Chanukah Shabbat Sermon; Hitchen as Ebenezer Scrooge By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Bah Hambug, Christopher Hitchens….

A quick word tonight as we gather together to celebrate this fourth night of Chanukah.
This week Christopher Hitchens wrote a vicious attack on Chanukah and Judaism in Slate Magazine. It appeared this Monday in the on line magazine. Hitchens slams Chanukah as “a semiofficial holiday” that celebrates “The imposition of theocratic darkness.” In the revolt of the Maccabees against the Seleucid -Syrians descendants of Alexander the Great, Hitchens sees that “the whole of humanity was terribly retarded.” He claims that with the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks, the Jews set back the world into a dark age that rejected learning, science and erudition. And then he claims that the Jews set –up the world for the coming of Jesus of Nazareth—who imposed more folly to the world. Hitchens’ attack on Judaism and on Christianity and Islam and religion in general continues a flow from his book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
Hitchens hates religion and blames it for the world’s suffering and ills. And in this attack on Chanukah—he has reserved a special hatred for Judaism and Chanukah. His venom blinds his eyes and his heart. It is clear that he is a deeply wounded individual who smugly pretends he has the answers to the world’s problems. No doubt Religion has been used and misused throughout history. But so has politics and every other “ism” in the history of the world has been used and misused. Judaism still tries to take the grand themes of life, death, love and hope, redemption, salvation, family and holiness and helps individual Jews transform their lives for good. Judaism helps us have a sense of responsibility for ourselves and our community.
But what do you expect from someone like Hitchens? When a young man enlisted because of Hitchens’ support for the war and then writes about Hitchens, his influence upon him and his enlistment in his blog and then dies in battle in Iraq, Hitchens doesn’t really take any responsibility for the effect his writings or his words have had. He asks the questions but absolves himself of any responsibility for the influence of his writings. So what can we expect here?
In truth Hitchens misses the point completely. Chanukah didn’t usher in a theocratic darkness—instead it threw off the bondage of the Seleucids who forced their religion on the Jews to the exclusion of Judaism. The heroic deeds of the Maccabees are an inspiration to Jews today precisely because we still struggle with the balance in our lives between the majority culture and our own Jewish identities. The light of the Chanukiah ought to inspire us today to think about how we might bring more light and redemption to the world rather than continue the emphasis on mass consumerism. The light of the Chanukiah ought to bring a sense that we might see in the ordinary---the miraculous and mere human beings might be able to bring that awe of life to bear in witness in the world. Tthe fact that the Maccabees took the loving care to cleanse the Temple of the impurities and rededicate the sacred space of that place, is inspiration to each of us to cleanse our lives of the impurities and seek sacred space even today.
Hitchens’ attacks are no different than those we have seen in previous generations and are no different than the attacks of the Seleucids whom he praises so. They too felt their way of doing things was better than any other and imposed that upon the world. The Seleucids had an army and used it to murder and destroy Jewish life. Thank goodness Hitchens’ has no army. But his words have the power to hurt and inspire others to such hatred. Hitchens is nothing more than an Ebenezer Scrooge who can’t see the joy and hope in the world.
So tonight and every night of Chanukah—let our Chanukiah inspire us to transform this “semi-official” day as he calls it—into a gigantic celebration of love, faith, hope, and yes, peace. Things we pray Hitchens’ will find someday.

AIDS: Leadership then and Leadership Needed Now; A Sermon for World AIDS DAY 2007 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

Shabbat Shalom,
Tonight we come together on this Sabbath for many reasons. We have initiated our Peace Illumination Project. Tonight is the first night of 10 that our building will glow with words of peace in many languages. Conceived by our Board member and Vice President Natalie Bergman and artist Bart Kresa, this is an amazing opportunity for all of us to reflect on the themes of Peace. What does Peace mean? What is Shalom, Saalam, Mir, Pace? How do we embody notions of peace? And how can we infuse our world with peace? How can we live a peaceful life?

This week Israeli and Palestinians with the support of the global community once again sat together to pursue peace in of all place Annapolis, home to the U.S. Naval Academy. We cannot escape the irony that peace is being pursued against the backdrop and threat of war and war makers. Peace is tenuous at all times and it is always tenuous in the Middle East. It is as we know a tinder box –of tender emotions, frayed nerves and lives, competing claims and years of hatred fueled by wars both formally declared and skirmishes that never end, suicide bombings and terrorists attacks, incursions and settlement building and agreements that never come to fruition. So we welcome these developments this week and pray for peace and the strength of leaders to lead their nations and peoples to peace. We pray for peace.

But peace also comes from justice and truth telling. And tonight we observe on this Sabbath, World AIDS Day. For more than 25 years, HIV disease has changed the course of our lives. Today “according to UNAIDS, estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.” (www.avert.org)

But in our congregation we don’t have to look far from here to confront the AIDS virus. It lives among us. In us. Around us. We are the face of AIDS. Our congregation. Even as HIV infections rise in Africa, in women and children and people of color in this country, our congregation, and our City of West Hollywood has been part of ground zero in the battle against HIV/AIDS in our nation.

So why do we have to bother with World AIDS Day? Don’t we already know about it?

