There is an amazing story in Jewish tradition that took place on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish year. All of the Jewish people were gathered in the synagogue anxiously opening their hearts in prayer. They had accumulated sins all year and longed for an opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness, but Rabbi Shneur Zalman suddenly removed his prayer shawl and left the synagogue. Congregants wondered in hushed whispers where the rabbi had gone, how to explain his departure at this most critical juncture.
Fifteen minutes passed, a half an hour … only much later did they learn what had happened. While praying, the rabbi had sensed that there was a woman on the edge of town who needed help. The woman had just given birth, and her family members were all praying in the synagogue. She was alone and in need. Rabbi Zalman violated the holy days’ laws, ceased his prayers, and personally attended to the woman.
In this tale, the rabbi acts with great compassion and demonstrates the primacy of caring in Jewish life. He recognizes the need of the woman without being told that she is in trouble and responds with caring action. At the moment when the community most needs and wants to pray, this caring action carries the force of prayer.
Acts of caring and simple presence with those in need have always been core tasks for religious leaders. In my work as a congregational rabbi, I devoted a portion of almost every day to pastoral care. From the casual mention of a problem at the collation following prayer services or the bedside visit to a congregant or a personal visit to a house of bereavement during the day when the bereaved is often all alone, pastoral care has the potential to help heal and transform.
In the Book of Genesis (18:1) God appears to Abraham soon after his circumcision. The ancient rabbis interpret this appearance by stating that God is paying a sick visit to Abraham. From this passage, they deduce the religious obligation to visit those who are ill.
Suffering and illness take many forms. At various times in our lives, we experience physical, emotional and/or spiritual pain either from within ourselves or through the suffering of those we love. The source and course of our suffering are uniquely our own. So too is our journey toward wholeness and healing.
After a very contentious presidential election, our country too is in need of healing. I hope that we will make sure that those in need of healing are not alone and that we endeavor to help them transcend their suffering. We are surely stronger when we come together to serve those in need. May the Source of life, the Merciful One, always accompany us as we work to join with those in need of healing. May we find strength and inspiration, and may our presence be comforting. May God teach us how to bless our country with health, abundance, and peace. Wishing us all a healing of body, spirit, and mind!
Middle Township – If God created the universe and thus the Earth, then he also created all men and women, of all races. If you have hate for other races, or non heterosexual people, then you hate God's own work.
