Light it up! 2017

The last candles of Hanukkah 5777 gutter (my least favorite time of the entire year) - also bringing 2016 to a close. 

It's been a difficult (ok, perhaps "shitty" is a better term) year in so many ways - and yet, also dotted with great blessings and achievements as well. V has flourished; Ben is looking forward to attending his first choice college. We're all basically healthy. 

The music plays on...time to figure out what I want to do if/when I grow up. 

Obla di obla da....

Wishing your and yours health, happiness, fulfillment and peace.

Happy New Year 2017!!!

Those who fill us with light

This past week marks the 30th (!) yahrzeit since the passing of my grandmother, Mary Siroka. Hard to believe how much time has gone. I was a sophomore in college (at American University, Harvard on the Potomac :) and was on winter break. Mom, Dad, Eliot and I were vacationing in Hawaii when we got the call, the morning of the day before the first eve of the holiday. People plan, God laughs. Dad quickly re-arranged our travel plans so we could get to New York for the funeral, and be with our extended family. Change of pace indeed. We flew through LAX (where Dad insisted on purchasing me a t-shirt with Fred and Barney doing the hula) and arrived at JFK on a blustery cold morning (the warmest item of clothing I had with me was an AU sweatshirt, needless to say no appropriate outfit for the service). Getting settled, Dad and I hustled out to Alexander's to get me a jacket and tie, etc.

The funeral itself has an indelible place in my mind: it may have been the last time that all 15 of grandma's grandchildren were together in the same place. I'll never forget spending those first few eves of that Hanukkah centered at my uncle Harold and aunt Shirley's house - Dad and his siblings and cousins recounting stories, the aunts and uncles bragging about us kids, and even seeing the Japanese flag Harold had captured in the Pacific during the war. Tears, laughter, camaraderie, love....a touching festival of light.

Three decades have passed – all my aunts and uncles, and a couple cousins, are gone now too. The world has changed so much, yet its basic challenges and rewards endure. My life is so very different from when I was 19 for sure – yet I remain greatly the same. Time marches on, making sacred memories all the more profound.

This year, as we celebrate Hanukkah - be mindful of those in your life (living and long gone) who fill you with light. 

CHAG URIM SAMEYACH - wishing you a happy, healthy, love-filled Hanukkah.

#BillofRights225

Today marks the 225^th anniversary of the Bill of Rights – that is, it was on this date in 1791 that Virginia became the 10^th of 14 states to ratify the first ten amendments to the Constitution (for a complete text, go to https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript). For well over two centuries, these foundational concepts of American democracy have been the source of discussion, debate, inspiration and argumentation regarding nearly every aspect of civil liberty. To this day, the Bill of Rights fosters difference in interpretation, and therefore in enactment of policy and procedure. Yet today, it appears these sacred values – which were meant to add to and expand our understanding of how civilized, democratic society operates – are under attack like never before. Beyond scrutiny of the text, beyond articulate if even biased justification of its nuances, we now have masses of our people who would abuse the Amendments for political posturing – or worse, neglect these rights out of intentional prejudice or sheer ignorance. Saddest of all, this movement is fronted by the President-elect, a person singularly stunted in his grasp of history and fact.

What strikes me as so odd is a growing voice over the last year that contradicts the Bill of Rights itself: the seeming zeal, among some, to defend the public reverence for the Ten Commandments, and comfort in invoking those values as a tool in the governmental arena 

(see http://taggedtanakh.org/Chapter/Index/english-Exod-20). 

The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (the Establishment Clause), which not only protects individuals and groups in practicing (or not practicing) as they wish, it also prevents the imposition of any one’s respective personal religious vantage point over another in political affairs. Ironic that when this is violated, as it has been over the years, it often accompanies abuse of the very next phrase, or abridging the freedom of speech – as its too common in our history, and that of the Western world, that zealots attempt to prove their position by silencing any opposition.

I am a lifelong liberal Jew, which means I have been educated and encouraged to engage in thoughtful, often difficult navigation between “tradition” and “innovation” in a rich complex religious system. Like the Founders, this has informed my worldview. More so, I am a lifelong political progressive, which demands a similar, if not even more vexing responsibility to understand a dynamism between my personal outlook (including religion) and my place as an actor in an American society that is (yet still) free and requires my participation. I for one fully “get” that no matter how strongly certain religious values are ingrained in me, they are not right for everybody (anybody?) else. Classically, my right to believe in anything, or uphold a position about anything, ends – respectfully – where another person’s begins.

One hope I maintain as this crazed political season endures: that the tumultuous campaign and its aftermath will motivate people to return to their roots – their elementary scholastic roots – and embrace a conscientious regard for our founding documents, and the awe they should inspire about the prospects of our shared humanity. 

(By the way - don't you think there's a reason we protect even the very paper its written on? Just sayin'...)

