Monday, November 21, 2016

My derashu on Psalm 104 given at the 2016 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Marathin JCC


Here is another story that proves that behind every great man is even a greater woman.
Rabbi Meir, the second century Talmudic scholar, had a serious problem. The thugs in the neighborhood were making his life miserable. Desperate for a way to escape their harassment, Rabbi Meir decided that drastic measures were called for. He decided to pray that the ruffians would die.

But Rabbi Meir’s wife, Bruria, wasn’t pleased with this solution. Bruria quoted to her husband a verse in our psalm 104:35  “Let sin be uprooted from the earth, and the wicked will be no more.”

It doesn’t say “Let the sinners be uprooted,” Bruria pointed out. It says “Let the sins be uprooted.” You shouldn’t pray that these thugs will die; you should pray that they should repent! And then, automatically, “the wicked will be no more.

Rabbi Meir followed his wife’s advice. Sure enough, the neighborhood hooligans changed their ways, due to the scholar’s prayers. 

Shouldn’t we follow Brurua’s advice too! Let us pray this Thanksgiving that all of the dwellers of our beloved country live up to tis highest ideals and aspirations as George Washington wrote to the members of the Turo Synagogue in Rhode Island: 

“everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”  For happily the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

If we can realize his words in our lifetime, then every day will be a thanks giving day



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