Home Saturday, February 3, 2001
I thought it would be appropriate to start my message on this Brotherhood Shabbat Service with a football story. When long time Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry passed away last year a number of players were asked to comment on the lessons taught to them by their great mentor. Former Cowboy Quarterback, Roger Staubach told reporters that the lessons most important to his success were what Coach Landry taught him about balance. “I’m not talking about play selection here,” Staubach said. “Coach Landry taught me, taught all of us, how to balance our lives. That is what helped me to succeed both as a Football Player and, more importantly, as a man.” When asked to explain this further, the Quarterback simply said, “Coach (Landry) was a leader. I hope to one day be as good of a person as he was. Every day I look in the mirror and ask myself, ‘What will I do today to make myself a better man?’ I think that is a question each and everyone of us should ask ourselves everyday.”
At an Organizational level, I believe Brotherhood stands ready to address the question proposed by Mr. Staubach. The North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods, a coalition with 30,000 members throughout North America, addresses this issue in their preamble, stating:
“Men today are faced with many questions. Conflicting notions of career, fatherhood, responsibility and marriage have eroded centuries-old concepts of male identity and self-worth. More and more of us are searching for a new sense of balance in our lives, searching for something that speaks to us as Jews, as adults, and as men.”
On both a National and Local level, Brotherhood stands ready to address these questions by providing balance in our lives. Together, Brotherhood is prepared to answer these challenges, What will we do today to make ourselves better men?
Brotherhood emphasizes the need for men to work together to better our congregations, our communities, and ourselves. By concentrating on these different areas, we can strive to accomplish a balance within ourselves. In 1996, the North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods created the Achim Corps Project, a program designed “to give brotherhood members the opportunity to explore and celebrate, through study, worship and service, issues of concern to Jewish men.” The program stemmed from a recognition that not all Jewish men felt comfortable enough to be Jewish Role Models. Rabbi Lawrence Colton explained that “Today’s Jewish male may not clearly be the product of an upbringing that leaves him secure in the knowledge of Judaism. Without a proper role model to emulate, the specter of Jewish family observances and traditional synagogue worship may frighten him.” Clearly the goal of the Achim Corps Project has been to provide instruction, support, and friendship to help the members of Brotherhood overcome these misgivings. Through education, not only do we help ourselves, but we serve as important role models for our sons and daughters, by emphasizing the value of Jewish education. On a local level, the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El has long served as Role Models to our Congregation’s youth. Educational programs, presentations at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and support and encouragement of the Religious School faculty have been long-standing accomplishments of our Brotherhood.
Our local Brotherhood also acknowledges it’s responsibility to the entire community of San Antonio. From the Battle of Flowers parade to the Battle to end hunger in our City, the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El is proud of their commitment to the needs of others within our neighborhoods. From serving as mentors to our city’s youth to serving dinners to Senior Citizens, the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El shows support to all sectors of our population. The North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods also acknowledges its duty to the community at large. The Jewish Chautauqua Society for interfaith education promotes “Understanding through Education.” Founded in 1893, the Chautauqua Society, or JCS, has provided educational programs for more that two million students in North America. There programs promote education to reduce prejudice born of ignorance and stereotype. The programs provided by JCS include College Lectureships, Book Grants, Interfaith Institutes, and Museum Visitation Programs. The activities of the JCS have received numerous awards and accreditations, and, once again, demonstrate Brotherhood’s commitment to supporting our communities.
Finally, Brotherhood recognizes the importance of taking care of ourselves, as men, so that we can better accomplish our other responsibilities. The Book of Exodus teaches us, in Chapter 18, that even our greatest leaders can only help us if they first take care of themselves. In this portion of the Torah, Moses is confronted by Jethro, his father-in-law, and told by him that, by leading on his own, and addressing the disputes of the Israelites from morning to evening was not right. “You will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” Brotherhood is committed to make sure that each of us takes care of each other and ourselves, and that we take responsibility not to wear ourselves out. The North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods has initiated a Men’s Health Initiative, designed to educate Brotherhood members, as well as the entire congregation, on topics such as stress and heart disease. I’m proud to report that our the Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El will sponsor and support a symposium on health concerns for the entire Congregation, to take place before the end of the year.
Returning to Mr. Staubach’s challenge, it is important to point out that one can only “look into the mirror” by standing in front of it; for surely you won’t see your reflection by walking behind the mirror or ignoring it all together. Therefore, the challenge I put before the congregation today is to “stand in front of the mirror” and take an active role in Brotherhood. If you are not a member, please join. If you are a member, become active. If you are an active member, find another member and serve as their mentor. This way all of us can stand before the mirror, take stock of ourselves, both individually and as an organization, and tell the entire world What we will do today to make ourselves better men!
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