Shavuot

THE NAME OF OUR SHUL IS :

CHESED EL:

EL is the name of G-D

CHESED means: 

loving, kindness

On Shavuot, we read the book of RUTH, and the key theme throughout the book is about :

CHESED, loving, kindness

ON SHAVUOT WE MARK THE MOMENT WHEN G-D’S VOICE SPOKE AT MOUNT SINAI.

THE SAGES IN THE MIDRASH TELL US THAT EACH PERSON WHO STOOD AT SINAI HEARD G-D’S VOICE DIFFERENTLY-

THE MIDRASH STATES:

THE VOICE OF G-D AT MOUNT SINAI WAS UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE ONLY ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND.

THE OLD PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD IT ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDESTOOD IT ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY

INFANTS UNDERSTOOD IT ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY

EVEN MOSES, SAYS THE MIDRASH , UNDESTOOD THE VOICE OF SINAI ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY

THERE IS SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THIS IDEA:

THAT THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE WAY TO UNDERSTAND REVELATION:    

TO UNDERSTAND TORAH!

THAT IN FACT THERE ARE AS MANY WAYS AS THERE ARE THOSE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THAT VOICE.

NO ONE HAS A MONOPOLY ON THE TRUTH !

BUT WHAT IF THE FILTER THE PRISM THROUGH WHICH WE EXPERIENCE TORAH 

OR THE WORD OF G-D

WHAT IF THAT FILTER IS MADE OF EVIL?

WHAT IF THAT FILTER THAT PRISM IS ENGINEERED OUT OF THE SPUTTERING ENGINE OF OUR HATRED AND INTOLERANCE?

WHAT IF THE VOICE OF G-D WE HEAR,

THE SINAI WE ENCOUNTER 

IS FILTERED THROUGH THE FILTER OF IGNORANCE, 

DECEPTION, 

SUPERSTITION AND PREDJUDICE?

WE DON’T NEED TO GUESS,

TO IMAGINE, 

FOR THAT IS THE WORLD LIVE IN!!!

A JUDAISM WHICH WAS NOT LEAVENED BY COMPASSION, VALUES AND A SEARCH FOR EQUALITY COULD BECOME CORRUPTED AND EVEN EVIL

ITS ROOTS ARE IN THE TRADITION ITSELF,

IN THE TALMUD TRACTATE YOMA PAGE 69B, THE SAGES DECLARE

”THAT G-D IS A G-D WHO INSISTS ON TRUTH, AND NO FALSEHOOD MAY BE ASCRIBED TO G-D”

Hakadosh baruch hu she- hu amiti Hu

TO ASCRIBE TO G-D’S WILL  

TO G-DS VOICE TO ANYTHING WHICH CAUSES HARM,

DEGRADATION, 

CRUELTY OR 

SUFFERING TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING,

IS TO ASCRIBE FALSEHOOD TO G-D

TO VIOLATE THE RABBINIC TEACHING THAT 

G-D INSISTS ON TRUTH

TRUTH MUST INCLUDE A RECOGNITION OF THE DIVINE DIGNITYIN EVERY HUMAN BEING

LOVE FOR G-D MUST LEAD TO A LOVE FOR REAL PEOPLE AND SO

 JUDAISM TO BE AUTHENTIC MUST ALSO BE CONCERNED WITH EQUALITY,

COMPASSION AND 

MORAL BEHAVIOUR

MORALITY AND TRUTH IS THE ONLY PRISM THROUGH WHICH WE COULD FILTER G-D’S SINAI VOICE