Profiles in courage - our turn

For those who witnessed, and yes for those born soon after, the assassination of President Kennedy did much to shape - if not define - a generation of America. Growing up outside Boston in the 70's, in what I've always called "Kennedy's Massachusetts", the impact of that event loomed large, as the nostalgia for the Kennedy mystique deepened further. Profiles in Courage and PT 109 were frequent choices on our reading lists in school. I was nearly bar mitzvah before realizing that Camelot was actually a play about some guy named Arthur...

Now here we are, 53 years following that fateful day. It is all too clear that the issues that troubled us then - world peace, economic disparity, racial divides, religious intolerance, the need for greater social justice - are still as significant today. Certainly some of the details and players have changed: Cold War alliances have given way to concerns about global terrorism; the struggle for civil rights now includes the strides we are making for our LGBT brothers and sisters; our social welfare efforts concern not only addressing poverty - they are also needed to fulfill our responsibility to an ever-increasing aging population as we've never known before. Most significantly, these are not "global" issues - as in they fester in far-off places well removed from us in our daily lives. Rather, these are imminent problems, poisoning our very American society, fostered by domestic players. 

And there is still hope that we can live up to our promise to become a better world. Looking at our situation today or during the Kennedy era (or any other point in time you choose) is but a momentary snapshot of the human condition. We need to involve a longer view of our history to sustain such hope. Consider this: this week we also marked the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, that powerful, articulate vision that Lincoln delivered during a particularly bleak and vulnerable time for our nation. Fast forward 100 years. It is following the Kennedy assassination that we truly begin the repair and resolve the issues that had torn the country apart through civil war. The Civil Rights act, the Voting Rights act, enabled in the mid 60s, we're predicated by earlier voices, Lincoln's included.

We still have much to do, much farther to go to bring about the just society that has been hinted at in every generation. It starts right now, by standing up to the emerging neo-Nazi element in our very midst. On this sacred memorial, let us recommit ourselves to partnership with all of our fellow human beings in working toward that day.

Know your history or wither away

Today I saw news coverage of an *interview* with a young, clearly ignorant and uneducated Trump supporter, on his way out of a rally for the candidate. When asked why he supports Trump, the simpleton mentioned “getting rid of immigrants, people from the Middle East, and ending the Zionists, because you know, they control everything like finances and media and stuff…” at which point I turned off the TV in disgust.

Ironic that this happened this morning, November 2, 99 years after the following was published:

November 2nd, 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild, 

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet. 

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." 

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. 

Yours sincerely, 

Arthur James Balfour

This letter, known as the Balfour Declaration – which established Great Britain’s support of for a Jewish homeland in Palestine – paved the way in part for the fulfillment of traditional Zionist hopes and dreams. Without this vital document, and the exertion that led to it (as well as subsequent Jewish maneuvering afterward), the process that led to the founding of the modern state of Israel would have unfolded much differently, if at all. As I wrote on this topic many years ago:

The complex political maneuvering which took place to create the Balfour Declaration and ensure its intent for a British mandate in Palestine was not caused simply by the tide of history. This great debate was manipulated to achieve particular goals and further the hopes of world Zionism. The letter itself states that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a National home for the Jewish people..." This statement evoked both a certain level of Zionist euphoria and a hostile controversy over British aims during WWI. One must remember that the British did not have control of Palestine at that time; nor were they guaranteed it in the event of victory.

For modern Jewish history, today, November 2 – the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration – should be much better known. And yet, due to a variety of factors, this remains one of those “important dates in history that goes unnoticed.” I find this phenomenon fascinating.

Know your history, or wither away. 

Politics as blood-sport

Human beings are watchers. We have an innate need, even compulsion, to see what’s going on with others. We are always looking to get some satisfaction from what we see in, and about, the people in our lives, and especially those we don’t even know ourselves. In the most benign instance, it’s no more than “people watching.” The usually innocent observing passersby at the mall, a concert, in the park – wherever – and imagining who they are, what they’re up to, perhaps their conversations, motives, and realities. Yet we are not wired to be merely observers, onlookers, or voyeurs; deep in the human psyche we long to be engaged *spectators* - willing active participants from the sidelines, egging on the action, cheering and jeering the players in the episodes taking place in front of us. And this has been true forever.

Think about it: David takes on Goliath – before this story became a metaphor for the underdog, it is a brutish myth about the likely obliteration of a weakling by a gruesome and powerful strongman. Gladiators in the Roman Coliseum provided such entertainment, not merely as words on a page, whether fighting one another or attempting to subdue wild beasts. Medieval jousting contests pitted knight against knight in violent quests for blood and valor. In our own day, much of the same can be said of pro wrestling and the NFL, with their amped-up, testosterone-fueled exhibitions to demonstrate physical and emotional dominance over an opponent.

