D'var Torah & Sermons

And after the fire, a still small voice… (I Kings 19:12)

This morning, we as Americans woke up to a different world, a world transformed. After the most contentious election in a generation, one filled with animosity and enmity, and far too much anger and pain, we have felt the earth shift under our feet. But as our scripture reminds us, God is not found in the thunder, the earthquake or the fire, but in the still, small voice.

At Rosh Hashanah I asked us, begged us, to find a way to hear each other's’ stories. To listen beyond partisanship and listen deeply to what each other is truly saying. To create space for respectful disagreement while still loving each other. I reiterate that call now. We clearly have a lot of work to do, and we as a congregation will continue to do that work, just as we did at Sukkot with Ivan Thomas and #wearelove. We may be tempted, depending on our political outlooks, to rage, to point fingers, to gloat, to blame, to turn our feelings outward. Today, I ask us instead to embrace, to support, to listen, to be present for one another. To be, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, repairers of the breach. We have enormous brokenness, and now is the time of repair and rebuilding.

We know there are people who are hurting right now, in our community and beyond it. And there are many people who are terribly afraid. We see you. We love you. And Beth Emeth will always be a safe space for you. If you are struggling on this day, please reach out to our clergy team for support. We will have an opportunity to process the election results on Friday, November 18th immediately after services. I invite us to join together in prayer and healing, and to hear one another’s voices.

As a Reform synagogue, we remain committed to the values of equality and justice, and a democratic Israel. We will continue to partner with our brothers and sisters of other faith traditions locally to repair the world under God’s sovereignty. Our next opportunity is November 20th, when we will gather at Christ Church Christiana Hundred at 4:30pm to pack Thanksgiving meals for the needy. I invite you to share in that work. Long term, I invite you to join our delegation to the Religious Action Center’s Consultation On Conscience April 30-May 2. It’s time to go to work.

On the outside of our building, and inscribed in every prayer book we give to every b’nai mitzvah student, are the words of the prophet Micah: Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With Our God. Previous generations chose those words for a reason; let them be our mission, moving forward in love, in justice, and in humility. Chazak, chazak v’nitchazek. Be strong, and together we will strengthen one another.