Sermons

Rabbi Marcia A. Zimmerman
June 11, 2010 / 30 Sivan 5770

Dear Friends,

I am reaching out to you in the midst of world reaction since the flotilla incident. Over the past week and a half, many of us have read with concern the coverage surrounding the events off the coast of Gaza and Israel. We at Temple Israel have always affirmed and will continue to defend Israel's right to protect herself and to live within safe, secure borders. We also mourn the loss of lives on the Mavi Marmara and pray for the injured IDF soldiers.

It is regretful that this event has become another touchstone in the ongoing battle of perception about Israel. I share deep concerns with many in our Temple community about the way that Israel and its supporters have been characterized in media accounts of the flotilla tragedy. I am not going to get caught up in the media polarization of the latest crisis in Israel with a mad rush for certainty. Rather, I want to take this opportunity to recommit Temple to our long-standing engagement in ongoing dialogue about Israel, within and outside of the Jewish community. I want you to know what is happening at Temple Israel concerning the Jewish state.

We are engaging in conversations and study concerning Israel, at many levels and in many settings. This past Shabbat the flotilla incident was at the center of our Torah study. In addition to reading ancient Jewish sources, we studied different political points of view. I was proud to be part of our community where people respectfully disagreed. Whatever you think of the current policies of the Israeli government, and there is a wide spectrum of both support and criticism, we cannot cut off the conversation internally within the Jewish community. Once we limit the dialogue to only those who agree with us, no matter our position, we lose our ability to create a caring and inclusive community.

I am increasingly concerned about the polarization of viewpoints, both within and outside Temple Israel and in the broader community concerning Israel. We must continue to build alliances with those who share our vision of a safe, secure Israel that continues to exist as a vibrant, pluralistic democracy. Over the last two weeks I have pored over literally dozens of articles and commentaries concerning the flotilla and its aftermath. I am providing links to organizational statements and articles from a variety of Jewish and Israeli perspectives; AIPAC, ARZA and J Street. I want to especially recommend you follow the vigorous and substantive debate within Israel on the pages of Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post. Tom Friedman's piece in last Sunday's New York Times is especially thought-provoking. 

This summer Rabbi Glaser will be attending the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, where the study of Israel from ancient and modern sources was planned long before this incident with the Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, happened. Rabbi Glaser will blog from Jerusalem to keep us connected to the state of Israel. Upon his return in late July, we plan to hold a congregational forum on Israel. We are also planning at least one congregational trip to Israel next year.

I continue to be the Jewish voice among the downtown congregations that include Christian, Unitarian and Muslim voices. On Wednesday morning Imam Hamdy El-Sawaf and I spoke about our respective communities' reactions to the situation. Each of us represented differing views and perceptions, but we both came down to the same fundamental question, “How can we promote peace in the Middle East?” 

The week of July 4th the Presbyterian General Assembly will be congregating here in Minneapolis. At that assembly their Middle East Task Force will present their report and recommend divestment from American companies who participate in the occupation and who have not participated in talks with the Presbyterians. The vote is of major concern. But the report itself never presents the Jewish narrative and therefore is factually incorrect and extremely troublesome. Because of our long-standing relationship with the Presbyterian community through Westminster Church, I am participating daily in high-level talks with the local and national Jewish and Presbyterian leadership.

I make a commitment to having Torah study continue to be the place where we check in weekly and allow for conversation concerning Israel. We have created a Temple Israel blog where we can respectfully share ideas and opinions, which will include Rabbi Glaser's reflections from Israel in July. I will invite our young people who are living and studying in Israel to share their points of view with us as well. We are a large, metropolitan synagogue whose members' opinions reflect the diversity within the Jewish community at large. Therefore we must take on the mantle of leadership to create a model for speaking about Israel with different views present in one place.

Even when the flotilla incident is no longer in the headlines, our community must continue the conversation together. I look forward to keeping you up to date about these conversations.

B’virkat Shalom - With Blessings of Peace,
Rabbi Zimmerman