Fascinating that the human desire, delight in promoting and witnessing contestants do battle – even unto the death – has also always been found in the political arena (heck, even the common use of that phrase, “political arena,” goes toward this point). Lauded are the successes of a “political animal.” And of course Clausewitz declared “war is but the continuation of politics by other means” – equating political intrigue with waging combat.

It should be no surprise that the current election cycle – for so many reasons the most insidious, aggressive, insulting, heart-wrenching in history – has drawn so much attention from the masses. Especially due to the non-stop available barrage of media coverage, and the idea that one candidate or another or some other actor, is going to do something, say something, even more outrageous or outlandish every day – we cannot help but be riveted. Politics now calls on our basest instincts, like those who are compelled by a train wreck as if occurring in slow motion. Politics satisfies our primal blood-lust.

How do we return sportsmanship to the playing field of public life? 

Shelter against the storm

Tonight begins the fall harvest celebration of Sukkot, the biblical precursor to both Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. Since days of old, it has stood as the most significant time, referred to by the ancient rabbis as THE festival. For it, Jews build sukkot –reminiscent of the temporary booths in the wilderness or ancient harvest times. These structures are intentionally impermanent, reminding us of the precariousness of our lives. Jews are commanded to *dwell* in the sukkah for seven days; that is, to eat, sleep, and hang out. Just as the sukkah is deliberately delicate, in need of care and attention for its upkeep, so too are the lives of all those around us. To this point, the theme of the holiday is hachnasat orchim (Hebrew; literally “welcoming guests”). The Torah instructs no less than 36 times that we are to “love the stranger, for you know the heart of the stranger, having been strangers in the land of Egypt” (I’ve long believed that this is the earliest promotion of empathy in Western thought). Sukkot is the observance, par excellence, of this notion: by enacting hachnasat orchim, we are to welcome the stranger; embrace the *other*; recognize the vulnerability we each share. Therefore, Sukkot embodies everything that Donald Trump is not.

Trump and his campaign – supporters, surrogates, sycophants alike – have spent months offending, insulting and vilifying everyone imaginable. Muslims & Mexicans (immigrants of all types for that matter), veterans & people with disabilities, and every category of person that cannot defend itself, have all suffered from Trump’s hateful, hurtful speech. Now we’re seeing that he’s acted in offensive manner toward individuals as well – his unique brand of misogyny is nearly unbelievable. And yet, through it all, a small rigid group of devotees stand by him, not having the guts or brains to denounce him.

And so as Sukkot arrives, we are prompted once again to foster openness and compassion toward one another – and especially toward those who are most vulnerable in our midst – if we are to overcome the vile rhetoric that has been allowed to fester, and the violent overtones that are emerging from it. Or, as someone else has said, to remember that love trumps hate.

The powerful thing about Jewish tradition is that beyond its particular ritual aspects, the ethical guidelines it teaches are meant to be universal – that is that all people are created in the Divine Image (whatever that really means), worthy of the highest esteem and respect. When we recall the words, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” also note R. Joachim Prinz’s interpretation: Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept. It means our collective responsibility for the preservation of man’s dignity and integrity. Perhaps this Sukkot, so close to Election Day, will inspire us to live up to the best in ourselves, in our society, and defeat Trumpism with a resounding blow. It will then truly be z’man simchateynu - the Time of our Rejoicing. 

To Boldly Go...

My older brother was 11 when Star Trek premiered on September 8, 1966. It was a perfect time, and it was the right age, for him to be swept up in the original series. As it debuted a few months before I arrived on the scene, you can say that I was born into a household already watching. Though it was already in syndication by the time I knew the difference, I too was enamored from an early point in its message: a positive, hopeful future for humanity exemplified by diversity in the crew, daring to address difficult social issues in a meaningful yet approachable way, and the idea that imagination, intelligence and compassion trump brute force, ignorance and bigotry every time. A righteous message from the turbulent ‘60s that rings even louder today.

On reaching its 50^th anniversary, others have also written about the impact that Star Trek has had on pop culture and technology – from Spock using the priestly benediction hand position from Jewish tradition as a gesture of greeting to the inspiration for flip phones & iPads. Two of my favorite legacies from the show (and its offspring series and big screen movies) are found in the narrative lore that has emerged. One is the *Prime Directive* by which the Federation cannot interfere in the internal affairs or history of another species or indigenous society it encounters. This honors self-determination – culturally, politically, socially. The other, which I recall I first found in one of the many ST novels I read between my teen years and college, is the Vulcan concept known as IDIC – Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. This cornerstone concept of Vulcan philosophy “celebrates the vast array of variables in the universe.” Though this novel (The IDIC Epidemic) was published in 1988, it is based on ideals that helped found the entire Star Trek enterprise (no pun intended; well, maybe). From the outset, it has been a champion of progress and progressive values.

So today, and most days, I get to geek out in marking this momentous anniversary. And in the long run – take a group of compelling characters, add some interesting aliens, throw in some very exotic locales, plot twists, and challenges, mix well with an all-time great theme song – voila! Science fiction masterpiece. May Star Trek continue inspiring us to boldly go where no one has gone for generations to come. 

