This week’s Torah portion, Noach, opens with the story of the great flood. God looked upon the earth and saw it was corrupt and filled with lawlessness. God decided to purify the earth and begin anew. God calls upon Noah, the righteous one of his generation, to build an ark, gather the animals of the earth two by two, and, along with his family, inhabit the ark for 40 days and 40 nights.
In the entire interaction between Noah and God, we only hear the voice of God. We do not hear Noah’s voice; rather it is written, twice throughout the story, “Noah did so; just as God commanded him, so he did.” Noah’s righteousness was demonstrated not through his words, but through his physical actions.
Oftentimes there are no words as strong as one’s presence and their actions.
In the days following October 7th when we began to understand more fully the tragedy that had befallen our people, I remember thinking to myself, “Years from now when Asher looks at me and says, ‘Mommy, what did you do for Israel when she was hurting?’ It was important to me to be able to say to him, “my son, in that critical moment, I went to Israel to be with our people. Let me share with you what I did, and what we, as a family, continue to do.”
Throughout this past year, when engaged in doing work for Israel, I often thought about what Abraham Joshua Heschel said when he was asked what it was like to march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; he said, “I felt like my feet were praying.” The prayerful expression of our souls manifests in incredible ways and reverberates throughout our bodies.
When collecting supplies for Israel, our hands were praying. When embracing and holding our brothers and sisters in Israel, our arms were praying.
Next weekend Cantorial Soloist Michelle Auslander Cohen and I will travel with members of our congregation to Washington D.C. to attend the “Stand Together: Unity, Strength, Resilience” rally. I imagine, in that moment, standing alongside thousands of people from across the country, in steadfast support for Israel, it will feel like our entire beings will be praying.
We will affirm our unbreakable commitment to Israel, demonstrate our people’s resilience, and celebrate the deep bond that connects all Jews across the globe through our support of Israel
It is a privilege to represent our temple community by bringing a delegation from Temple Beth El. In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to show solidarity and unity. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught that “a Jew is not alone before God, rather they must see themselves as a member of a congregation, as a part of a people.” He reminds us that each act of solidarity, each act of doing is not only a declaration of our individual faith but a fulfillment of our role within a larger Jewish destiny.
In this week’s Torah portion, we do not hear words of righteousness from Noah, rather his righteousness is demonstrated in his presence, in his actions, in his decision to “do.” May we continue to do, to act and be present for Israel and stand in solidarity and love.
If you are planning to be in Washington D.C. on Sunday, November 10th, at the “Stand Together: Unity, Strength, Resilience” rally, please let us know so we can stand together, and we will gather after the rally to reflect and share.
Oseh shalom bimromav Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu V’al kol Yisrael. May the one who creates peace on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Laila Haas
