“In Germany, the Nazis came for the Communists, and I did not speak up because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, but I did not speak up because I was not a Jew. And then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I was a Protestant, so I did not speak up. And then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for anyone.” (Martin Niemoller)

Unfortunately, this phenomenon, as described so eloquently by Martin Niemoller in the midst of the Holocaust, is still prevalent today. How easy it is to think that someone else will take care of what ever in justice there is in our job, at school, in our community, in our city, in our country, in our world. How easy to say “Well. it doesn't directly affect me, so it's not my concern, or my responsibility.” Or “Why should I worry? Others will do what is necessary. Someone else is bound to help, aren't they?” Or “It's not my place to say anything.” Or “What can one person really do?”

And I ask, what if Oscar Schindler or Raul Wallenberg felt the same way. What if Martin Luther King, Jr. had remained silent?

Each of us has a voice. And each one of us does have the ability to make a difference. Maybe not on such a profound level as those I just mentioned. but there are plenty of times where monumental things happen and the instigator is an unknown person. Someone who simply had an idea or a concern and turned it into action. Someone who did not keep their thoughts to themselves. Someone who when seeing injustice. took a stand on behalf of potential victims and spoke out. They became involved, able to stand up to those in authority, regardless of who had the ultimate power. Or who was on the receiving end of the abuse.

Abraham was one of these people!

The Book of Genesis is full of juicy stories about him; especially parashah Vayerah, this week's Torah Portion. There are two stories that caught my attention. Both deal with Abraham's reaction to another. First, his reaction to strangers: Three men, on a journey through the desert, pass before Abraham's tent. Immediately, upon seeing these potential guests, Abraham rushes to greet them and then to serve them. He abandons all he is doing, without even thinking, to tend to their needs, to invite them into his home, even though he himself is not well. And Second. Abraham's reaction to God: God has made a decision to destroy Sodom & Gemorah because the behavior of the inhabitants of these cities is abhorrent to God. So, God debates whether or not to share this plan with Abraham and decides it would be best if Abraham knew what was brewing.

It is from Abraham's reaction to this revelation that we learn a valuable lesson. Abraham pleads with God not to destroy the cities and begins to negotiate, “What if there were fifty righteous people within the city? Would you still destroy it rather than spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people within it?” (Gen. 18:23) Abraham has the audacity to continue to petition God until he feels an fair agreement is reached, “What if 45 righteous people are found there? What about 40? 30? 20? . . .” and finally “What if ten would be found there? And God said. “I will not destroy on account of the ten.” (Gen. 18:32) Notice, that in this story Abraham does not challenge God because he personally knows the inhabitants of Sodom and Gemorah; nor is he personally effected by the outcome. Rather he bargains on behalf of people he does not even know. He speaks up because he feels that God is about to preform an unjust act. Abraham hopes that by his taking a stand, the cities will be saved. Abraham's motivation is that despite all of the wickedness there just may be righteous people. Even a place as sinful as Sodom must have Tzadikim, must have righteous people within it, he thought.

So, Abraham took a stand. He did not simply listen and allow God to act in an unjust and arbitrary fashion. He challenged God. He challenged the “Holy One” the ultimate Authority. Abraham does not hold back even knowing before whom he speaks. He felt certain about his opinion, enough to say to God, “It would be sacrilege to You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the righteous along with the wicked; so the righteous and the wicked will fare alike. It would be sacrilege to You! Shall the judge of all the earth not do justice?” (Gen. 18:25). Even before God, Abraham was able to take a stand.

Think about what seems unjust to you. Sadly, there are so many unjust circumstances in our world. What can we do? How can we respond to these circumstances? How can we influence change or make a difference? Can we do it alone? Sometimes we act alone or at least we begin the process alone? but often one person influences others, who then influence others, until a unified team of supporters and concerned citizens are established.

The text teaches us that in order to save the city, 10 righteous people must be found with in the city. The important words to notice are “” “within the city.” Meaning, these righteous people, if they are to be found, must be righteous both publicly (within the city) and privately. A truly righteous person should be involved with others, trying to influence others to take a stand on moral issues. on issues they feel passionate about. One who is just and righteous in private, alone, may save oneself, but this makes no difference to the population as a whole. This individual will not protect the city. If the “righteous” person is afraid to speak, or too busy to speak, the influence of the “unrighteous” will prevail. “All that is needed for evil to prevail is the silence of good men (and women).”