Trump's hateful rhetoric

Last night’s remarks by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, which were promoted beforehand to be a “cogent presentation on immigration” left me feeling completely ill. I feel compelled to respond, as I shared immediately following he finished - if you are a decent human being with even a shred of common sense, you must join to defeat Trump, Trumpism & his riled-up insane supporters. We Americans know from our history that it is upon ALL of us to stand against such bullying and hate speech. His hateful and ignorant rhetoric has been unfortunately enabled by the ratings-hungry media; I truly feel that ANYONE in the press who suggests Trump's remarks were anything but an all-out hate speech should resign in shame. NOW.

The great 20^th century visionary and activist Abraham Joshua Heschel taught in great depth about the human condition and our responsibility toward one another. He said

Daily we should take account and ask: what have I done today to alleviate the anguish, to mitigate the evil, to prevent humiliation? Let there be a grain of profit in every human being! Our concern must be expressed not symbolically, but literally; not only publicly, but privately; not only occasionally, but regularly. What we need is the involvement of every one of us as individuals. What we need is restlessness, a constant awareness of the monstrosity of injustice.

Perhaps ironically it was only a few days ago that we commemorated the anniversary of the great March on Washington, at which MLK shared with us “I have a dream.” Here are the words of Rabbi Joachim Prinz, which introduced Dr. King. They are perhaps as profound at this moment as they were five decades ago. I urge you to consider them carefully

I speak to you as an American Jew.

As Americans we share the profound concern of millions of people about the shame and disgrace of inequality and injustice which make a mockery of the great American idea.

As Jews we bring to this great demonstration, in which thousands of us proudly participate, a two-fold experience -- one of the spirit and one of our history.

In the realm of the spirit, our fathers taught us thousands of years ago that when God created man, he created him as everybody's neighbor. Neighbor is not a geographic term. It is a moral concept. It means our collective responsibility for the preservation of man's dignity and integrity.

From our Jewish historic experience of three and a half thousand years we say:

Our ancient history began with slavery and the yearning for freedom. During the Middle Ages my people lived for a thousand years in the ghettos of Europe . Our modern history begins with a proclamation  of emancipation.

It is for these reasons that it is not merely sympathy and compassion for the black people of America that motivates us. It is above all and beyond all such sympathies and emotions a sense of complete identification and solidarity born of our own painful historic experience.

When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime, I learned many things. The most important thing that I learned under those tragic circumstances was that bigotry and hatred are not '.the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.

A great people which had created a great civilization had become a nation of silent onlookers. They remained silent in the face of hate, in the face of brutality and in the face of mass murder.

America must not become a nation of onlookers. America must not remain silent. Not merely black America , but all of America . It must speak up and act,. from the President down to the humblest of us, and not for the sake of the Negro, not for the sake of the black community but for the sake of the image, the idea and the aspiration of America itself.

Our children, yours and mine in every school across the land, each morning pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands. They, the children, speak fervently and innocently of this land as the land of "liberty and justice for all."

The time, I believe, has come to work together - for it is not enough to hope together, and it is not enough to pray together, to work together that this children's oath, pronounced every morning from Maine to California, from North to South, may become. a glorious, unshakeable reality in a morally renewed and united America.

My own takeaway regarding the Republican candidate - to rephrase tradition: there is no room for anyone else with someone so completely full of himself. Trump must be stopped.

A spoonful of sugar

An older friend liked to teach, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” It was somewhat of a mantra for her, and it became one of the most profound jewels I’ve ever learned regarding playing nicely in the sandbox of human interaction. It’s somewhat of a more sophisticated version of Mary Poppins’ “spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” This simple, elegant remark has informed my thinking about how to deal with others, respond to challenges, and even express my most emotionally hijacked concerns.

For me, the greatest calamity to befall American politics in the last decades has been the decline, or utter collapse, of civility in public discourse. I’m not speaking here of the debate by some about “political correctness” or “saying what’s on my mind” or “spouting the ugly truth” – though these notions are certainly at play. Rather, what distresses me is that the willful (and often nasty) use of demeaning, demonizing language has replaced thoughtful, intelligent, articulate dialogue – beyond the political arena, this has become true of sports, communal life, and perhaps its most complicit provocateur, the media. Vilification (and the ultimate desensitizing to its effects) has become de riguer to the children of this generation. This is sad for us all.

Yes, I wish I were in the position to call for a return to civility, a collective elevated sense of how we are supposed to engage one another, particularly when we disagree. I am hopeful that we as a society have not “jumped the shark,” never able to repair this broken part of our culture’s day-to-day reality. And even witnessing the awful behavior of so many during the current political season, I think that there are an overwhelming number of us who would prefer, insist, that better standards should guide us.

