blogs/rabbi-noah-farkas

Dear VBS Family, Twenty three years ago, Rabbi Schulweis took to the podium at Valley Beth Shalom on Rosh Hashanah and spoke openly and honestly about the need to include LGBT individuals into our community. He said, “I confess I cannot for the life of me look into their eyes and deny them intimacy, love, pleasure and sensuality that is God's gift. … To bring misery, pain, torture anguish to innocent people who are created the way they are violates my Jewish conscience… This is your synagogue, we are your rabbis, this is your people." After the Rabbi spoke, the people responded with a standing ovation.

For more than a generation, Valley Beth Shalom has welcomed all Jews, regardless of sexual orientation into our doors.  And now, we celebrate as the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled in Oberegefell vs Hodges, in favor of the right of all Americans to marry. Today the Court ruled for equality, another sacred step towards civil rights for all of our country's citizens. We celebrate with the nation what we at VBS have known for so long.  Love is love, no matter who you love.  

There are many days that go by when we slip into sleep with nothing truly memorable to show for our wakefullness. Today is not that day. Today is a day to remember and take note. Today is a day to tell your children. Today is a day that marks a significant turning point in the moral history of our country. Today is a day when love comes home to roost equally for all Americans.

Tonight, as the stars begin to shine and we mirror their glow through the lighting of the Shabbat candles, we celebrate the partnership between God's love and our own, for a Torah of love has triumphed.   

May this Shabbat be a blessing to all of you, in openness, love, and in justice.  

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbis Ed Feinstein, Joshua Hoffman, Noah Zvi Farkas, Avi Taff 
and Cantors Phil Baron and Herschel Fox