REB ON THE WEB

WELCOME TO TEMPLE BETH SHALOM'S REB ON THE WEB

BY RABBI IRA ROTHSTEIN, MANALAPAN, NEW JERSEY

 Week of  May 24, 2010- 11 SIVAN  5770

The goal:  To Educate and to encourage discussion among family members and congregants.  Questions and comments are always welcome.  E-mail me at Rabbiira@aol.com.  Do not simply click the reply button.

 REB ON THE WEB

 

            This is the final Reb on the Web column for this programming year.  Many thanks to all of you who took the time to not only read my words, but to think about the ideas behind them. Some of you agreed.  Some of you disagreed.  In the end, my goal was to raise issues and to illuminate.  I can only hope that there were times in which you felt I accomplished these goals.  Look for Reb on the Web’s return in the Fall.

The Times They Are A Rhymin!

 I often tell students that history may not exactly repeat itself, but it often rhymes. For example, this may not be 1938, but there are certainly elements of today that look and sound vaguely familiar to that period.    In 1938, Germany struggled to deal with the aftermath of the stock market crash, unemployment, a deterioration in the standard of living and a sense of anger and frustration with being victimized by the rest of the world.  Hitler was masterful at redirecting the anger of his people towards a scapegoat – read “Jew.”  Hitler’s manual – Mein Kampf – laid out the case that the ills of society were due to the insidious and ever scheming Jewish people. Desperate for relief, the every day German citizen was more than willing to blame every ill on the Jews.  Over a period years, the German government forced Jews to wear yellow Stars of David and prohibited them for employing any non Jews.  Eventually, Jewish homes and possessions were confiscated and ultimately so many of their lives were extinguished.  Why? Because the Jew was believed to be a virus and viruses need to be quarantined and then expunged.  As far as Hitler was concerned, the Jew was the cause of all of society’s ills.

Do we really believe that scapegoating is a practice relegated to 1938 Germany?  How many times in the recent past have officials from America and Europe made the case that if only Israel would agree to give Palestinians what they want, then peace would break out all over the globe?  How many times have we read from government officials that perhaps American soldiers around the world would be safer if only the Jews would make nice with the Palestinians?  How many times have we seen outbreaks of violence, triggered by the poor fiscal policies of governments?  Look at Greece.  Years of irresponsible financial stewardship has wrecked that country.  What has been the reaction? History teaches us that frustrated, angry people need a scapegoat.  The other day, a Jewish cemetery in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki was desecrated by neo-Nazis who spray painted anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas on the cemetery walls and then destroyed graves.  What happened the other day is the tip of the iceberg.  Jewish cemeteries and synagogues have been the target of recent attacks throughout Greece.  Greece has 8,000 Jews and they are alarmed.  Who can blame them?  Learn history and you will know that scapegoating is nothing new.  When times are tough and tumultuous people need someone to blame and somehow a scapegoat always manages to appear on the horizon  No, I am not saying that the present Greek government is just like Hitler’s Germany.  But the ingredients of anger, frustration and financial ruin are present today, as they were in 1938.  After all, history may not exactly repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

So pay attention to the lesson.  It’s the most effective way of not repeating the same mistakes made by those who came before us.

The times they are a rhymin!

 

Services Schedule:

Friday evening Shabbat Under the Stars Services- May 28, 2010 at 7:30PM CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:59PM

Shabbat Under The Stars- Join us for our outside Shabbat Service at 7:30PM on Friday, May 28, 2010 in our Courtyard area.  Services begin at 7:30PM rain or shine.  If inclement weather, we will hold services in the Sanctuary but let’s all pray for good weather so we can enjoy the beautiful patio and outside air while we daven together.   

Saturday morning, Shabbat Services- May 29, 2010 at 9:30AM

All Friday evening services throughout the summer will begin at 8PM

Saturday morning services throughout the summer will begin at 9:30AM

  NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Food Drive: Remember that our food bin is located in the Education lobby.  Food is transported regularly to the Open Door Food Shelter in Freehold and the Samaritan Center in Manalapan.  Bring a can of kosher food and feed the hungry.

 Remember- The building is closed on Friday's during the day and opens weekly for Shabbat services.  Please remember to do all administrative business through our Temple office on Monday through Thursday.

 Monday, June 14, from 5:30PM to 8:30PM- TBS Blood Drive.  Please contact the office to make your appointment.

The building will be closed for the Summer  break with the exception of  Shabbat Services on Friday evenings at 8PM and Saturday mornings at 9:30AM from Friday, June 25 through Sunday, July 11, 2010.  Please note that if there is an emergency, please call  732-446-1200 and a direct  emergency number will be listed.