Last week’s Republican National Convention was a farce at best. Third-rate “celebrity” speakers regurgitating hateful, ill-informed (and often outright false) accusations to help foster fear in an ignorant electorate; self-righteous, narrow-minded elected officials and hopefuls cheering their own spate of bigotry; poor planning and execution by the conference organizers; all enough to wish for the time prior to reality TV. I cannot guarantee what might happen during the DNC which begins today; I remain mystified by the ongoing blathering of so-called “Bernie-of-Bust” people – if they hadn’t rendered themselves irrelevant by their actions so far, Senator Sanders’ support for Hillary Clinton’s candidacy concluded that last week. Yet I do remain ever expectant that we will see something far more civilized, more refined over these days ahead: as I look at the scheduled speakers, the rollout of Tim Kaine as running mate, at the *positive* perspective that the Democratic party and campaign have tried to muster – there may yet be a way that we will be, according to Lincoln, touched by the better angels of our nature. 

Spark plugs & the mechanics of democracy

When I was about 15 years old, before I was allowed to start learning to drive, my dad insisted I learn certain fundamental mechanics of car maintenance and care. Prior to me ever sitting behind the wheel, he taught me to change a tire, change the oil, replace spark plugs, check/refill brake fluid, antifreeze & windshield washer, beyond simply knowing how to pump gas (this was true for my siblings as well). At first I thought, “why do I have to know how to do this stuff?” Over the weeks of practicing driving, and years on the road, it’s become always more apparent that if the driver doesn’t know how the parts work, and have an appreciation for the system as a whole, I’d never become the safe – or best – driver I should be.

*****

The same holds true, or should, in our political arena. From career politicians to idealistic hopefuls, from part-time dabblers to overzealous business moguls, too many of those who run for public office seem to have precious little grasp of American history, governmental process, and the basic mechanics of democracy.

It be powerful, and yes perhaps transformative, if before people register as a candidates for office, there was a demand that they have a working understanding of the system. I guarantee this would make for better suited contenders, elevated dialogue, and stronger, more effective governance. The following is a list of ten volumes that I suggest might be a good place to start, offered alphabetically by author.

 

Sara Bullard, Free at Last: A History of the Civil Rights Movement and Those Who Died in the Struggle

Joseph Ellis, Founding Brothers

Eric Foner, Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution

Doris K. Goodwin, Team of Rivals

Allen Guelzo, Gettysburg: the Last Invasion

Pauline Maier, American Scripture

Robert Putnam/David Campbell, American Grace

William Rehnquist, The Supreme Court

Gordon Wood, The Idea of America

Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States

Of course this doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of the vast amount of important, inspiring, instructive material to be explored. These few truly came off the top of my head. Yet wouldn’t it be something if we knew that political aspirants had *some* general knowledge of what they were talking about, *before* they did so?

What items would you add to the list? This could be a very interesting conversation.

Eid Mubarak, for all

(I originally posted the following piece more than five and a half years ago, in a very different place, time, and period of my life. Yet its hopeful message about the world we live in, the world that might yet be, remains. Whatever your faith, conviction, religious background: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Bahá'í, None, or Whatever, we all deserve the blessing of EID MUBARAK.)

Yesterday, on Rosh HaShanah afternoon, a group of us from Temple made a visit to the local mosque. This year our holiday coincides with the last day of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month centered on fasting, prayer, repentance, and purification. A few weeks ago in a planning meeting, about five of us came up with the idea that we’d like to make outreach to the Muslim community. When I discovered the overlap between our two Holy Days, I also looked up if there are any special customs for the end of Ramadan. As I shared what I found about Iftar (the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during Ramadan) we immediately saw the similarity of eating sweets as a symbol of our hope for goodness in the year ahead. We brainstormed the idea of asking about the idea of Temple members bringing a basket of such goodies to the mosque – we hoped to demonstrate our desire to cultivate a relationship between our congregations.

With the encouragement of the others around the table, I sent a note to the Islamic Society of Michiana, posing our question about a possible visit. I concluded my message: As we look to enter the New Year on the Jewish calendar, with hopes for sweetness and peace, we wish you a season of goodness and blessing. Please accept our best wishes. May this holy season be meaningful. I didn’t really have any idea about what kind of response I’d receive. I got a warm and enthusiastic reply, which included the following: Thank you so much for reaching out to us with your kind wishes. We are very excited and looking forward to the visit of your Temple members. We also want to extend our warm wishes for your Rosh HaShanah. May the New Year be filled with health, happiness, sweet moments, and peace. Needless to say, I was delighted.

Perhaps more than our little discussion group would like to attend? We decided to announce our plans during our Holy Day worship services, opening up the invitation to anyone from Temple who’d like to join us. We arranged to meet at 5:30 in the afternoon to “assemble” our gift baskets, and then caravan to the mosque. I thought it would be great if ten of us came together. Nearly thirty of us made the outing – a source of genuine pride and satisfaction.

