Recently I visited Grafton, in Northern NSW after leading Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) prayers in nearby Billinudgel. The local paper asked me for “words of wisdom or faith to share with the local community as we go through the unprecedented times of 2020"?
I replied that people are doing it tough now; adversity can bring people together or divide us. In my Jewish New Year’s sermon, I acknowledged that there are plenty of reasons to turn on our fellow citizens. My Jewish tradition teaches us that God continues to have faith in humans, despite our many failings. We would do well to do the same. To continue to have hope in each other. To continue to be committed to doing our bit for our fellow humans.
There are valid reasons to stop believing in our fellow humans. Yet, one of the greatest truths is that sometimes facts matter less than faith. Especially, when it comes to the question of giving up on our fellow humans.
We are invited to believe in humanity, despite the evidence to the contrary, because the evidence is clear that 'suspending our disbelief' in each other is more likely to alleviate suffering and produce beauty than succumbing to despair.
As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I have spent the last 19 years of my life pursuing a dream of goodwill between Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others. Many people in the Jewish community supported me, but not all. I was characterised, by some, as a traitor to the Jewish people and patronised as a misguided 'useful idiot', one US newspaper writing of me “God grant him a speedy spiritual recovery” (1). Their criticism was based on the argument that I had failed to take into account the facts which appeared to prove that my task was futile. But I stubbornly stuck to my dream, not because I denied the facts of what was - I am well aware of these - but I don’t dwell on these facts. Instead, I am focused on the truth of what could be, and the facts supporting my approach as the best way to get there.
It turns out I am in good company. The Torah called God, "a faithful God" (2)- "אל אמונה”. The Sifre (3) cryptically points out that this refers to “the God who had faith in the universe and created it.”
The Talmud tells the following story: When the Holy One, blessed be He, came to create man, He created a group of angels and asked them, “Do you agree that we should make man in our image?” They replied, “Master of the Universe, what will be his deeds?”
God showed them the future history of mankind.
The angels, looking at the facts, advised against the creation of humans.
God outstretched His pinky finger among them and burned them with fire. And the same occurred with a second group of angels.
He created a third group of angels, and they replied, “Master of the Universe, the first and second groups of angels told You not to create man.... You did not listen. ...The universe is Yours. Do with it as You wish.”
Then God created man. [Despite the facts].(4)
The existence of humankind is a demonstration of the fact that God has faith in Man.
So let us be inspired by this faith, when we are confronted by the stream of depressing and truly distressing facts served up to us by various forms of media, and for many, tragically and painfully, closer to home. Still, let us say, yes, we know all this, but like God, we choose to continue to believe in humanity, because we know there are sparks of beauty waiting to be fanned into flames.
Let us accept God’s gift of faith in us. Let us continue to have hope in each other and continue to be committed to doing our bit for our fellow humans. As Rabbi Tarfon said, "It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but you are not free to desist from it either." (5)
Shana Tova, and best wishes for Gmar Chatima Tova and a meaningful Yom Kippur.
Notes:
The key message of this talk was inspired by the writings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, https://rabbisacks.org/faith-
Deuteronomy 32:4
Sifre, Ha’azinu, 325.
Pirke Avot 2:21
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