Rabbi Ron Stern

It goes like this: you hatch an idea for a High Holy Day sermon. You process it and process it. It becomes not just an expression of an idea but actually bec...omes integrated into your being. It literally becomes a part of you (or in this case, me ). Then, after painstaking revisions, rehearsals, revisions, rehearsals, revisions, you toss it out to the world (or in this case, the congregation). The hope is that they will find the ideas inspiring, the presentation engaging, and the challenge will be something that the listeners take to heart. I got great feedback on this sermon and was told that it evoked much conversation around dinner tables. Here it is for my FB friends to consider. Shana Tovah and Chag Sameach! The text: https://www.scribd.com//Tomorrow-s-Religion-Can-t-Come-Too

The prophet of American Reform Judaism and my Temple’s namesake, Stephen S Wise wrote the following about what it means to be an American: That which is to be... most desired in America is oneness and not sameness. Sameness is the worst thing that could happen to the people of this country. To make all people the same would lower their quality, but oneness would raise it. -- Stephen Samuel Wise We are a country that cherishes debate and embraces great diversity of belief. It is the hallmark of our American democracy. Within the context of democratic deliberation one virtue remains the clarion call for who we should be at our best: it is respect for the law. Even as we debate the very components of our society our civil debate requires adherence to existing laws. It is for that reason that today’s events and those of the past few weeks strike at the hearts of patriotic Americans. When Americans, regardless of their status or power disregard our established laws and seek to undermine the very foundations of this country a line has been crossed. As Jews, we are dependent upon the structure provided by the constitution, the courts that interpret it, and the officials that apply those principles. Our houses of worship are protected, our property is sacrosanct, and our votethe most vital of all American acts of citizenshipis respected. We have witnessed an attempt by the president and his supporters added and abetted by the divisive and destructive rhetoric of members of congress to undermine the rule of law and the will of the democratic majority as expressed in the voting booth. It is time to declare, unequivocally as Jews and Americans, that the results of this election must be accepted by the entire country. Legal challenges have been raised, and every single one of them, without exception, has either been thrown out of court or died for lack of evidence. Attorneys general and election officials have undertaken extensive audits in all contested states and found there to be no evidence of fraud that could result in an alteration of the certified results. The American people have spoken and the American legal system has upheld their voice. The pain of the violence perpetrated on our elected leaders and at the seat of our nation’s government is without parallel and completely beyond the bounds of normative democratic debate. It is for this reason, that we call upon the current administration and its supporters to demand that all Americans accept the peaceful transfer of power that is the hallmark of this American democracy. And because we are Jews, and because we have experienced the danger wrought by violent political coups and their goal of undermining the rule of law and the freedoms for all citizens, we speak loudly in opposition to those who have attempted to do so today and those whose rhetoric fuels the dangerous fires. These are fraught times we have experienced the deaths of 350,000 Americans from a raging pandemic. More than ever, this country requires oneness as declared by Stephen S. Wise because only through that unity can we rise to the level of greatness towards which we aspire as Americans and as Jews.

Join us for the last of our three part series on Judaism and Race this coming Wednesday at 7:00 (Nov. 11). The previous sessions were incredibly informative an...d inspiring. You can watch the previous sessions at the web page below. This week's topic: Judaism and Race -- where do we go from here? Moderated by Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback. See more

Wise members Sandra Heller and Sophie Pollack are here to introduce you to the WISE MARKETPLACE, an online bazaar curated by Wise members FOR Wise members! Join them and some special guest dignitaries as we cut the ribbon. Then shop online at www.WiseLA.org/Marketplace!