The tradition encourages us to get ready for the road that leads to the High Holidays. During the month of Elul, the shofar is blown at daily minyan. Special prayers are introduced. Rosh Hashanah reminds us that we are like flowers that wither while God is eternal. God is real. Our lives are small but they can be great when they are part of God’s plan. Rosh Hashanah helps us get focused so that we can bring our best efforts to the teshuvah process which peaks at Yom Kippur. Despite the helpful rituals, I am seldom ready. One of my favorite books captures the idea- “This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation” by Rabbi Alan Lew. Leaders need to get our attention- to speak to us.
On erev
Yom Kippur our rabbi is ready. He quiets
the room and then addresses the
overflowing sanctuary. All eyes turn to him. He commands our attention. He makes
the case for our traditions. If we will let the High Holiday liturgy work, if we will trust
in the process, if we will do the work, then it will work for us. When the
gates close we will feel lighter. We will be less burdened. We will move into
the New Year with greater energy. This is a wonderful claim for the authentic power
of Conservative Judaism and for Jewish living generally.
Conservative
Judaism, however, is not easy. The service is long. There is lots of Hebrew.
The observant life is challenging. It requires integrity. Some say that fasting
makes us more spiritual. Our rabbi discloses that it only makes him feel more
aware of his body. The journey of
teshuvah requires us to be honest about the real obstacles we face- to speak
with authenticity.
Twenty four hours later our rabbi gathers us again. We are
in the last hour. He challenges us, like a fitness trainer, to work a little
longer to break through our barriers. We can climb the gates- push through them
or even dig under them. Our rabbi has davened with intensity throughout. Like a
prize fighter, he has stamina. He inspires us all to come back in the ring- to
answer the closing bell.
The
journey of teshuvah requires us to be honest about the real obstacles we face-
to speak with authenticity.
Even in the late hour I find my mind wandering. I am off
course. I am not really ready to come out of my corner. I play an old incident
over in my mind. I am still blaming the other person. I stop. I try to let it
go. For a moment I am successful and I get back into the service. I may move
back and forth in terms of my faith and
focus but I believe in our rabbi’s faith. I see his commitment to do the work. When
he argues that we should trust in the tradition, I believe him. I have seen him
at Torah study, in services and about the community. I see how he lives. Rabbi
Jonathan Sacks writes that Judaism “is a series of truths that becomes true in
virtue of the fact that we have lived them. In living them, we turn the ‘ought’
into the ‘is’”. (A Letter in the Scroll p.170).The liturgy is an “ought” but the
rabbi and the congregation come together to be an “is”- a lived experience.
Leaders live out their Judaism with integrity.
As we come to synagogue in Elul in the weeks leading up to
the High Holidays we read the last parashot of Deuteronomy. Moshe, like our rabbi, is
making the case for Judaism. It is a good way- it will lead to life well lived.
The Israelite nation, however, has changed. This generation did not go through
the Exodus. They did not walk through the Red Sea. They were not at Sinai. Moses constantly implores them to be faithful
because they are, in fact, not faithful. He tries to get them ready to enter the land -
because they are not ready. These people do not know who God is but at least
they have seen the characteristics of someone who is God inspired. They know
Moses. They can see that like a prize fighter, he has endurance.
Moses is who he claims to be- a man who has been face to face with God and has been
changed by the experience. Moses has gathered them. He has their attention.
Because of his authenticity and integrity he has a chance to be heard.
Authenticity and integrity are critical qualities for
leaders who are trying to get their communities prepared for the road ahead.