A stunning story is told in Judges, Chapter 9, of a beautiful forest, where the trees wanted to anoint a king over themselves. First the Olive tree is approached. “Reign over us.” they said. But the Olive tree replied, “Have I through whom God and people are honored, stopped yielding my rich oil, that I should go and wave above the trees?” So the trees said to the Fig tree, “Reign over us.” But the Fig tree replied, “I have I stopped yielding my sweetness, my delicious fruit, that I should go and wave above the trees?” So the trees said to the vine, “Reign over us.” But the vine replied, “Have I stopped yielding my new wine, which gladdens God and people, that I should go and wave above the trees?” Finally, the thornbush who produced absolutely nothing was asked? “Reign over us.” And the thornbush said to the trees, “If you are acting honorably in anointing me king over you, come and take shelter in my shade; but if not, may fire issue from me and consume all of you.”

All of the trees and the vine were too busy being productive, each focused on their own individual task and success. As a result, the most unproductive, destructive, least likely candidate became king, simply by default -- Consequently, not only was the thornbush consumed by the fire, but the strong, valuable, productive trees were consumed as well. And the life giving forest was destroyed.

“Do not separate yourself from the community.” warned Hillel, our teacher. In other words, we can respond as an individual, but if we envelop ourselves in a community, hand in hand, we can form a web of support and action. There is truth to the phrase that there is power in numbers, or it takes a village, but there is also truth in the concept that it only takes one to start the ball rolling and to serve as a motivational force for others.

Just over a week ago the very first Hanukkah postal stamp was released. Christmas stamps have been available for over three decades, but never a Hanukkah stamp. I don't know if this was big news here in San Antonio, but in Los Angeles it was in both the secular and Jewish press. It was very news worthy there, because the stamp was issued as a result of the action taken by a group of elementary school children at Kadema Hebrew Academy in Woodland Hills, California. Last year these children began a campaign expressing the need for a Hanukkah stamp, little did they know that their efforts would be so fruitful. According to the Los Angeles Times, “300 students wrote letters and lobbied the government, calling the stamp nothing less than a symbol of religious freedom.” As one sixth-grader put it, “Having the stamp is important because it helps people know there isn't just one religion in this country. There are many.” What began as a simple civics lesson became a very powerful example of how the few, the unknown, can make a difference. 40,000 requests are received each year by the United States Postal Service asking that various stamps be issued. Yet, somehow, this petition was actively acknowledged -- It touched the hearts of the decision makers that these young students felt strong enough to express their beliefs and concerns. It moved them so much that a hope, a wish, a dream has become a reality.

Mind you, this was not the first time that American Jews have lobbied for this type of stamp. Ten years ago, the initial efforts were made only to be met with resistance. Then, a Hanukkah stamp was deemed “too religious” by the U.S. Postal Service. Not until a woman from New York presented officials with numerous examples of Christian religious stamps did they began to relent.

This most recent lobbying effort that eventually resulted in success began when one parent made a suggestion that the children write to the U.S. Postmaster General. Along with their letters the students also sent pictures of how they envisioned the stamp would look. And now, not only is the United States issuing this stamp but it is also the first joint-issuance postage stamp between Israel and the United States. 300 children expressing their concern for religious equality and religious freedom, from a small day school in the San Fernando Valley, made history because they took action even when they did not know what the end result would be, even when their chance for success was minimal. The principal of the school even stated that while he though this was a great lesson in civic involvement, he also warned the students not to expect results. He was thrilled when he was proven wrong.

These students were lucky because the time from the point of their initial involvement to the “reward”, the hoped for results, was a relatively short period. This is not always the case.

A Simple Gesture: Mark was walking home from junior high school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him was carrying an armful of books, along with two sweaters, a baseball cap, a glove and a small tape recorder. Suddenly the boy tripped and everything scattered. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up his belongings. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came, and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “See, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills. That day, I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

John W. Schlatter
Chicken Soup for the Soul, p. 35 - 56

Mark's involvement saved a life.

