![]() This Shabbat, we embark on our annual reading of the book of Bamidbar, in English, the book of Numbers. The English name for this fourth book of the Torah is taken from the opening verses in which Moses is directed to conduct a census . . . "Add up the heads of all of the congregation of Israel by their families, by their fathers' houses, with the number of names of every male by their heads. From twenty years old and up, everyone going out to the army in Israel: you shall count them by their army units, you and Aaron." (Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2-3) It is of profound significance to me that the United States Memorial Day and our reading of the opening passages of Numbers / Bamidbar coincide this weekend. There are so many ways a God-ordained census of the Israelites might have been structured: There could have been a count of each woman and her progeny; there could have been a count of each household within each tribe; there could have been a count of each head of family . . . but this was a count of each male, twenty years old and up, able-bodied and serving in the army. God was instructing Moses to prepare for wandering through a wilderness, an intermittently populated wilderness in which it was going to be necessary to defend the column of trekking Israelites: men, women, children, elderly, ill and well. From a military point of view, it is, of course, important to know how many troops are at your command. From a community's point of view, it is, or should be, crucial to know the name of every single individual placing life on the line for the sake of the safety and integrity of the community. In my close to 20 years living in Israel, I became part of a population protected by a citizens' army: our sons and daughters were drafted after high school, trained superbly, served honorably and then came home, or didn't. Every single military death in Israel is honored by the entire country: every fallen soldier's name, photograph, rank are shared on the national evening news. The entire country mourns, for every fallen soldier is a child of ours. Israel is a small country, so we feel these losses in a very immediate sense. Every family has someone who has served, is serving or is about to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, so we feel these losses in a very immediate sense. There is meaningful counting, census, acknowledging each individual in Israel, not just on the Shabbat we begin the reading of the book of Numbers. When I came back to the States, I found the distance between the general population and our military losses to be disturbing, wrong, unhealthy. So it has been my practice to share not the just the numbers, but the names, ranks, ages and home states of those killed serving our country since the previous Memorial Day each year. We should enjoy the weekend's barbecues and family gatherings . . . but let us spend more than a moment acknowledging that we are enjoying this leisure because our children have served honorably and many have lost their lives serving our country. Yes, we may have differences of opinions about the policies that have brought our troops into the range of fire; but our support and appreciation and mourning for our children who have died in military service is not a political or policy issue, it is a sacrifice we must humbly acknowledge. Please do not skip over the rest of this blog. Please read each and every name. These are the US troops who died serving in Afghanistan since last Memorial Day . . . יהיו זכרם ברוך: May their memories be blessed; may their families be blessed with healing and peace of mind. Date of death Name Rank Age Service Home State 5-17-2014 Perkins, Adrian M. Specialist 19 U. S. Army California 5-13-2014 Barreras, Martin R Command Sergeant Major 49 U. S. Army Arizona 5-11-2014 Rasmussen, Deric M. Chief Warrant Office 33 U. S. Army California 4-28-2014 Chandler, Christian J. Private 1st Class 20 U. S. Army Texas 4-28-2014 Farrell II, Shawn M. Sergeant 24 U. S. Army New York 4-15-2014 Danyluk, Kerry M. G. Specialist 27 U. S. Army Texas 4-01-2014 Chaffin III, James E. Captain 27 U. S. Army South Carolina 2-28-2014 Poirier, David L Master Sergeant 52 U.S. Air Force Rhode Island 2-28-2014 Erickson, Caleb L. Lance Corporal 20 U.S. Marine Minnesota 2-15-2014 Torian, Aaron C. Master Sergeant 36 U. S. Marine Kentucky 2-12-2014 Pelham, John A. Specialist 