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Newsletter                     July 10, 2014, 12 Tammuz, 5774

 
        

  Directing My Anger    

What to do with my "Anger Plate"? I have Thank You Machines, otherwise known as Tzedaka-Charity Boxes, set aside for different acknowledgements. When I want to thank God for a special prayer experience, I place my thank you offering in a box dedicated to purchase prayer books for schools and synagogues. A student's accomplishment is honored with a thank you in a box set aside for a school that successfully trains great teachers. Shabbat experiences are acknowledged in a Thank You Machine dedicated to Tomchei Shabbat. What shall I do with my anger plate?

 

I place money in the plate each time I become angry, as I do when I am allowed to repair the damage caused by my anger. The amount placed is in proportion to the anger or the repair. The plate is overflowing and I have to decide to which charity I will send the money. In the past I sent the funds to the NYFD, a perfect place to repair the damage of fiery anger. A thought about this week's portion, which describes God's reward to Pinchas for his fiery zealousness convinced me to reconsider the charity to which I will send my anger collection.

 

"Therefore, say, 'Behold! I give him My covenant of Peace.' It shall be for him and his offspring after him a covenant of eternal priesthood, because he took vengeance for his Lord, and he atoned for the Children of Israel (Numbers 25:12-13)." Although I understand that someone who acted in violence even for the sake of God, needs the covenant of peace, I wonder why the priesthood was given as well. I am convinced that it was more than a response to Pinchas atoning for the nation. In fact, I believe it was a reward for his anger.

 

Pinchas constructively used his anger, and the reward was a means by which he could continue to direct his passion in a positive manner. Reward meaning more than a prize; a tool to use, rather than repress, his anger, much as the reward of a portion in the World To Come is the opportunity to use all our accomplishments to achieve more. I understand the Covenant of Shalom, not as peace, but as an opportunity for Shleimut, wholesomeness, integrating and directing all his qualities, even his passion, even his anger.

 

We are currently facing yet another war in Gaza, fueled by anger and hatred. We observed how millions all over the world responded to the burning hatred of those who kidnapped and murdered three wonderful young men with love, prayer, and compassion. We also saw the consequences of boys who responded in hatred by murdering an Arab teenager. Angry missiles are raining down all over Israel, and yet the IDF, although responding is meticulous in protecting innocent civilians, directing their anger only to stop those attacking us. Any military action has anger, but the IDF is the only military force that properly directs the anger to where it should go.

 

So, my anger plate will go to Friends of the IDF, as will my prayers for the soldiers and all the people of Israel. I pledge to find ways to direct my anger in positive ways in the hope that God will heal all the anger and hatred in this world so that we all may live in peace. 

 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg 

President 
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