Mark saw someone fall, and without even taking time to think, he ran to help. No questions were asked, he only wanted to help. And he continued to help. He didn't have to walk home with him; his involvement could have stopped after he helped Bill pick-up and organize all of his belongings. He could have simply said, “See ya,” but he didn't. “He helped, to carry part of the burden.” After all, they were going in the same direction.

In Mark's mind, back in junior high, what he did was nice, but no big deal; so, he helped a guy pick up his books. It didn't take much effort on Mark's part. Anyone else would have done the same thing, wouldn't they? What was there to think about? Little did he know, until he heard years later, the impact of his small gesture of kindness.

He saved a life. A life which Bill had taken for granted until Mark unknowingly opened his eyes, making him realize what he would miss if he took his own life. Sometimes we don't realize the impact of our involvement until the initial act is long past, if ever.

About two and a half years ago I brought many members of my youth group here, to Temple Beth-El, for a NFTY Spring Conclave. The weekend was devoted to Tikkun Olam, repairing this world. An entire day was even spent in the greater San Antonio Community actively doing Mitzvot. This day was fashioned after an important day that many of you organize for the entire congregation every year; the day I am referring to is Mitzvah Day. I am told that each year the numbers of those involved increase as do the volunteer opportunities. So, I know that social justice is a primary focus and of utmost importance to this congregation.

Think back to your own involvement the last Mitzvah Day. Whether donating blood or feeding the homeless, sorting toiletries or picking up trash, planting trees or entertaining children, the sheer fact that you were involved made such a difference.

When we involve ourselves in gemilut chasadim, acts of love and kindness, who knows, we might be saving a life, or rekindling the spirt of hope and love in someone's soul simply by showing we care. By reaching out our hand, sharing a smile, and becoming involved, one day justice will prevail. By giving time, a precious commodity, we are making a bolder statement then we may realize.

So, the next time we catch ourselves saying, “I'm tired, I barely have time to catch my breath. I don't want to have to schlep...” we should remember what it feels like when we do act, when we do help, I would bet that most of us feel elated, rewarded, fulfilled and blessed. One of life's deepest joys is service.

Thirty six times in the Torah, our behavior toward the stranger, those in need, is mentioned. No other mitzvah is referred to as much, not keep the Sabbath, circumcision, forbidden foods, or even the commandment to love God!

Doing for others is a fundamental part of Judaism.

We do for our neighbor, we do for the stranger, we do for those in need and we feel blessed. Blessed because we realize that we have a lot to be thankful for and feel blessed about. We have a place to live that provides us shelter, whether extravagant or modest. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, and friends and people who care. Look around you, simply being here tonight we are a community part of an ancient tradition and culture. All over the world, Jews will read from the Torah this Shabbat; the same portion we are learning from tonight. It is this shared story that connects the Jewish people through every generation, past, present, and future. As a community we come together to pray, to schmooze, to learn, and to help, to be involved, to influence necessary change and to make a difference.

In the Talmud it says, “If a person proclaims, What concern have I with the community's burden? What concern have I with their lawsuits? What concern have I with listening to their pleas? My own well being is my one and only concern. - such a person destroys the world.” Many of our ancient texts, Talmud, Mishnah, Midrashim, point out the cyclical nature of life, especially in regard to charity and gemilut chasadim, acts of kindness. We are taught that we should give generously with both money and our actions because we never know when the table might be turned and we will be the ones in need. When the support of others will be so necessary and life sustaining for us. We hope that when we are in these situations, others will help us just as we helped them when we were “up”. We hope others will be generous with their time and money. We hope others will speak up, take a stance and become involved.

Our challenge is to be able to say, “When there was injustice against group X and I was not a member of group X, I stood up, I spoke out, I was needed & I did make a difference. Even if I didn't realize exactly how, or see the results first hand.” Justice and Involvement can and often does save the city. Unlike Abraham, we don't have to depend on 10 righteous people to be found within the city. But we should remember that we do need each other to be Tzadikim, to be righteous. Justice and Involvement can bring about change and can have a profound effect on others in our midst, others within our cities.

Home