22 U. S. Army Oregon 2-12-2014 Skelt, Roberto C. Sergeant 41 U. S. Army Florida 2-10-2014 Landis, Christopher A. Specialist 27 U. S. Army Kentucky 2-10-2014 Gray, Joshua A. Private 1st Class 21 U.S. Army Kentucky 1-20-2014 Balli, Edward Chief Petty Officer 42 U. S. Army California 1-17-2014 Sipple, Andrew H. Specialist 22 U. S. Army North Carolina 1-15-2014 Lee, Daniel Tyler Sergeant 28 U. S. Army Tennessee 1-10-2014 Scobie, Drew M. Sergeant 25 U. S. Army National Guard Hawaii 1-10-2014 McAdams, Andrew L. Chief Warrant Officer 27 National Guard Wyoming 1-04-2014 Lacey, William K. Sergeant 1st Class 38 U. S. Army Florida 1-01-2014 Hess, Jacob M. Sergeant 22 U. S. Marine Washington 12-27-2013 Lyon, David I. Captain 28 U. S. Air Force Idaho 12-23-2013 Vasselian, Daniel M. Sergent 27 U. S. Marine Massachusetts 12-17-2013 Billings, Randy L. Chief Warrant Officer 2 34 U. S. Army Oklahoma 12-17-2013 Silverman, Joshua B. Chief Warrant Officer 2 35 U. S. Army Arizona 12-17-2013 Bohler, Peter C. Sergeant 29 North Carolina 12-17-2013 Forde, Omar W. Sergeant 1st Class 28 U. S. Army Georgia 12-17-2013 Gordon, Terry K. D. Specialist 22 U. S. Army Mississippi 12-17-2013 Williams, Jesse L Staff Sergeant 30 U. S. Army Indiana 12-11-2013 Smith, James L. Petty Officer 1st Class 38 U. S. Navy Texas 12-11-2013 Rodriguez, Matthew R. Lance Corporal 19 U. S. Marine Massachusetts 11-17-2013 Viola, Alex A. Staff Sergeant 29 U.S. Army Texas 11-13-2013 Vazquez, Richard L. Staff Sergeant 28 U. S. Army Texas 11-03-2013 Robertson, Forrest W. Sergeant 1st Class 35 U. S. Army Kansas 10-20-2013 Grant, Christopher O. Lance Corporal 20 10-18-2013 Turnbull, Lyle D. Sergeant 31 U. S. Army Virginia 10-13-2013 Quinn, Patrick H. Sergeant 26 U. S. Army Pennsylvania 10-06-2013 Moreno, Jennifer M. 1st Lieutenant 25 U. S. Army California 10-06-2013 Hawkins, Patrick C. Sergeant 25 U. S. Army Pennsylvania 10-06-2013 Peters, Joseph M. Sergeant 24 U. S. Army Missouri 10-06-2013 Patterson, Cody J. Private 1st Class 24 U. S. Army Oregon 10-05-2013 Lopez, Angel L. Specialist 27 U. S. Army Ohio 10-05-2013 Collins, Jeremiah M. Lance Corporal 19 U.S. Marine Wisconsin 9-26-2013 Baysore, Jr., Thomas A. Staff Sergeant 31 U. S. Army Pennsylvania 9-22-2013 Gibson, Jonathan S. Chief Warrant Officer 32 U.S. Navy Oregon 9-22-2013 Jones, Landon L. Lieutenant Commander 35 U.S. Navy California 9-21-2013 Nevins, Liam J. Staff Sergeant 32 U. S. Army Colorado 9-21-2013 McGill, Timothy R. Staff Sergeant 30 U. S. Army New Jersey 9-21-2013 Strickland, Joshua J. Specialist 23 U. S. Army Georgia 9-20-2013 Wickliffchacin, James T. Specialist 22 U. S. Army Oklahoma 9-19-2013 Brown III, William D. Sergeant 44 U. S. Army North Carolina 9-13-2013 Thomas Jr., Robert E. Staff Sergeant 24 U. S. Army California 9-05-2013 Lobraico Jr., Todd J. Staff Sergeant 22 U. S. Air Force Connecticut 8-31-2013 Bowden, Joshua J. Staff Sergeant 28 U. S. Army Georgia 8-28-2013 Ollis, Michael H. Staff Sergeant 24 U. S. Army New York 8-28-2013 Young, Ricardo D. Sergeant 1st Class 34 U. S. Army Arkansas 8-26-2013 Togi, Jason 1st Lieutenant 24 U. S. Army American Samoa 8-23-2013 Alvarez, Kenneth Clifford Specialist 23 U. S. Army California 8-23-2013 Hostetter, Jonathon Michael Dean Private 20 U. S. Army Missouri 8-20-2013 Banner Jr., George A. Master Sergeant 37 U.S. Army Virginia 8-11-2013 Hicks, Jamar A. Sergent 22 U. S. Army Arkansas 8-11-2013 Grace Jr., Keith E. Specialist 26 U. S. Army Texas 8-11-2013 Herrera, Octavio Staff Sergeant 26 U. S. Army Idaho 8-06-2013 Welch, Nickolas S. Specialist 26 U. S. Army Oregon 7-30-2013 Burley, Nicholas B. Specialist 22 U. S. Army California 7-28-2013 New, Stephen M. Sergeant 29 U. S. Army Tennessee 7-27-2013 Lawson, Eric T. Sergeant 30 U. S. Army Georgia 7-27-2013 Nouv, Caryn E. Specialist 29 U. S. Army Virginia 7-23-2013 Russell, Jonam 1st Lieutenant ?0 U. S. Army Arizona 7-23-2013 Smith, Stefan M. Sergent 24 U. S. Army Georgia 7-23-2013 Nichols, Rob L. Specialist 24 U. S. Army Colorado 7-22-2013 Maddox, Anthony R. Specialist 22 U. S. Army Texas 7-16-2013 Zimmerman, Sonny C. Staff Sergeant 25 U. S. Army Ohio 7-14-2013 Tuttle, Benjamin W. Lance Corporal 19 U. S. Marine Arkansas 7-04-2013 Milliard, Errol D.A. Private 18 U. S. Army Alabama 7-03-2013 Stapley, Tracy L. First Sergeant 44 U. S. Army Utah 7-02-2013 Clayton, Hilda I. Specialist 22 U. S. Army Georgia 6-28-2013 Rogers, Justin R. Sergeant 25 