Rabbi Aaron Goldstein
25 June 2016

Bnot Mitzvah – Joelle and Taylor Langer

Demonstrating a deft skill for political irony and poetic justice, the Israelite people who spurned 40 days worth of expert evidence that the Promised Land was good and plentiful¹ were punished with 40 years bemidbar, in the wilderness, a year for each day (Ex 23:33-34). They voted against entering the Land.

This Shabbat morning, 30 hours after it was declared that the citizens of the United Kingdom had voted to exit the formal structures of the European Union, let us be grateful that there has been no immediate sentence passed by heavenly or earthly authority. Excepting speculative threats originating from those trying to score political points or the bombastic.

In response to the EU Referendum result, congregants have expressed real and intense anger. These include those who are not British Citizens and those holding dual citizenship who fear greatly for the knock on affect in other European countries especially those whose far right parties make UKIP look like tiddlers in a stream. As Rabbi Lea² said to me, “fascism is electable again.”

Others talk of a xenophobic streak expanding in British society that I suspect although it has not been articulated, also contains the question – what does this mean for us Jews? Young people at my old school, Haydon, that I visited this week who were ineligible to vote derided older generations who they saw as having enjoyed free education and wealth on the back of a property ladder they cannot consider even getting on the first rung.

And it must be said, by far the majority talked of concern for what this might mean to the economy…their personal wealth. I include myself fretting over the exchange rate for my summer holiday that I am fortunate to take overseas. Of course all of these and more in a jumble are expressed.

There are also congregants who have expressed – a few shocked at the reality of the outcome – a quiet confidence despite the uncertainty of the future. Most articulate amongst them is a serious, intellectual search for a purer democracy that all engaged in this campaign know is hampered through membership of the EU. And also a sense that, yes, they did enjoy free education, health service and wealth guaranteed in company pensions and property; and they fought or lived through and with the aftermath of the European world wars. Whilst others say this is exactly why we should have remained in the EU, they cite a spirit of Britishness that younger generations only get when there is a royal wedding or a their home nation participates in a major sporting event. They believe it will return.

And then there are the viewpoints that could not be expressed by congregants for we have been blessed to live and work in the south east of England, in Greater London. These we hear and see only on media channels because we have no engagement with those who live in the other regions of the United Kingdom who voted to leave the EU. When in Cornwall over half-term, one could only see ‘Leave’ placards but one does not have far to go to witness the same phenomena as I cycled through South Oxhey yesterday.

There is a lot of blame of politicians, some justifiable. There is a lot of anger at others who did not vote as we knew was right to vote. And yet do we know the lives of those who live in Boston, Lincolnshire, or in Port Talbot, Wales or South Oxhey?

Rabbi Israel Salanter (Sefer Cheshbon Nefesh), the godfather of the Musar Movement of orthodoxy that sought to bring ethical, educational and spiritual discipline to ones life recommended: “Before you open your mouth, be silent and reflect: What benefit will my speech bring to me or others.”

In thoughtful response to this historic event, Rabbi Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi of Liberal Judaism wrote: “Liberal Judaism is a religious organisation, interested in values not structures, and, whatever the details of the future governmental arrangements, it has, in my view something to contribute to the future of the United Kingdom and its citizens.”

Rabbi Rich³ articulates three specific values:

1) the repeated exhortations in the Torah to protect the weakest and most vulnerable in our society;
2) generosity and thoughtfulness towards those with whom we disagree articulated in prohibitions on taking vengeance and bearing a grudge: ‘Do not rejoice when your enemy falls (Proverbs 24:17),’ rather a love of one’s fellow citizen and the stranger amongst us for we are reminded by the Hebrew Prophet, Micah: ‘Have we not all one Divine Parent? Has not one God created us?’
3) and that each one us – part of the body politic – has a sacred task to “enhance the moral quality of our society so that the United Kingdom can be a beacon of ethical idealism in which freedom, justice and compassion are enhanced and from which regional and international responsibilities can be shared.” This is expressed in the values of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world and the Liberal Jewish concept of messianic, universal hope expressed by the Prophets when all will share in a vision of God’s will.

“Before you open your mouth, be silent and reflect: What benefit will my speech bring to me or others.”

May this morning’s worship service have allowed us time for silent meditation and reflection; May it also have brought us the wisdom to see and the courage and strength to resolve to preserve and safeguard the human and civil rights of every individual in our country, to dialogue with those who express different opinions and for us to learn from each other why we think differently. In this we must learn to listen, not assume, to clarify but not demand that we are always right. Then, may we find the common ground that allows us to work together rather than against each other for the benefit of all in our society, and outside of it, those who are not privileged even a vote or a say in their own destiny.

And finally, may the joy of the Bnot Mitzvah family in Joelle and Taylor’s affirmation of their Jewish identity be one that sees us leave this Sanctuary with optimism. An optimism having also been reminded that we are part whether we like it or not of a truly global, human community. For this week whilst witnessing potential disunity in Europe we also witnessed potential unity in Columbia (the country of origin of Diana, mother of the Bnot Mitzvah) with the signing of a ceasefire between the government and the FARC rebel movement that ended five decades of civil war.

Eternal God, as we encounter uncertainty in our lives, when our emotions assail us, as we experience anxiety, may you bless us. Bless us with the wisdom to be silent and reflect. Bless us with courage and strength to encounter, to listen and hear divergent viewpoints. Bless us with hope that motivates us to be an active partner in the politic of our society, to help shape and form our future and that of our children. Bless us with the ability to join members of our community as they celebrate life and the affirmation of their identity. And true to the order of our prayers in every service, even if we cannot have it all, bless us with Your ultimate gift, Source of all life and being, with peace.

Amen
 
¹ The spies were in the Land for 40 days (Ex 13:25) and brought back evidence of the bounty: a giant cluster of grapes, pomegranate and figs (Ex 13:23).

² Rabbi Lea Mühlstein was born in Germany.

³ Rabbi Danny Rich’s responses to Brexit: The british public have spoken and Brexit: now we must avoid narrow nationalism.