Rabbi’s Message

Each day I open the newspaper hoping to see positive headlines but knowing instead I will read about destruction, extremism, and religious violence. We often read of vio- lence occurring for the sake of ‘their God’. When I read of these stories, I am saddened and disgusted by the misuse of religion. I believe that no better message of tolerance and acceptance can be explicated than is evident by this week’s parsha, Parshat Noah.

The story of Noah and the Flood stems out of a generation that is filled with violence, wickedness, and a general disdain for God and humanity. Noah is said to have been the only righteous man in his time. God chooses to save Noah, his family, and two of every animal. As punishment for their actions, God wipes out the entire population -– man and animal. At the end of the flood, God makes a promise to humanity, that never again, will God destroy the world. He seals this promise with an eternal sign for the future generations — a rainbow.

Due to the flood, humanity is destined to descend fully from Noah. One son, Shem, is the father of the Jewish People. And Noah’s other 2 sons, Ham and Japhet are the ancestors of Asians, Africans, Europeans… In other words, we are all B’nei Noah, children of Noah.

While this story is tragic because of the sheer number of deaths, we have the opportunity to grasp a beautiful lesson: God is the God of all humanity and thus cares equally for all of God’s children. God will cherish a righteous individual equally, regardless of religious affiliation.

But, if God is the God of the whole world, wouldn’t God have the same relationship with everyone?

In contrast to many other religions, Judaism does not try to convert others. Instead, Judaism acknowledges that God has covenants with many different groups of people -– the Assyrians and Egyptians are just two of the many covenantal relationships explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Rather, Judaism’s focus is on the values and actions that inform the way each individual chooses to live. While Jews are given 613 commandments/mitzvoth to follow in the Torah, all children of Noah (every person) are obligated to follow seven commandments, called “Noahide Laws,” which are binding on ALL people. The Noahide Laws call for:

• Establishing courts of justice and rule of law
• Prohibiting idolatry
• Prohibiting blasphemy
• Prohibiting sexual immorality
• Prohibiting bloodshed
• Prohibiting theft
• Prohibiting tearing a limb from a living animal

These rules establish a basis for moral interaction, justice, and compassion for other human beings and for the animal world. According to Judaism, God judges humans not according to which institution or religion that they frequent, but instead, God judges humans based on decency, morality, and goodness –- from everyone — Jew and non-Jew alike.

As many of our children come from multi-faith families, it is important that we welcome all members of a family into our community, regardless of their faith. I can attest to many families in which the non-Jewish parent is more actively involved in the synagogue. Especially in a small community like ours, it is crucial that we encourage everyone to be true to their own beliefs and passions without judging their choices. Rabbi Artson says it quite well, “God demands goodness of the Jew no less than of the non-Jew, and loves the Gentile no less than the Jew. And so should we.” May our community be strengthened by its diversity and openness in accepting all individuals of moral integrity and goodness.

Rabbi Dina Rosenberg