We must observe and teach and remember. We must give voice to the fact that no one is much talking about AIDS anymore. And yet AIDS still is a fresh threat to our community. Today polite politics wants to devote more effort and activism to green concerns or other diseases of the moment. But in truth AIDS still lurks in our midst, infecting a new generation of both gay and straight.

In truth AIDS still hovers behind the veils of secrecy in our congregation and community because there are many who still aren’t comfortable speaking about their status openly for fear of discrimination and judgment from the work place, from friends and family. In truth AIDS still creeps through our network of friends because as the years pass for many their drugs have stopped working and a new crop of those who are actually ill from their HIV disease is becoming evident. AIDS is still here and AIDS still kills.
Yes, things are better than the barren wastelands of the early years. Perhaps there are those of you who are here tonight who don’t remember the early years of AIDS. Perhaps you were too young, or not part of the community then. But let me tell you as an eyewitness to the horrors of the early years of the AIDS epidemic in our Gay Community it was a nightmare. Our friends and lovers got sick and died so fast and there were so many of them. Often it was no more than a couple of months from diagnosis to death. I am making no exaggeration. It seemed all we did from the 80’s through the early 90’s was watch our friends and lovers die. We were helpless. We were living in a nightmare and couldn’t wake up. No one could possibly have imagined. We went to funerals and memorial services. We sewed quilt panels and served dinners for those with AIDS. We were buddies and trained ourselves to touch those that no one would. We marched in the streets with ACT UP and got arrested protesting the silence of our government and the lack of financial resources locally and nationally for dealing with one of the greatest health crisis the world had seen. We stayed up late at meetings trying to get laws passed that would protect against discrimination for those with HIV. And we marched in candle light vigils to make our point. There was no peace in our lives, in our corner of the world.

Recently I had to visit a hospital that once was one of the primary AIDS hospitals in Los Angeles. This hospital specializes in other issues now. But once in the late 80’s and early 90’s this hospital had an entire floor dedicated to caring for those with AIDS. Whenever I visit that hospital to this day—as I walk in the doors, I am transported to those years. And I remember the hours and vigils I spent going bed to bed—as my young friends and congregants lay dying.

Sometimes the vigils at their besides would last all night long. Room after room, family after family, many who died alone, their faces came to me. They remain with me—and are dear to me even two decades later.
But while the intensity of the AIDS crisis and those years has lessened somewhat—the threat of AIDS/HIV is still with us. And though there are better medicines and better health programs for those with HIV—let’s be honest. There is still no cure. There is still no vaccine. AND in truth People Still Die from AIDS even as there are long term survivors with AIDS.

So tonight we observe World AIDS Day. Not in the abstract. Not because it is something that is happening somewhere else, in Asia or Africa and we merely want to raise awareness of a global issue. We observe World AIDS Day because we are part of it. We are those living with AIDS. We are a synagogue who has members who have AIDS. We are a community that is still concerned with HIV. We are a community that still commits to support those living with the virus openly, lovingly, and safely. We are a community that still believes that testing for HIV is a must. If you are active sexually, then you must protect yourself and others. Get tested, Play Safe—always. For your health and the health of others. We are a community that cannot forget—our many loved ones who have died of AIDS.

In our temple on this World AIDS Day, we remember, Robin, Jay, Ron, Steve, Tony, Arthur, Lance, Hal, Rick, Billy, Art, Michael, David, Paul, Bart, Steven, Allen, Alan, Brian, Skip, Larry, Ronnie, Len, Ken, Frank, Scott, Ed, Peter, and countless others.
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeshev, begins the stories of Joseph, son of Jacob who would rise from slave to second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt. In this week’s portion, we meet the young son of Jacob who is cast into a pit by his brothers and sold into slavery because of their jealousy and hatred of him. The brothers can not see Joseph for who he is, one who is a prophet and blessed by God. But their act of hatred and violence simmers beneath the surface for years. Upon their return to their father, Jacob, they lie and hide what they did to their brother. They tell their father Jacob, that Joseph was killed by a wild beast. They do not tell the truth. And lie about their actions. They bring turmoil to their father who knows no peace. They bring turmoil to Joseph.

Throughout this portion there is an emphasis on seeing and vision. Joseph dreams dreams that come true—but his brothers don’t want to honor his vision. Tamar’s father – in – law doesn’t see his daughter in law for who she is—a faithful, devoted wife. In an effort to fulfill her duty, Tamar meets her father-in law Judah disguised as a prostitute—again he sees her but doesn’t see her even though the meet at a place called Petach Einaim—the opening of the eyes. And Joseph in Egypt is seen by Potiphar’s wife, she casts her eyes upon him, but only to seduce him—failing to see the divine in him. She sees but doesn’t really see him for who he really is.

AIDS is like that. Sometimes we see but don’t really see the people in front of us that are affected and infected with HIV disease. The challenge that this week’s Torah portion is trying to teach us to see each person as they are with their divine blessings and gifts. The challenge of World AIDS Day is a reminder to see those with AIDS and to see the realities of this disease before us.—AIDS is still here. AIDS is our concern.

On this Sabbath as Peace lights our way—let us learn to use that light of Peace – OR SHALOM, to see our world as it really is, to inspire us to see people as they really are, and on this WORLD AIDS DAY