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Newsletter                   September 4, 2014, 9 Elul, 5774

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  Awesome Days          

Admittedly, sitting safely in New York City, I am not filled with immediate fear of an ISIS blade beheading. It is another sword I fear.

 

Although we are approaching the Days of Awe, urged to tremble in anticipation of the Day of Judgment, there is a different aspect to the High Holidays that strikes fear into my heart.

 

My most immediate fear is a self-wielding form of Augustine's Sword. Augustine argued that, "envy and hatred try to pierce our neighbor with a sword, when the blade cannot reach him unless it first passes through our own body."

 

We observe Augustine's sword at work as we listen to people responding to ISIS by angrily placing political blame on one president or another. The sword of anger and resentment, at ISIS' instigation, pierces our hearts, damaging our ability to respectfully debate those with whom we disagree. This sword violates our environment and souls.

 

People who approach the Day of Judgment with fear, listing failures, lost opportunities, sins and weaknesses wield a sword in our battle against evil; a sword that first passes through our own body. Rather than focus on the love expressed by the Ultimate Judge declaring that our actions, words and thoughts matter to Him, we cut away our accomplishments, joys, and growth. I fear this internal sword far more than the Judgment.

 

Our portion begins with someone caught up in the violence of war, who, in his uncontrolled passion, seizes a beautiful woman. "The Torah spoke in response to the Evil Inclination (Deuteronomy 21:10-14; Rashi)." The commentators understand these laws as providing an avenue for the lustful soldier so that his lust will cool before it causes more harm. This approach is focused on the sword of ISIS, the direct confrontation with destructive urges. However, the Torah is providing the soldier with the tools necessary as he processes all that he did in battle. These laws address a period more dangerous than actual battle, a blade more deadly than the one wielded in war; Augustine's Sword, the damage caused when wielded internally, the sword of guilt, the sword with which we rip ourselves apart.

 

"The Torah spoke in response to the Evil Inclination," the Evil Inclination that subtly attacks us, leaving its mark on our hearts and souls. If the soldier does not learn how to blunt this internal sword, he will hate his life, resent his children, and be at risk of self-destruction (Tanchumah 1; Rashi, Verse 10).

 

The soldier is instructed to develop empathy for the captive woman, and, indirectly for himself, so that as she, "removes the garment of her captivity," he sheds his uniform, and as she, "mourns for a month," he learns how to mourn what he has done, and eventually return to life, healed, and safe from this Evil Inclination, this sword, that lingers long after the battle.

 

Those who battle the direct Evil Inclination may win a battle, but they will ignore the far more dangerous inclination to take up Augustine's Sword. These are to be Days of Awe, not, Days of Fear. Days in which, when we let go of Augustine's Sword, we can accomplish awesome internal work, prepared for an even more Awesome year.

 

Please join us for "Rising To The Occasion; Serving As God's Retinue," The Foundation Stone High Holyday Workshop. 

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg 

President 
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