Dear friends;
As we contemplate the arrival of the High Holy Days at the very end of September, we can not help but be struck by two amazing, unprecedented and most momentous events that have taken place recently: the “Camp David Talks” and the nomination of Senator Joseph Lieberman for Vice President on the Democratic Party ticket. Each one in its own right was unprecedented.
The most significant aspect of the “Camp David Talks”-regardless of the outcome of the talks and regardless of the many “pros” and “cons” of the summit- was the placing on the table for the very first time, out in the open, for public debate and discussion, of issues that had heretofore been lurking in the background, but which both sides had refused to confront. The centrality of Jerusalem to both sides and the problem of Arab Refugees from the 1948 War of Independence are two of the major stumbling blocks to achieving an agreement between both sides. And yet, for the last 33 years, following the 1967 War, both sides had refused to deal with those issues-both internally and with each other. Other than creating slogans and putting forth fixed positions neither side had ever officially examined the problems and looked for creative solutions that could satisfy their needs and at the same time bridge the gap with the other side. Most telling was the little known fact that when both Barak and Arafat wanted to examine creative solutions to these problems, neither one had resources or analyses done by their respective governments. They had no other options but to turn to independent think tanks and analysts-because never before had each entertained the possibility that their fixed positions might be dead ends, and new options needed to be explored!
The nomination of Senator Lieberman as Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate will no doubt be the topic of unending analyses, editorials, journal articles and papers and books for many years to come. It was as unexpected as it was unprecedented. Its meaning for the Jews of America goes without saying. However, its meaning for America is even more overwhelming. It represents another step forward in the realization of what has been the “American Dream” from the very inception of our country: that America is a land of freedom and opportunity for each and every one of its citizens, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, religion and all those other impediments that are called into play whenever bias and prejudice exert their ugly influence! Yes, along the way of American history there have been times when prejudice and bigotry struck out and injured our country and groups of its inhabitants! But never ever did we backtrack on the “American Dream,” never did our leaders or our country repudiate the vision of our country as described in our founding documents! Little by little we have inched forward. In the last 30 or so years we have taken major steps; but Senator Lieberman’s nomination is a great “quantum leap” in that process! It proclaims that America is OPEN-not just to the Jews, but to everyone, regardless of color, race or religion! It announces that no one in America ever again has to hide who he or she is in order to advance. We do not have to be afraid to be ourselves-not only at home and in our houses but outside in the greater world as well!
In both these historic events we have seen a well known but little understood High Holy Day concept at work! In Hebrew it is called “Teshuvah,” which usually is translated as “repentance” or “return.” I have always felt that the Standard English translations of “teshuvah” have missed the mark in communicating what this powerful term connotes in reality. After examining the “Camp David Talks” and the Lieberman nomination it is clear to me that the best translation of “teshuvah” and the only one that really does it justice is “reorientation.” Meaningful and positive change, the kind that affects our lives in ways both big and small, takes place when we can “reorient” ourselves and look at things in new ways, from different perspectives and points of view! When that happens the floodgates open and new possibilities flood in! That is what “teshuvah” is all about and that is why “teshuvah” holds out so much hope for the New Year!
L’Shanah Tovah Nikahtayv v’Naychahtaym!
May we all be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a wonderful new year of 5761!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Stanley L. Asekoff