We were welcomed with gracious hospitality – as should always be the case in our human interactions. It was amazing to mix, mingle and share with our Muslim neighbors. And it came as no surprise as we live in a smaller, tight-knit city – that several of us, Jews and Muslims, already knew somebody else: from the neighborhood in which we live, or the local supermarket, seeing one another at the gym, or having sent our children to the same schools. This was a truly uplifting culmination to our celebration of the New Year. What began as a modest outreach effort became something much more. As we continue to strengthen the connection between our Jewish and Muslim communities, I think we have a real chance to create meaningful relationships among the members of both. I look forward to this ongoing opportunity, as we might just make a difference in the world.

#StraightNotNarrow

Highlights of Seattle Pride 2016.

Pride, gun control, immigration reform, education reform, all intertwined on a beautiful sunny activist day.

Yesterday, on the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, some 500,000 people gathered in downtown Seattle for the annual Pride Parade and Pride Fest. For a moment, the many challenging issues facing our world feel to the wayside (as if they’ve already been handily defeated), and the widest variety of people celebrated their shared humanity in the soaking sunshine.

Without regard to race, gender, sexual identity, age, ability or any of the other factors that otherwise “separate” people, the scene surged with positive energy and uplifting spirit. From the very cute, very young parade participants to the float representing protective LGBT elder services to the variety of gender-fluid apparel and presentation to the unlimited variety present – it was a display of the BEST that our society, our world can be (if there was one overwhelming unifying feature, it was surely the ubiquitous Prince and Madonna tunes throughout the day). And wonderful to have Seattle's mayor, our governor, elected officials, the police, every imaginable high-tech company, and all the wonderful agencies out demonstrating support throughout the day. 

Along the way, quite naturally, we saw continued advocacy on a range of interests that are obviously tangled together especially of late: LGBTQ rights, sensible gun control, women’s health care access, education reform, comprehensive immigration concerns – an complete array of progressive political undertakings. It’s reassuring to know that the many different efforts I’ve addressed all fill the same bucket of working toward improving the world; even if none are yet entirely completed. 

Perhaps most significantly – late in the day, well after returning home, I learned that there were no arrests made during the entire event. That in itself seems quite remarkable. More so – a powerful statement about what Pride means to so many of us who only wish to do what’s right by our fellow human beings. It’s a small – not insignificant – reminder that together, we can move the world from what it is to what it ought to be. 

Fight the Power

One of the fundamental features of our society, as set out in the Constitution of the United States, is the notion of Separation of Powers. Though stemming from thinkers as far back as ancient Greece, the Separation of Powers is one of the elements that distinguished U.S. government structure since its inception. As every young student learns (or should learn!), this is what allows for *checks and balances* among the three Federal branches, and fosters balance among the Judiciary, Legislative and Executive functioning bodies. 

Today, and recently, the long-honored - and required - Separation of Powers has been under assault. More specifically, it is being held hostage by the GOP-led Congress (both Senate and House) driven by the tainted influence of special interests. The GOP continues to flaunt its self-appointed right to demand ransom from the American people regarding the hamstringing of our Courts and office of President. 

A few key examples at play include: 

• Senate Republicans outright refusing to hold hearings for confirmation on the President's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. They are willfully ignoring one of the basic roles outlined in the Constitution.
• GOP members in both houses dragging their feet regarding common sense gun control - which is sought by an overwhelming majority of the country, no matter where on the political spectrum. Special thanks in this regard is due in this regard to the money-hungry gun lobby, particularly the NRA. 
• Denial to address comprehensive immigration reform, and the blatant disregard of the vital immigrant history of our nation. This one is highlighted just today, as the Supreme Court, deadlocked at a 4-4 decision (directly related to not filling the last seat) on upholding a Presidential executive order that was challenged by Texas, refers that back to the lower court, effectively undermining the powers of both the other branches. 

The list goes on. And I'm certain we are nowhere near the end of this systemic blockade which impacts us every day in so many ways.

HOWEVER -one power that supersedes the checks & balances that have been broken by the GOP-held Congress. And that is the power of the vote. The only way to overcome the frustration and disappointment in how our government is limping and wounded in its ability to perform is to remove those who are responsible for this overall impasse. It is time to end the tenure of the far-too-many members of Congress whose sole priority is their own standing, while relying on and deferring to the corporations and lobbyist who seem to line their campaign pockets in return for electoral support and policy votes. 

If Republican officials won't do their job, if they won't uphold their Constitutional obligations, if they won't serve our needs, then we the people must act. It is up to us, the true holders of political clout, to be the agents of change. 

FIGHT THE POWER - VOTE 'EM OUT. 

We're the agents of change

I previously shared these words of Jack Riemer as part of an invocation for a university commencement I was privileged to join. My hope that day was that they might encourage those in attendance to be agents of positive change. For the religious-minded among us, this poem represents an attitude about the efficacy of prayer, that prayer is only actualized by what we do. For the atheist, this offering reminds us of the power of human artistic expression, no matter the inspiration.

