Rabbi's Desk

A wave of emotions overcame the nation this week as the world was stunned by the outcome of our presidential election. If my Facebook feed is a scientific gauge, my own family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances expressed a range of passionate emotions and feelings as they contemplate the unknown that is to come. It seems that the most prevalent feelings, after expressions of shock subsided, were fear and uncertainty.

One of my favorite posts appeared only hours after the election was called and following a flood of people expressing an extreme range of anger/fear/celebration/outrage/panic, etc. It was from a friend who does not usually post about politics. She wrote three simple but powerful words - reminiscent of the declaration we repeat 7 times before the shofar blast marking the end of Yom Kippur:

ה׳ הוא האלהים

Hashem is the Lord.

This Shabbat, perhaps by divine coincidence, we will read the story of our father, Abraham, who was sent on a journey by God to an unknown destination. He was instructed to leave the comfort of his family home to blindly follow a new path wrought with difficulty and uncertainty.

It is interesting that God does not make this journey simple. Instead of being safely delivered to his destination and promptly awarded all of the promised blessings, Abraham (then Abram) was compelled to find his own way. He was faced with difficult challenges and tough roadblocks. Powerful people tried to take advantage of him. He struggled with and fought for his beliefs, made the best choices he could and he never lost faith in his divine mandate.

We realize that the journey itself was important and Abraham, like some of us, was set on a path that he didn’t choose - full of unforeseen and potentially dangerous obstacles. Nevertheless he continued to honorably fight for the ideals that guided him because he knew a simple secret.

ה׳ הוא האלהים

Hashem is the Lord.

Each time we kindle the Sabbath lights and relinquish control of our world for 25 hours, we are reminded of this humbling and comforting idea. We must do what we can with the tools at our disposal to be the blessing that we were blessed, through Abraham, to be. We must accept our circumstances, find common ground, and never give up advocating for the values that we embody. 

Most important, we must recognize that, ultimately, no individual or political party is in charge. Hashem is the Lord. In this time of uncertainty, may He continue to watch over, protect, and bless us as we strive to watch over, protect, and celebrate His creation.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Steven Suson