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Sukkot 5777
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein 17 October 2016
This morning I am thankful to Brendan, the technician for the BBC Three Counties Radio God slot, in which I featured reviewing the Sunday papers. Sat next to him I happened to say, “I can't say that because it might be seen as political by some whereas I know my thoughts are akin to those the ancient Israelite prophets articulated.” The ancient Israelite prophets, who prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel in the eighth century BCE, spoke out against the rulers and the elite as having degraded themselves, for Amos – socially and politically – and for Hosea – spiritually and religiously. The regular Israelite has been sold into degradation, either living in abject poverty or having to sell themselves and their families as slaves to even live. That existence was little better than animals. At that time, sporadic forays from neighbouring peoples, in particular the Assyrians who ultimately would utterly destroy Israel, sending ten tribes into obliteration or dispersion, were prevalent. The summers were scorching hot and the rains did not bring enough water to satisfy the thirst of the Land. Hosea in particular connects this as his main theme: Israel’s abandonment of the Eternal One through its behaviour, leading to their punishment by God, by the hand of nature and the Assyrians. Speaking words of doom and gloom to the comfortable or to the scared is not easy. One’s message can be deeply unpopular but our society would be ill served for not being able to hear its call. It is therefore vital, that along with the criticism comes a path forward. That is why Hosea’s words were read on Yom Kippur Hosea (14:2-‐10), there is an alternative as he calls for Israel to repent and holds hope for an ideal future of reconciliation between the Eternal and Israel. “Return, O Israel, to the Eternal your God, for you have fallen because of your sin…” The cause was that of unaccompanied minors in the Calais ‘Jungle’ who have family members in the UK or who are covered by the Dubs Amendment. Sukkot reminds us of the fragility of life -‐ ours, and others: But Brendan reminded me to speak my mind like the prophets of Israel who were emboldened by God or their conscience depending on your viewpoint. For there is a clear case that these children are being used as political pawns. I cannot stand by and say otherwise. May this Sukkot that reminds us of the fragility of life encourage us to be true to our beliefs and air our views even if we might be ultimately dissuaded of them. Or our views might be proven true and persuade another that their viewpoint be false, or personally or politically motivated. Let us also pray for the wisdom and strength to listen, hear and work out whether others have a case. And may it not come too late for us. For Israel, it came too late. Judah survived but not for its lack of social, political and religious ills. We are the remnant, those from Judah who, through millennia have grown into a people that has a different understanding of its relationship with God. The primitive reward and punishment model of the Israelite prophets does not hold us in its thrall: For we understand the wicked capability of humanity, just as we might explain natural disasters.
Still we savour our spiritual, covenantal relationship with God for in it contains our recognition that though we might understand, we have not conquered. We struggle to solve local ills let alone bring universal wellbeing. Nature remains nature and though we showed glimpses of common sense last week with the global deal to limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons, one of the worst causes of global warming (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/15/climate-‐change-‐environmentalists-‐hail-‐deal-‐to-‐limit-‐use-‐of-‐hydrofluorocarbons), we lack a common resolve to act as stewards of our planet. Hosea concludes: “The wise will consider these words, the prudent will take note of them. For the paths of the Eternal are smooth; the righteous can walk on them, while sinners stumble on them.” In the future, one generation will be able amongst all the nations to make pilgrimage to a metaphorical Jerusalem to rejoice in the harvest festival of Sukkot. None will stumble but all will walk on God’s words. The bounty shall be great for it shall be sufficient to feed all those who march in a single direction whilst yet retaining their diversity. May we be counted as the wise that heeded God’s words through our ancient prophets to add our own voices to that fine tradition. Amen