We cannot merely pray to God to end war;
For the world was made in such a way
That we must find our own path of peace
Within ourselves and with our neighbor.
 
We cannot merely pray to God to root out prejudice;

For we already have eyes

With which to see the good in all people
If we would only use them rightly.

We cannot merely pray to God to end starvation;

 For we already have the resources 
With which to feed the entire world
If we would only use them wisely.

We cannot merely pray to God to end despair;
For we already have the power
To clear away slums and to give hope
If we would only use our power justly.

We cannot merely pray to God to end disease:
For we already have great minds
With which to search out cures and healings
If we would only use them constructively.

Therefore we pray instead
For strength, determination, and will power,
To do instead of merely to pray
To become instead of merely to wish;
That our world may be safe,

And that our lives may be blessed.

As we look at the world around us – we are charged to be champions of goodness and compassion, justice and right.  May your words and deeds be so dedicated– so our world might yet be made better because of you.  And may we all forge this blessing together.

United We Stand

Infighting is just part of party politics, right? And disparaging antipathy defines the two-party system – hasn’t this always been the case? Well, to a degree yes, this goes back to the original presidential succession following Washington. In his monumentally important book on the real George W., His Excellency, Joseph Ellis teaches us regarding the last stage of his relationship with Thomas Jefferson:

The two men exchanged a few more letters the following year, all safely focused on agrarian topics like their respective vetch crops. Then, when on of Jefferson’s more offensive private letters condemning Washington’s leadership was reprinted in the newspapers – Jefferson claimed it was not quite what he had said – all correspondence between Monticello and Mount Vernon ceased. Historians have always had a difficult time trying to pinpoint the moment when the party system displaced a government founded on trust and bipartisan assumptions. For Washington, this was it (p. 232).

And so, over our history – whether Federalist or Whig, Republican or Democrat (or any of their various morphed iterations), party politics have often gotten in the way of national interests. This has merely been accentuated in our time – due in part to the oversaturation of news info provided to us via modern technology (24-hr. cable news, the internet, social media and so on) AND by the precipitous decline in journalistic responsibility, described by some as the fall of the noble *press* into today’s ratings- (and sadly, advertising revenue-) driven *media.*

Especially following the tragic mass hate crime in Orlando this past weekend – it is time for ALL of us to break down walls of division, within our parties, and across the aisle. So-called “Bernie-or-bust” supporters of Senator Sanders only do disservice to our American system if they continue to threaten to “take my marbles and go home;” i.e. plan not to be involved and vote in the general election as their candidate didn’t prevail in the primary. Yes folks, grow up, we’ve all been there, passionately promoting a beloved contender who simply went so far, no further. And as for Republicans, if you truly believe in classic ideals as the American dream, the melting pot, the significance of our society as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world – NOW is the time to evaluate your allegiance to the presumptive nominee of your party. Open your eyes – Donald Trump is an ill-prepared charlatan. He is ignorant of national and world affairs (and the basics of history and politics), flouts “leaders” of the GOP by disparaging anyone who remotely disagrees with him, and openly professes deep bigotry toward anyone who is not like himself. Or rather, toward anyone who is NOT himself.

There is still great opportunity for we the people to come together to address the significant and varied issues that we face. The first step is just that – a willingness to come together. And together we CAN tackle our economic concerns; we CAN root out the baseless hatred that is hurled toward so many; we CAN stop the spate of senseless violence that threatens our children, our friends, our neighbors; and we CAN foster an environment in which all people – regardless of color, religion, gender and sexual identity – have the opportunity to find their inner gifts and let them successfully shine.  

Insightfully referring to Washington’s famous “Farewell Adress,” Ellis further states that it was “primarily a great prophecy that the first word in the term “United States” was destined to trump the second” (p. 236). Let us be ever vigilant to fulfill this dream, for we are better together than apart. 

Secretary Clinton Clinches Pennant

Last night, decisively, Secretary Clinton achieved what *no other woman in American history* has done - in capturing the Democratic Party's nomination for President. Sure, this is apparently difficult to accept for Senator Sanders and his supporters; though my complete allegiance has been with Hillary from the outset of this election cycle, Bernie's campaign HAS been vital in motivating additional involvement and bringing light to key issue we face. There will be time to evaluate that, and to consider what of the Sanders perspective needs to be retained as the Democratic Party, and the country, move forward.

YET FOR NOW, let's all put aside our partisan politics for a moment or two. Let's marvel in this historic moment for all Americans.

The tragic 9/11 attack was just a month after our daughter Vered was born. The events of that day sparked fifteen years of subsequent challenge to our politics and world view, ups and downs with the economy, and questioning our very national identity. Watching the news unfurl that day, we asked "what kind of world have we brought her into?"

