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Parshat Sh'lach, June 29, 2019 B"H
Trip Continued
My wife and I usually like visiting countries that have a historical relationship with Jews or a present Jewish community. Scotland has been an anomaly, with the exception of attending the local synagogue on Shabbat. Besides that, we have neither seen nor heard anything about Jews and their relative significance in Scotland‘s history. In a strange sort of way I feel a tinge of empathy towards the Protestant/Catholic enmity. My Jewish guilt actually leads me to ponder whether the locals denigrated and blamed each other because there were no Jews to be scapegoated.
On Friday night and Shabbat morning we went as a group to the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation. It’s an inner city shul with an impressive facade but sadly it is past its heyday. We were fortunate to attend services on one of the busiest shabbatot, although services were held in the chapel and not the main sanctuary. It was the end of the ‘cheder/ Hebrew school year and the children performed for the community to showcase their studies. The community went over and above the call of duty in being extremely hospitable and very friendly. They had a kiddush for the entire community but also served lunch to the guests and offered a guided tour of the main sanctuary.
During Kiddush the rabbi offered a l’chaim from a bottle of Glengoyne, the same distillery we were going to visit the next day. Unfortunately, even after visiting the Glengoyne Distillery and seeing how the Highland water and barley mash turns into amber fluids, my palate is still unable to appreciate the finer things in life. The burning sensation of the alcohol making contact with my tongue is an ever present reminder that l don’t wish to repeat. I guess it will never be my forte to detect subtle differences between a 12, 18 and 21 year old scotch.
On a more serious note, (I apologize to those who think being a connoisseur of fine scotch isn’t serious) it led me to consider other areas in life where peer pressure is often the only reason for practicing, believing, or participating in a particular way. I’m glad I live in the land of the free where I’m permitted to think independently and not kowtow to the politically correct, but even these freedoms seem to be in jeopardy. However in Europe, regardless of one’s personal perspective, it’s best to remain silent and agree with the prevailing attitude.
In the current politically charged climate, expressing political opinions is an unnecessary and often futile risk. But imagining this fear of subjugation is limited to politics is dangerously dismissive of far graver issues negatively impacting society. Subtle pressure is trying to impress upon the masses the need to resist the urge to think. There is also pressure to succumb to the prevailing attitude on many religious and social issues. This applies equally to the radical right and the liberal left, from religious extremists to secular atheists and from the amullahs in Iran and imams in the Muslim world to leaders of democracies as open and free as the United States. Too many believe that only their opinions matter and everyone else ought to submit their will to a select authority. It’s frightening in many ways, but perhaps my fear is highlighted by spending two days in Berlin and seeing firsthand what the impact of subjecting one’s will to the will of others can lead to.
In many ways we are all guilty, albeit the ramifications of our subservience is less catastrophic. Yet in theory, succumbing to the will of others can have dire consequences for humanity. But merely writing that it's wrong without a plan to change the situation seems pointless.
Thus I’m going to discuss a number of issues on my mind that are perhaps not the normative purview of an orthodox rabbi. I think all issues are open for discussion and it’s time to reassess certain views that are draconian, hurtful, and downright illogical.
1. Peace is more important than land. I hope the Bahrain Conference accomplishes it’s desired result and eventually a lasting and secure peace can be found between Israel and their Palestinian neighbors. However, in order to accomplish a lasting peace, Israel will undoubtedly be required to give up territory. In all honesty I’m selfish, and don’t want my grandchildren jeopardizing their life to protect land. And sorry to say, there is no piece of land more precious than one Jewish child or soldier.
2. Arabs and Muslims are human beings who at times are being subjected to humiliating and unlawful police actions. This is no different than African Americans in the United States who are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. Personally, I’m not against racial profiling for protecting the masses, however, racial profiling leads to discrimination against innocent civilians. If this makes me a liberal, then I wear the badge with honor.
3. A homosexual is created by the same God who created heterosexuals. It’s unconscionable to believe in God and treat any of his creations with contempt. Rabbi Cardozo recently posited an opinion that the Torah only prohibited homosexual relations between heterosexuals and not between those who have no choice in the matter. Regardless whether you agree with his opinion, ‘Love Thy Fellow Human Being’ does not have an asterisk which excludes because of sexual orientation.
4. A synagogue sanctuary should be exactly what its name means. It should be a place where everyone feels safe and at home. It should be a critical free zone; a place where no one is ever judged on their dress, appearance, or religious observances. People attending may be going through personal difficulties or suffered a death in the family and are emotionally fragile. They may not know proper decorum and feel intimidated and uncomfortable. One word said in the wrong way can do immeasurable damage; one word said in the right way can be invaluable.
Why you ask, am I discussing these matters now? Well a vacation is a time when I’m relaxed enough to discuss issues that may be off my regular agenda.
We are off to Hong Kong for Shabbat and will hopefully let you know a bit more about life on the other side of the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jack Engel
PS: Kudos and thanks to Steve Bauml for organizing an amazing shul trip to Scotland
Berlin - Our Trip Continues
I don’t know why we went to Berlin. All I know is that I was unable to get emotional. We saw the museums and monuments and they were rather well done. There wasn’t an attempt to whitewash history or blame others. It was different than going to the Jewish museum in Krakow where walking around in a Kipa, I felt like I was part of a live exhibition on an extinct race. The Berlin Holocaust Memorial and Museum was packed with German nationals and non-Jewish visitors. I couldn’t get emotional because it was too clean, neat, and perfect. Everything was correct but so wrong. I wanted to see chaos. I wanted to see scenes depicting an out of control world. I just couldn’t accept the Holocaust being depicted in such a controlled setting. It just felt so false and wrong. I also wanted to see the ramifications of the tragedy. I wanted to see a portrayal of the lasting ramifications. I wanted the survivors’ continued hell showcased for all to bear witness.
I walked the streets and saw brass plaques in front of buildings with names of individuals who were sent to concentration camps. But the buildings still stood and residents went on with their lives seemingly oblivious to the horrors that occurred on their doorsteps. This too caused me angst as we lingered in front of these houses waiting for the deafening sounds of an apology or more so an acknowledgment of guilt. Of course, the overwhelming majority of these residents were not alive during the Nazi era but nonetheless I felt uncomfortable with seeing the apartments of Holocaust victims being used as if nothing at all happened. I guess I was ill prepared for normalcy in a country that caused so much death and destruction to my people.
Don’t get me wrong, Berlin is a beautiful city. I chose to refrain from seeing its beauty. I couldn’t get fascinated with the impressive prewar architecture as I kept imagining the ruined world of those who spent their youth in that splendor. I couldn’t relate to seeing Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate highlighting nightmarish postwar Soviet influences on the average Berliner. In an act of solidarity with my brothers and sisters who perished, I couldn’t empathize with the plight of the Berliners. In truth, I may be irrational and morally deficient; but sometimes I have to behave in a manner that seems correct to me.
Perhaps the most momentous experience was speaking to an Iranian taxi driver in Berlin. I didn’t ask about his religion and he didn’t ask about ours. What he did express was his fear for the future. He told us that Berlin is a microcosm of the wider world. It has Berliner’s and immigrants and the two seem to live in separate worlds. They refuse to know each other and thus build a future of mistrust and uncertainty. He was worried of where it can lead. What he was intimating is a fear we all have, a fear that the lessons of the Holocaust are slowly dissipating. A fear that ‘Never Again’ is now such an uncertainty.
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