U.S. Army New York 6-23-2013 Garver, Corey E. Sergeant 25 6-23-2013 Sanchez Jr., Javier Specialist 28 U. S. Army California 6-19-2013 Johnson, Justin R. Sergeant 25 U. S. Army Florida 6-19-2013 Alt, Ember M. Specialist 21 U. S. Army South Carolina 6-19-2013 Ellis, Robert W. Specialist 21 U. S. Army Washington 6-19-2013 Moody, William R. Specialist 30 U. S. Army Texas 6-16-2013 Brown, Jared W. Lance Corporal 20 U. S. Marine Florida 6-10-2013 Thomas Jr., Jesse L. Staff Sergeant 31 U. S. Army Florida 6-08-2013 Leonard, Jaimie E. Major 39 U. S. Army New York 6-08-2013 Clark, Todd J. Lieutenant Colonel 40 U. S. Army New York 6-03-2013 Sisson, Justin L. 2nd Lieutenant 23 U.S. Army Arizona 6-03-2013 Pierce, Robert A. Specialist 20 U.S. Army Oklahoma 6-02-2013 Mullen, Sean W. Warrant Officer 39 U.S. Army Delaware 6-01-2013 Stoeckli, Kyle P. Specialist 21 U.S. Army Virginia 6-01-2013 Ramirez, Ray A. Specialist 20 US Army California 6-01-2013 Raymundo, Mariano M. Private 1st Class 21 U.S. Army Texas 5-30-2013 Nunezrodriguez, Joe A. Staff Sergeant 29 source: www.icasualties.org
0 Comments
![]() I was listening to a TED talk recently, given by Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg. You may have heard about her book about women in leadership, Lean In and about her "Ban Bossy" campaign. No small wonder that I'm interested in the leadership philosophy and wisdom of a successful female leader.... One of the points Ms. Sandberg makes is that men have no problem giving themselves credit for their success and that women are much more self-deprecating. A man's message might be: "Yes, I'm great and I accomplished this task." A woman's message might be: "Yes, we did great work together to accomplish this task." The difference might not be in the actual work of leadership exercised by the male or female leader, but in the way each leader describes, and ascribes, his or her success. All of this was still percolating in my mind as I tracked, with great interest, President Barack Obama's visit to Pope Francis this week. This visit was of particular interest to me because I have such deep admiration for Pope Francis. I share the same points of disagreement with the pontiff that President Obama has expressed: contraception, abortion and the consequences of these policies as they affect the health care options of employees of the Catholic Church in the United States. But there are so many ways in which I admire Pope Francis: There seems to be no factoring of political (even church-related political) consequences when Pope Francis speaks. He speaks out, and follows through with his actions, because there are truths that need to be aired. His humility is inspiring because it is integral to his being. There is no other way for him to be. President Obama gave an interview on CBS after his visit with the pope. Commenting on the experience of standing in Pope Francis' presence, President Obama observed: "...nothing is more powerful than someone who lives out his convictions." This was a perceptive remark that I appreciate very much, for I, too, hold deep respect for those who move through this world guided humbly by their ideological convictions. And I find that the most powerfully impressive people are the most soft-spoken and yes, Sheryl Sandberg, the most self-deprecating. The message that reaches the deepest into the consciousnesses of those around us is: "it's not about me." Perhaps President Obama and Pope Francis are admirably in touch with their feminine sides . . . but I find myself drawn to the leadership of those who are guided by that which is greater than human scope and who have the strength and self-confidence to acknowledge that our greatest attainments are never reached in a vacuum of our own effort and vision. I am impressed by another quality shared by President Obama and Pope Francis, which was also shared by Nelson Mandela. I wrote about Mr. Mandela a few months ago and remarked on his extraordinary capacity to focus on the qualities of the human being and the nuances of the issue before him without pre-judgment or bias. I had a sense of the exercise of humility and perspective at work in the meeting between President Obama and Pope Francis: the whole world knew about every issue on which these leaders disagree, substantive issues. And yet, both leaders seemed to approach the opportunity of their discourse not to convince the other of the error