Yom Kippur and the Message of Jonah I spent the holiest day of the Jewish calendar in Los Angeles as scholar-in-residence at Nessah Synagogue. I spoke 3 times. It was uplifting, inspiring, and moving. I bonded with the young, vibrant community. One of my speeches: Jonah the prophet runs from Gd after being commanded to preach to Ninveh, a large gentile city. He doesnt decline, and he doesnt embrace. He runs. Hes the classic vacillator, shirking responsibility. He cant get off the fence. He is a righteous man, that becomes clear. But he is troubled with this message of preaching to the Gentiles. But he cannot assert his convictions. If he has a problem with the message he could spar with Gd, as did other prophets. Instead he flees. He also misses the fact that the Jewish people have a responsibility to be a kiddush Hashem, to sanctify the name of Gd. To spread the message of Gdlliness beyond the confines of the Jewish community. The lesson for us: Life is about conviction and it demands that we make choices. And our choices must be governed by Gds teachings and will.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 09:43:00 +0000
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