Dear Friends,
As the end of the semester approaches, I hope that everyone is dealing with the stress of finals and final assignments. I remember that when I was in college my parents would tell me to “learn something.” During this time of the year it was hard to remember that this is the ultimate goal of a college education with the strain of trying to get everything done. Good luck to all who are reading this and I hope you all enjoy a safe Holiday season and a fulfilling, healthy 2011.
We have just completed Chanukah where we are reminded of the impact that a few can have in response to an overwhelming majority. I hope that the idealism which is so much a part of the story of the Maccabees will inspire us to keep our dreams alive. As we become overwhelmed by the assignments and tests we are completing, please try to remember that each of us can make a difference in our chosen careers and that is very exciting.
When school begins again in January, we will be celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday and I want to share a few thoughts that I shared with my congregation.
“I think about MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech often and wonder whether we continue to make significant progress in making his dream come true. Do we live in a world where brothers and sisters truly can come together in freedom? I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but as I meet with our teenagers and hear the language that some of them use, I am concerned. Although we live during a time when there is greater openness to various individuals, I “hear” in the language that is used, that there are still strong feelings toward others that don’t necessarily support the more liberal views that we espouse. Specifically, often I hear students suggest that something is so “gay” and I wonder if this is just part of their vernacular or it suggests some less than positive feelings toward gay people. I recently led services at a nursing home and a woman was very vocal about the importance of maintaining the traditional “nuclear” family and that gay relationships are contrary to a healthy life style. I hear idle comments being made about women, Jews, people of color, and ethnic groups that make me wonder whether Dr. King would feel we have made as much progress in maintaining civil rights as he would have dreamt. I hear individuals continue to use the word “retarded” to describe the behavior or comments of others. One of our members, was recently quoted in a front page article in the Boston Globe that dealt with bullying. Certainly, we have come a long way from 1963, but we have miles and miles to go before we can sleep comfortably.
We remember the Joseph story from our Biblical heritage and know that brothers in our religious tradition have not always gotten along so well. I hope that through participating in community service and in being careful in the language we use, we will do a little bit to advance the great goals which Dr. King suggested in 1963.”
With the beginning of a new year, I hope we can do our share in keeping the dream alive. Be safe over the Winter Break and enjoy well deserved time to relax and renew.
B’shalom,
Rabbi Bruce Aft