And as of today, she will never know a world in which a woman or man can't be considered to serve our nation in any capacity. That all American girls and boys, women and men, can truly aspire toward filling *any* role in our society - though seemingly a pedestrian idea - is nothing short of revolutionary.

I have had the privilege to advocate for equality issues of all sorts for some 30+ years. And I am grateful for the efforts of those who showed this generation, by example, how to finally make this happen. There is, as always, much for us to do, together, to strengthen and improve our country and world. For now, this moment, let us join together to celebrate this initial milestone...

Try this pho starters

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the variety and quantity of available Asian food is remarkable. Of course, as a friend instructed me as we moved here, Seattle is a major city and also part of the Pacific rim. Very cool. For most of the time we lived in Indiana (shocker) the selection was much more curtailed. And nothing approaching Vietnamese cuisine was around until about a year prior to leaving. So, in good fashion, I learned to make Pho (one of my son's faves), which has become somewhat of a staple in our house. Asian soups have depth of flavors, and vary widely from culture to culture and within ethnic traditions. What's your favorite? Here's ours:

Chef Eric's Pho recipe – it’s wicked simple

Soften 1 container Thai or Japanese rice noodles, set aside…

Cut up a few good size leafy sprigs of fresh basil, along with @ ½ bunch fresh cilantro. Throw into a good pot along with @ 32 oz. soup stock (I like to use organic chicken stock, clear-ish, though upon arriving here, learned that there ARE ready-to-use Pho starters. I still prefer my own)…begin to heat on low…chop up two bunches baby bok choy, throw into pot along with healthy dose (the more the better ) of crushed red pepper.

As it heats, add one stick cinnamon, and healthy dose ground ginger, along with 2-3 teaspoons Thai fish sauce. Add cubed firm tofu (½ to ¾ container of organic), and halved small meatballs (homemade better, in a pinch, out of a package)…add another 32 oz. soup stock (i.e. container) and raise heat slightly…add more crushed red pepper (c’mon, why not?)…

Watch stock so it *doesn’t* boil….turn down a bit, add ½ lb. sliced skirt steak (cut in thin strips, across the grain)…and a sprinkle or two of sea salt…let cook down just a bit…

TO SERVE: place modest but healthy scoop of rice noodles in bottom of large bowl. Ladle generous portion of soup with all the good stuff over the noodles. For garnish – at table, add sliced fresh jalapeno, fresh bean sprouts, and fresh basil leaves (the additional flavors will make the whole dish POP!). Add a squirt or two of Sriracha if you like

Squeeze a slice of lime into your bowl just before eating…

Use large spoon, be prepared to sweat, and ENJOY!!!

Smart gun laws, or, orange IS the new black

COLUMBINE…VIRGINIA TECH…SANDY HOOK…UCLA…AND TOO MANY MORE

Off the top of our heads, unfortunately, I’m sure we can add other now-familiar names to this list.

What seems like a lifetime ago, in a place in my life very far away, I was quoted in a community profile upon taking a new job: “It scares me to death that more and more victims of violent crime seem to be children who are targets of gunfire. It’s our obligation to fight against violence in our society and do what we can to remove weapons from the hands of those who shouldn’t have them!”

I said these words well more than fifteen years ago, not long after the Columbine shooting brought the epidemic of gun violence in our society into clear (and all-too-common) focus. The years since have been riddled with episode after episode of campus calamities, street crime, and yes, violent abuses by law enforcement. There is no question in my mind that smarter gun laws, enacted and enforced by responsible leadership, is paramount to the continued (or renewed) health of our community.

Tomorrow, June 2, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. People are encouraged to wear orange in demonstration of their support of sensible gun laws, and the effort to reduce the impact of gun-related mortality. And, we can certainly do more than wearing orange (and important gesture, yet symbolic at best). We – all people of good will – must speak out, advocate, and lobby for sensible gun laws, AND for support for the surrounding issues that fuel this issue. And it doesn’t matter where you fall on the political spectrum; from the most progressive wing of those who would outlaw gun ownership to those who vehemently believe that the Second Amendment allow you to own *any* firearm you desire without limitation, ALL of us need to agree that we can only continue with intelligent regulations. Yet, we cannot intelligently address the problem of gun violence if we ignore mental health, education, incarceration, and economic disadvantage as the serious matters they are. So too, racial disparity and gender inequality must be in the mix of our dialogue to navigate the quagmire of America’s ills (for more on my opinion regarding specifics of gun regulation, and the 2^nd Amendment, please see http://guitarandpen.blogspot.com/2015/10/its-time-to-get-guns.html).

So yes, tomorrow, wear orange to show your support. More importantly, make your voice heard – contact your local, state and national representatives, push them to support smart gun laws, and put greater control on *who* can obtain a gun, and more importantly, how/how quickly. We owe this to our children’s well-being, our American future, our lasting posterity.