Nitzaviam - Stand up, Comprehend and practice change!

    

Nitzaviam - Stand up, Comprehend and practice change!

 “ — ......if you and your offspring would live — by loving, heeding the commandments. For thereby you shall have life and shall long endure upon the soil that the benefited to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them."

(Deuteronomy 30:15 - 30:20)

How does this powerful passage have meaning in today’s ‘modern’ world and how might it apply?  Who are today's Abrahams, Isaacs, & Jacobs, or Ruths and Esthers? Who just might be OUR heroes who have had a powerful impact full of benevolence, show reverence and had a strong social and moralistic impact? Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Bill Gates, Princess Di, Harvey Milk, Abraham Lincoln, Colin Kaepernick are just some of the considerations of heroes of everyday life, past and present that I feel have changed the manner in which has we, as a community see examples of Humanitarians that are heroes that have ongoing and proactive IMPACT!!!  .   Each has made a major impact in modern history and has enabled humans of all and many backgrounds some personal freedoms and liberties, if they so choose, and or society! 

Harvey Milk is a person I’d like to present & how this Torah portion, especially this last passage relates and pertains to him.

Harvey Milk (B. May 22, 1930 – D. November 27, 1978):

“American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.”

Like most progressive and impactful people, controversy surrounded and built up around him until, he said later, "I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up"    Milk, ran for city council and lost his first few attempts, but still helped people around him, and built a strong platform and beautiful relationships, and later finally won that seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors.  He was a proud person and stood for justice and equality – Causes were also important to Milk; he promoted larger and less expensive child care facilities, free public transportation, and the development of a board of civilians to oversee the police. He advanced important neighborhood issues at every opportunity” and honestly cared about his neighbors and surroundings to make it a better place and environment!

Even when initiatives were being fought and not won by the popular vote, his take; “We are educating………………..”

Harvey Milk was assassinated and passed away at the age of 48; Milk had a MAJOR and loving impact on humankind. He was a true hero for all humankind and was taken way too early from us.  I remember that very day walking in the hallway of my high school in San Francisco, California!!! 

How about our anti-heroes (not being too specific-we all know the villains and haters, and ALL have strong opinions!!!and opinions are just that...) or the people/groups that show malicious intent, or the not so correct people?  We can always feel the hurt, we can feel the shame, and experience the horrible pain, the loss, and A-L-L in major disbelief!  We do indeed see it!  We question it with a disgusting AWE!  We as the masses can literally stop and shut down? – ABSOLUTELY NO!.......WE MUST CONSTANTLY STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS IN AN ACCEPTABLE AND RESPECTABLE MANNER AND HAVE A PROACTIVE IMPACT ON ALL SOCIETY…and on one another!  

We may not always agree in a cause, a stance, a reason, or the platform of delivery, but respecting one’s legal rights, and more importantly, their HUMAN RIGHTS is so very vital, be it yesterday, today, and or for our future and all Humankind!

The media, be it in print, or the likes of social media has brought this to the forefront, “ALL LIVES MATTER (YES, THEY DO!!), deriving from BLACK lives matter! (YES THEY DO!!).  Opinion is just that- Nike a few years ago launched a NEW campaign with Colin Kaepernick, like it? Maybe Not agree???  He has made a solid statement of Social Impact- agreed or disagreed with the platform is a totally different topic!  He did NOT ‘Shut up’ or roll over- he made an important point that affects ALL Human kind! Equality! Again, I am sharing his impact,  not his stance, and yes opinion is most definitely divided still and shall remain divided unfortunately!

 As Harvey Milk stated, “Even when initiatives were being fought and not won by the popular vote, his take; “We are educating………………..”  

Let’s continue to EDUCATE,, to Grow, to understand proactive behaviors, to be able to comprehend change …. to love, to walk in a positive way and manner, side by side with our brothers and sisters… let us all be fair, stand up for A-L-L Humankind in a calm and humane manner and behavior, and show LOVE (AHAVA)!

Shabbat Shalom & L' Shana Tova!

Rabbi Barry