Rabbi Knopf's Blog

Illumin8! Reflections 
The word "Hanukkah" means "dedication," which is about devoting someone or something for a particular purpose. For each of the holiday's eight nights, Rabbi Knopf and several congregants offer a reflection. We hope you'll use these ideas when lighting your candles each night. And, just maybe, you'll be inspired to dedicate yourself to a higher purpose this year.  Hanukkah Same'ah! Happy Hanukkah!

Night 5: The Gift of Difference
By David Perry

      “Don’t speak so much Spanish…people will know you’re half latino…you have an English last name, you could pass as anglo…”  As a boy growing up in South Texas in the 60’s I frequently heard these admonitions from my latino friends. Later, when I was in my 20’s I received similar warnings: “Don’t be so open about where you go, people might figure out you’re gay”…”I can’t believe you brought your boyfriend to the company Holiday party...why would you out yourself like that?”  The clear implication being that if you’re different it makes you “not as good as” and that difference should be hidden. Difference is “bad” or "dangerous”.
     The narrative of the Jewish people is one based on difference, on being the outsider. In a prevailing culture that devalued human life, Judaism taught that all life was sacred. The patriarch Abraham abandoned the idol worship of his family and neighbors to worship one god.  The prophet Jonah went to Nineveh as a stranger to call the people to repentance. And let’s not forget the Reason for the Season- the Jews who defended their right to be different from the Greeks! We can see other examples of modern Jews standing up for the different: Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Martin Luther King, Bella Abzug fighting for women’s equality; Harvey Milk organizing the LGBT community. Throughout history it seems the Jewish people have been called upon to be different and stand with others who are perceived as different.
     We as Conservative Jews are called to continue this sacred heritage of difference.  We have been chosen to stand outside of the prevailing norms in the society we find ourselves in to celebrate the dignity of difference-in ourselves and others.
      We do this when we reach out to our Muslim sisters and brothers, welcoming them to our congregational activities. We do this when we open the doors of our sanctuary as a safe space for the disabled, when we welcome seekers of all races and religious backgrounds. We do this when we welcome the transgendered into our community. When we speak up against the sexual harassment of women, we speak with a prophetic voice. When we as Conservative Jews call for a more balanced telling of the narrative represented by certain monuments in our city; we are continuing a tradition of speaking up when it would be easier to keep quiet, to blend in. Speaking up for immigrants isn’t popular- but speaking the truth in the face of misguided populism rarely is. Judaism has always prided itself on saying what is just, saying what needs to be heard, not what society wants to hear.
    As we celebrate the rededication of the Temple in ancient times, let’s pause and take a moment to re- dedicate the Temple within ourselves -- the Temple of Difference.
 

Make friends with a Veteran on Mitzvah Day, Dec. 25.  Click here.