By By Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss
During the recent holidays, I asked my congregants to consider two questions. The first was, “How have you failed God in the past year?” Begin by taking stock of how well you have protected God’s planet. Psalm 24 opens with a reminder that the earth and all therein belong to God: “The earth is the LORD’s and all that it holds, the world and its inhabitants. For God founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” As its caretakers, we must honor and protect this earth to the best of our abilities.
Have we done all we can to protect our environment? Have we used up more resources than what we are entitled to? Probably. The United States constitutes five percent of the world’s population, yet the average American citizen uses three times the number of resources as the average global citizen.
What about idolatry? Our Torah tells us that idolatry is considered to be one of the gravest of all sins against God. In the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-6) we read, “You shall have no other gods beside Me. You shall not make for yourself any graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of anything that is heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them…”
While we may not actually be bowing down to a graven image, many of us do revere certain idols, such as professional athletes, pop musicians, movie stars, politicians, etc. Many of us also worship the “idols” of wealth, power, and fame. Having these things may not be entirely detrimental; wealth, power, or fame can serve a greater good, if used wisely, compassionately, and with the understanding that these are gifts granted from the Divine.
The second question I posed was, “How have you failed the people in your life? Your family, friends, neighbors, and others in your community?” Have you listened to your spouse when he comes home exhausted from work even though you yourself are exhausted? Or did you somehow brush him off?
Did you spend quality time with your children or parents? Or did you let work-related stresses interfere with your having special time with your loved ones, preferring instead to scroll on phones or watch TV? Did you ever consider how hurtful these behaviors may be to others?
Were you a good friend? Was there someone in your life that you knew was hurting, yet you failed to make time for her? Visit a sick friend or co-worker, or make a meal for someone in mourning? Volunteer time to help with a worthy communal cause? In other words: In this past year, how did each of us make other people feel? Did we somehow touch their hearts or ease their suffering? We alone can make amends with those we have hurt. Only we can say, “I’m sorry that I hurt you,” and ask for forgiveness. In the end, we will be remembered for the kindness and caring that we showed (or didn’t show) to others. The choice is up to us.
During this season of t’shuvah – of turning back toward the sacred – may we each be mindful of how our words and deeds can be a force for good or for harm and let us choose to do better in the coming year. Let us make sincere amends with other people and with the world we inhabit.
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