Dear Friends,
This week in the Torah reading, we read about Noah and the Ark. I want us to think about the kind of evil that was present in the world of Noah and the Ark and whether there are any similarities to our world. I was recently speaking to a colleague who told me that she believes that we live in a world where we no longer practice civility. Think about it….a Congressman calls the President of the U.S. a liar; there is a protest about gays in the military at a funeral; When will we ever learn that although the First Amendment protects our right to free speech, that there are limits of decency and civility that should influence what comes out of our mouths. I have often referenced the words with which I grew up…”Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me…” As I have grown older, I have learned that the words of Rev. Robert Fulgham ring truer….”Stick and stones can break my bones, and words can break my heart.”
I urge all of us to regain a sense of civility in our interactions with others and be careful about how we express ourselves. We can disagree with the President and we can have strong perspectives about gays in the military, BUT we must be respectful and remember that the same lips that utter some of the unkind things we say are the same lips that recite holy prayers and say things like ” I love you.”
I hope that we will live in a world where we think about what we say and realize the impact that our words have on others.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bruce Aft