Shavuot & Memorial Day Weekend ~ May 26, 2023

Throughout the country, state governments are beginning to enact legislation that requires schools to prominently display the Ten Commandments.  Just this week in Texas, the bill that required the display failed to receive sufficient votes in the State House. Yet, the bill remains alive with the hope that before this coming Tuesday, it might pass. A similar bill was introduced in South Carolina. Behind the legislative bill is the goal of Conservatives of reintroducing religion into schools and to reenforce the concept of God into the school children’s lives. As the NY Times reported on Wednesday, the Supreme Court recently revisited the case of a Washington State football coach and stated that the coach did have the constitutional right to bend a knee in prayer at the fifty-yard line with his players.

President Ronald Regan once remarked how important it is that a nation find itself with the divine presence within its thoughts. As Jews, we too understand the importance of God in our midst. Our prayers consistently reflect a desire to understand the place of God in our lives and in our world. We understand the great significance of the Ten Commandments and their revelation of God to man at Mt. Sinai.

We all agree that the Aseret HaDibrot, the Ten Commandments, are the cornerstone of the revelation of God to Moses and the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. Beginning this evening, we will join together with the congregations of our community to celebrate the revelation of God at Mt. Sinai to Moses and the Children of Israel. We will commemorate the actual presentation and pronouncing of the Aseret HaDibrot, the Ten Commandments and the laws themselves as we celebrate the Festival of Shavuot.

But if there is one item that is missing from our daily prayers, it is that of the words of the Ten Commandments. The rabbis were quite specific in not including them so that the world would not make them into idols. Nor would they come to believe that the only significant laws were these ten. Needless to say, we understand that the Ten Commandments represent the ideals of a belief in God and in the ethical and moral ways that we must follow. In many shuls, the Ten Commandments adorn the sanctuary, more often than not, as adornments to ark or ark doors. Often they are represented by the first word of each commandment. Yet their place is prominently displayed where they belong, in a religious institution.

I have no reason to oppose bringing the concept of God into the lives of our children. I actually believe that God needs to be more centrally placed in our lives. Then again, I am a rabbi. Yet, at the same time, I am quite certain that the concept of God that is trying to be reintroduced is not a universal God. And I am concerned that the goal of this push to prominently display the Ten Commandments may provide more fodder to bring shame to those who do not follow the religious beliefs of those who are behind the push to display the Ten Commandments and permit prayer into schools and onto the sports field. I am concerned about a renewed greater discrimination that will cause our children, grandchildren and grandchildren to feel rather uncomfortable and find a renewed hatred thrust upon them. Thankfully, we live in Connecticut, where “I pray” this movement to include the Ten Commandments and the Christian concept of God back into schools will not be in the minds of our legislative leaders.

Let us celebrate the revelation of God at Mt. Sinai and the receiving of the Ten Commandments in the appropriate manner and place as we celebrate Shavuot. Please join us for our communal services and study sessions beginning this evening at Temple Emanu-El and on Friday morning at Beth Jacob in Norwich. And please join us on Shabbat morning at Temple Israel, Park St. shul, as we honor the memory of those who bravely served our country in our Armed Forces. We pray that their memory will always inspire us, as do the Ten Commandments.

Chag Sameach, Shabbat shalom,  a meaningful Memorial Day and a Happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Rabbi K