II: A GOOD PLAN

Showing that we are studying how to interact in Synagogues to improve friendship is the start of a good plan.  Putting activities in place, listening to each other, and monitoring our results are all critical elements of success.  We need to involve all Synagogues.  We need to go beyond membership and encourage others to join us for free.  People want to sponsor success. 

I propose a pathway to do this, but it is only complimentary to Torah, which is a pathway for our lives and our destiny.  Still, success is in our own hands.  Don’t let anyone else make you think it’s not. 

BN 11-6-23

CAN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY SAVE ISRAEL OR THE JEWISH PEOPLE?

The United States is limited in its power and has its own interests, which do not necessarily correlate with Israel’s interests or the Jewish people’s interest to save themselves.  The United States had an opportunity to save Jews prior to and during World War II under Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR).  They did not save any significant number of Jews prior to World War II, did not pressure the German government to not kill Jews, and did not do any sufficient actions to prevent Jews from being killed.  These were all conscious decisions.  The United States was complicit with the crime, but they were not an active collaborator. 

We are taught, however, that we can save ourselves in every generation through our own behavior.  Furthermore, we were respectful of the Egyptians after we left Egypt, and this may be because they provided refuge to us, despite their harshness.  Egyptians were allowed to convert to Judaism after three generations. 

Our savior will be Hashem, and we have failed to live up to his expectations in every generation so far.  Our God (really God of all people) created billions upon billions stars; he created life including man; he created nature; and he created the laws of nature.  Can any country claim they can do any one of those activities.  No, they can’t make that claim because they cannot do any one of them.  Even more important, our God breaks the laws of nature to save us—we call them miracles.  God allowed Sarah to have a baby at 90 years of age.  He selectively put plagues on the Egyptians.  He selectively killed the first born in Egypt.  And he drowned the Egyptian army. These are just some examples. 

When we count on a strong country, it is an insult to God.  The 10 spies who gave a bad report about Canaan and refused to capture Canaan, were all tribal leaders.  They saw all of the above miracles and more, yet they refused to trust in Hashem.  It was a political decision since Egyptian civilization had its benefits and no risk of death.  God’s intended result for this behavior was to eliminate them, but in deference to Moshe and to prevent the wrong view to the world, he gave them 38.6 years of exile instead.

As I noted, we have the ability to bring Moshiach in every generation, so let’s blame ourselves and not others for why Moshiach did not come.  In this light, we should treat every nation with respect.  And even in the days of Moshiach, we should offer peace to every nation, even if they were WWII collaborators; otherwise, they have no incentive to accept peace.  Let God bring about his vengeance. 

While we should respect every nation, we should not count on them.  Let us count on God; he is all powerful. 

BN 11-6-23

I: MORE INSIGHTS INTO ABRAHAM AND THE THREE STRANGERS

As I previously noted, Abraham overcame three challenges to give chesed (kindness) to the three strangers (Genesis 18:1-10)—his circumcision, the hot day and the presence of God.  And yet, he served the three strangers with enthusiasm and zeal.  He bowed down to them, and he understood what the strangers needed—to rest, to wash themselves, to eat and to have company.  Abraham fulfilled all these needs, and he pushed his family / servants to be prompt and to choose the best items to serve the three strangers. 

Instead of punishing Abraham for not praying and not bowing to him, God rewarded Abraham with a future child, and he broke the laws of nature to do it because Sarah was already 90 years old.  Just as God broke the laws of nature for Abraham based on his good behavior, so too will God break the laws of nature for us when he is satisfied with our behavior and confident that we can maintain it. 

A critical point is that God prefers we mimic his great and kind behaviors. He prefers we take good care of our fellow Jews first, and then we should pray to him. This is highlighted in Isaiah 1:10-17.  As it states, “…I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats…I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly…I will hide mine eyes from you…Yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear…Wash you, make you clean. Put away the evil of your doings. From before mine eyes, cease to do evil…Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow...”  Good behavior is needed to be nationally successful and for prayer to be effective.  And prayer is important.  We need to appreciate all of God’s creations by reminding him that we are aware of them.  We need to appreciate that God saves us even when we are not aware of it, and we need to make requests to help ourselves, our family, and our community.   

How can we improve our behavior?

We see from the example that hospitality is important, although it’s a one-sided form of friendship.  Synagogue leaders should study friendship and strive to make it important in every Synagogue and to study how to effectively do it, particularly for members who are 55+.  Such members may be retired or may be empty nesters looking for more social life.  In contrast, younger people work and interact through school and their kids, so they have less need and less time to interact.  

Members need to become part of synagogue clubs based on self-interests.  (See example of 21 potential activities).  Friendship decreases one’s loneliness and it improves communication skills and social activity with other people.  Friendship makes us more compassionate, empathetic, tolerant, charitable, and helpful.  Friendship allows us to explore new areas.  And friendship increases cohesiveness and unity in the community. 

Membership needs to get involved and organize activities, and we all need to participate. It is a solution for many of our woes, and it puts us on the pathway toward redemption. 

BN 11-6-23