One Torah for All

Dear Friends and Family,

I enclose my Memorial Day/Shavuot [Thurs. eve through Shabbat] commentary and catch you up with lots of love as follows:

Tsuris and nachas continues. A couple months after Shiri got an infection on her side, I finally got a car and got her to the vet. Then Koffie the Siamese got the trots. She shared with Shiri who’s long hair got matted and I had to trim her whole rear. Clean now. Then a Sprite kitten adopted us – only she was a malnourished nearly one year old. Next Dati broke his leg outside somehow. Sprite went for her second vaccinations which were cancelled due to pregnancy. Dati has to have weekly bandage changes for a couple months and has been restricted to a kennel in the dining room. It feels like the vet’s is our second home!!! Now where should we put the box for the expected kittens? Blessings and Love, Rabbi Judi-Adele

Shavuot 5780

Festival of First Fruits, of Receiving Torah

and of Remembering: “Na-a-seh vNishmah” !

This past Memorial Day we also remembered and observed the Fiftieth Anniversary of the murders of four students at Kent State. Then, too, was a time of fake news and incitement to violence by the government leaders – especially by the then Ohio Republican governor. What are the facts?

The young reserve ‘guardsmen’ were falsely told that the students had weapons including a machine gun. No weapons were found. They also were told that there were outside agitators and communists inciting violence. No such people were found nor identified. So the ‘guard’ was fearful.

The peaceful protest of the Vietnam War on the campus at noon was about 15 minutes along when the ‘guard’ arrived and tear gassed them. The students scattered and fled. One turned to gesture at the ‘guard’. The ‘Commander’ gave the order to open fire. Among the witnesses who heard that order was a school custodian in a doorway near the ‘guard’ - a Republican who supported the war and the President.

Four students died, two just walking to class. The dead and the injured were well over 100 feet away from the ‘guard’, fleeing. There was no danger from the students, no attack to justify the ‘guard’s claim of self-defense.

There were many ensuing protests of these unnecessary deaths across the country. By chance I was caught up in one as related in one of my ‘Slice of Life’ poems from my ‘Second Sights’ chapbook:

At the Chicago Armory After Kent State

It was a bright sunny day. I was feeling laid back.

Kitty and I were playing in the yard by the gate

When the empty street came awash with clad feet

Of energetic young folk furious in a way

Over four dead colleagues killed at school by soldier boys

Under captains and colonels who played as with toys,

Under orders which cared not for the value of life...

The folk were angry, sad from the irrational strife...

So I grabbed my Kitty and joined in with the marchers

As if for a fun picnic on the field by the base.

We played in the shade of a green tree at the field’s edge

Not suspecting even a bit what then could take place.

There were speeches in that field by the armory fence

When a chant arose, repeated among attendees:

“Take down the flag” and “Put it at half mast

To honor those wraiths who no longer breathe!”

With tension mounting as each word was said

A lone guardsman came to unlock the gate.

With purpose he walked to the flagpole that day

To draw down our flag, then take it away.

But the shouts grew louder. Some folk wanted to go in.

That guardsman surely felt fear as he walked through that din...

Yet he held his head up high, his posture was most sure...

In a flash I sensed a future with that soldier trampled by the crowd,

The armory invaded, soldiers shooting once more...

My heart’s depths knew such a tragedy certainly shouldn’t be allowed.

So I hugged my little kitten close to me, I stood up tall and straight,

I spoke my words out loudly, clearly, for what I said just could not wait:

“A moment of silence for our fallen brothers” caught the crowd’s desire.

The tension was broken; rabble rousers quieted. Now no-one cared to fire.

Pikuach Nefesh. The saving of souls. Be they students or guardsmen, all souls are equal and should be valued – even that of the then Ohio governor…

However our agreement at Har [Mt.] Sinai to not murder has been forgotten by so many in response to fake news, false medical advice, bigotries, hatred, political incitements to harm others who do not agree with... We should be coming together to save souls rather than denying medical supplies from the National reserve or state and local assistance to those who disagree with the ruling politics. Just a two week earlier response could have avoided approximately 80% of the deaths to date; one week could have saved about half. Were these souls not worthy of our caring and compassion? Did Pikuach Nefesh not apply?

Maybe my past experience taught me caution in protest. Afterwards I never joined in except as medic, journalist, and/or lobbyist. Maybe that is why I taught CPR, First Aid, and Water Safety for decades thereafter. Pikuach Nefesh, part of what we promised at Har Sinai…

We remember this Shavuot all who need healing from illness or trauma, from the nightmares of that day among the survivors and maybe even the guardsmen… We remember this Shavuot all our dear ones who have passed as well as the needless deaths of the innocent in pogroms, in holocausts, in wars, on campuses, during protests, during pandemics… We should resolve, as the Rambam would have encouraged, to work together and to follow the facts, scientific and validated medical, in order to save lives. Rumors, unsubstantiated claims, and bigotries should have no part in our decisions.

May we be all wise enough to do so this Shavuot and in the future.

Chag Shavuot Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!