questions, but one week when I was a teenager and she took off to visit my aunt in Cincinnati and left him to “take care of me,” he worried non-stop.  

I’m sure that worrying is universal, but Jews certainly have a reputation for it.  We even have our own jokes about worrying, including one I expect you’ve heard.

What does the classic Jewish telegram read?

Start worrying.  Details to follow.

Passover is known as the season of our freedom.

Listening Brings Freedom and Life

My paternal grandfather lived until his early 90’s.  Toward the end of his life we went to visit him in the hospital.  He was suffering.  

One of us, I don’t remember who, asked how he was feeling.  He said, “I’m dying.”

One of the family gathered there said something like, “Oh, you’re trying. Of course you’re trying.  It must be hard but you’ll be OK. We love you."

He didn’t say I’m trying.  We knew that.  He surely knew that.

We don’t always listen very well.  Sometimes when things are actually said we pretend we didn’t quite hear them, especially if what was said was too painful or even inconvenient.  

My grandfather might have gained some comfort from us telling him that we actually heard what he said instead of pretending we didn’t hear and that everything would be ok.  We won’t ever know.

The foundation of the Passover story is listening.  

Me at AIPAC 2017: Appreciation, Challenge and Suggestions

I spent Sunday through Tuesday at the AIPAC national policy conference.  AIPAC – the American Israel Public Affairs Committee – was founded in 1963.  Its stated mission is “to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel.”

I’d like to share some highlights from my perspective along with some of the challenges I experienced as a participant.  Using my reactions as a guidepost, I hope to reflect on how each of us might navigate when it comes to our own social and political views and our relationship to Israel.  Ultimately I hope to suggest how established institutions like AIPAC can support engagement that is deeper and, ultimately, more effective for America and Israel.

Panel on "Shifting Landscapes:  Israel and the African American Community", AIPAC Policy Conference 2017

First the highlights.  There were roughly 18,000 people at the conference.  

Approximately 1000 rabbis attended.

Approximately 4000 college students attended.

The student presidents of approximately 150 colleges and universities were there, including 50 student presidents of historically black colleges.