blogs/rabbi-noah-farkas

Is the world enough; have you ever asked yourself that question? The world as it stands, with all its messy goodness and impropriety, is it enough for us? Many have answered that question with a resigned 'yes.' In light of all the intractable conflicts, violence, and greed, how could we not see the world and say this is enough because it has to be enough.   Henry James, the sociologist and thinker once wrote, "Life is, in fact, a battle. Evil is insolent and strong; beauty enchanting but rare; [and] goodness very apt to be weak..." For many in the world of academia who study the human condition, our capacity for grace and our consummate failures to attain happiness, leads them to conclude that life is, as Max Weber penned, "a war of all-against-all."

One need not look far or wide to find evidence that militates towards this dark horizon. With continued wars and human exploitation the world over, how could someone not think that this is all there is, that this has to be enough?

It is into this milieu that the God of Justice cries out for prophets - those individuals gifted with the sensitivity to feel the chasm between our hopes and our reality and vision to stand up and make a difference. There are many men and women in history who see the world and its fallacies and say the world is notenough. It is not enough to allow violence to carry the day. It is not enough to stand idly by while whole generations are murdered in the streets. It is not enough to shrug when someone is victimized because of their race, religion, or orientation.

Valley Beth Shalom has been lucky to have our own personal prophet. Like Abraham Joshua Heschel, and Martin Luther King Jr. whose friendship and vision we celebrate this weekend, ten years ago Rabbi Shulweis refused to let the wave of injustice sweep him away in the current of apathy.   As the genocide in Darfur, Sudan became known across the world, the rabbi knew with his heart that our history as a Jewish community could not be forgotten.   He said, "Was 'Never Again' a vow only to protect the Jews from genocide? Do I dare shut my eyes? Do I dare close my ears? Do I dare remain silent to what is going on in God's world?"

In response to his prophetic call for justice, we answered. We formed Jewish World Watch to say that we will not stand idly by when we witness others falling victim to genocide. Our tradition celebrates a relationship with a global God and  expects us to act globally. One must put windows and not mirrors in the sanctuary, says the halahcah. We must look beyond ourselves to heal and to strengthen God's world.

Over the last decade Jewish World Watch, has effected change in Sudan and Congo, from helping the plight of refugees of the genocide to ending child conscripts. We are proud to be their partners in this prophetic work.

Next week, on January 22, we will celebrate a decade of work together through a new art exhibit entitled, "One Life at a Time." The exhibit will focus on JWWs work around the globe with photographs, stories and words from Rabbi Schulweis' sermon that launched the movement.

I hope you will join me Wednesday, January 22 at 6:00 P.M. to celebrate ten years together of making a difference, of acting globally, and saying the world is simply not enough.