America, the Beautiful

We often forget what is special about the Fourth of July. It is more than just a celebration of our independence but a chance to recognize the importance our country has had in forming our faith. Every Saturday we say the prayer for our country, often not recognizing how important the U.S. has been in the development of Judaism in the world. There are times in our lives when we see the world through the lens of our Jewish struggle but we must also recognize that we are members of the community that makes up America. On July Fourth we recognize the beauty and miracle that is our beloved country and celebrate with many faiths the uniqueness of what it means to be an American.
America is a special place not only for us Jews but also for what it can give the world. I truly believe that America is a blessed land. America can be right and special because of the challenge she faces from members of its family. We are citizens, not subjects, so the greatness that comes from this country is the sole responsibility of those who live here. Thus, what is right is to be celebrated and what is wrong is to be corrected. America gives us many blessings so my words of Torah focus on two distinct levels that make our country a truly holy place. We need to think about what we are grateful for and how we can be active in making our country better.
Out of Many, One
In America we recognize freedom to dissent. We are stronger because of our disagreements, not weaker. We don’t have any government sponsored rallies that people must attend. You come to shul because you want to come, not because it is forced by the government. If you did not care to come, you wouldn’t be here or be a member of this temple. Our temple is very much a microcosm of the American dream; many came here to farm and later start businesses and fully embraced the American dream here in Wildwood. We don’t have a state religion so if one does not like how religious services are performed they can leave and find a place that will be more fulfilling for them. Religious growth is better when it’s from choice of the heart rather than coerced from outside forces. We are a free people, guaranteed the right of dissent and disagreement and through this dissent we learn more about our country and ourselves. This year Beth Judah had a retreat to discuss how our community can best help meet the needs of the changing and diverse people of Cape May County. This is the beauty of America; we are able to change when needed.
Government of the People
In America we have developed a new and different concept of government. Abraham Lincoln best stated it 150 years ago in his Gettysburg Address. He said that ours was a government of the people, by the people and for the people. What he meant is that government is the servant, not the master of our society. The policeman, the postman, the tax collector are civil servants – they work for you. The mayor, the governor, the congressman, our president are all elected officials. We put them there, they work for us, and they are answerable to us. If we are pleased with their performance, they get our votes at the next election. If we don’t like how they are doing their jobs, we get into that polling booth and vote against them – for we are a free people. Our government works for us. We are its master and it is our servant. With all the problems we face in our system, in the end it still works without bloodshed and every year we try to improve it so it becomes more represented. Having lived in a country where elections could get violent, it is truly beautiful that even when the results are not what we like, we accept them and embrace our country as one. We recognize that we may not always agree with what happens on Election Day but we embrace our new leaders because the people choose them.
Our people have fought and died for our freedoms and for others who have sought our help when their freedoms were threatened. I pray that we will ever remain a proud people with our heads erect, and a strong people – with our backs straight, and a generous people – with our hearts and courage as great as our imagination and inventiveness. I pray that we remain the friend and ally of freedom everywhere. I pray that we continue to be the land of freedom and opportunity, the hope of oppressed peoples everywhere, and when we make a mistake we will learn from it, correct it and try to make it better.
Finally, I pray that as I jaunt off to Israel this July for a much needed study seminar, that I can appreciate America from Israel, another special country in its own right that can learn from the pluralism that America has developed so diligently. Our Jewish state is a place of great pride but it can also learn from America in how it lets those of religious differences find comfort and compassion in an open society. I look forward to praying at the Western Wall but I am sad that it is not an open egalitarian environment for all to feel comfortable to pray. I think America has blessed me and I wish to convey that blessing to our national homeland and with two strong nations committed to democratic and pluralistic well being the world can learn from both places and help heal a broken world.
Happy Independence Day.
Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz is the spiritual leader of Beth Judah Temple in Wildwood NJ. He welcomes your comments at dvjewish@rof.net.