of his ways, but rather to explore the possibilities of advancing their shared visions and goals. I don't think that the words "humility" and "leadership" are often appear in combination . . . except, perhaps, as conflicting dynamics. That is definitely worth re-thinking. I'm all for "leaning in" when the opportunity arises to take on a substantive leadership task...as long as that opportunity is embraced with humility. That leads us to powerful leadership. ![]() This week's parashah / Torah reading, Tetzaveh, finds us in the midst of an enterprise begun last week in which God instructs Moses about the Mishkan/Tabernacle to be constructed as a focal point of the ritual relationship between God and Israel. This week, Aaron and his sons are appointed as kohanim/priests in charge of the ritual sacrificial system and as part of this discussion, God describes the vestments that Aaron and his sons are to wear as they perform their priestly duties. From time to time, I have the privilege of participating in interfaith functions with my clergy colleagues from all over the faith map. Often, the instructions we receive include a note to wear vestments. This leaves me, my fellow rabbis and our friends the imams, in our rather bland professional clothing as our Christian clergy friends show up looking glorious in their colorful, dramatic vestments. At times like this, I admit to "vestment envy." Rabbis are considered teachers rather than a priestly class invested with esoteric powers endowed with ordination (like the power to grant absolution, for example). The rich vestments worn by Aaron and his male progeny were not worn by Moses, since Moses' role was not a ritual one. ![]() With the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the kohanim/priests lost the unique stage upon which they fulfilled their roles in offering daily sacrifices on behalf of the people and facilitating the personal thanks, purification, festival and atonement sacrifices individuals might bring. Since the destruction of the Second Temple there has not been a unique Jewish clerical uniform or vestment. During the rabbinic period, a type of turban-like headress, called a "sudar", was associated with sages and scholars. Perhaps something like the headress on this classic rendering of Maimonides reproduced on an Israeli stamp... In largely Christian medieval Europe, Jews lived in tight-knit communities. Medieval manuscript illuminations, like the one above, from a 14th century manuscript from Zurich, depicts a unique-shaped hat (on the right) that was associated with Jews. For the most part, Jews have blended in and have adopted the dress and style of the surrounding culture. Jewish tradition does not talk about a medieval Jew's hat or an 18th century Polish nobleman's fur hat . . . but it does set guidelines for us regarding how Jews should dress.
The guiding verse regarding the way a Jewish person should walk through the world comes from the prophet, Micah (6:8): הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם, מַה-טּוֹב; וּמָה-ה׳ דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ, כִּי אִם-עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד, וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, עִם-אֱלֹהֶיךָ It hath been told you, Adam, what is good, and what Adonay requires of you: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Walking with humility with God, in Jewish terms, has come to mean dressing modestly . . . avoiding dressing seductively; making sure to dress appropriately for the occasion, not dressing extravagantly or flashily. Although, in certain circles, the discussion of modest dress seems to focus most on women, the truth is that this standard of moving through the world with appropriate humility applies to both men and women. The glorious vestments described in this week's Torah reading were only meant for the kohanim/priests as they fulfilled their unique roles in sustaining the sacrificial cult of the desert Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. None of us, rabbi, scholar, Jew-in-the-pew should aspire to so much "bling." Our challenge is to walk with humility with God in our world, expressed through our dress and our attitude. |
Rabbi Amy Levinhas been Torat Yisrael's rabbi since the summer of 2004 and serves as President of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island. Categories
All
Archives
June 2014
|