spirituality » to rah por tion

An Evening with

American Friends of
Magen David Adom

God Is
Vengeful,
But We Don’t
Have to Be

C elebration

Dr. John J. Mames Chapter — Michigan Region

2016

L ife G ala

OF

Parshat Ekev:
Deuteronomy 7:12-
11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3

In support of Magen David Adom —
Israel’s national EMS and blood-services organization.

E

ach morning during our prayers,
stories of revenge through military retali-
we include the daily
ation and what the government
psalm that, genera-
considers a justified response?
tions ago, was uttered in the
What is the difference between
Temple on that specific day. On
revenge and punishment?
Wednesday mornings, we recite
Revenge has the potential to
Psalm 94, which opens with the
both destroy our society and
words, “El Nekamot Adonai,
conversely to make the world a
El Nekamot Hofia. O God of
better place to live. The stories
vengeance, Adonai, O God of
of revenge in the Torah stand
vengeance appear!”
to make us God-fearing indi-
Rabbi Jason
In Judaism we employ lov-
viduals. The God of vengeance
Miller
ing, caring metaphors of God;
serves as a warning to us that
but we must reconcile those
we must live in awe of God, lov-
characterizations with the
ing God and remaining loyal to
vengeful, wrathful God in this psalm.
the mitzvot.
In this week’s Torah portion, parshat
Violent revenge is not an ideal for us
Ekev, we read the words of the second
to emulate, for as the rabbis teach, avera
paragraph of the Shema. Here we learn
goreret avera — a sin only generates
both the consequences for observing and another sin. We must look for construc-
for transgressing God’s mitzvot (com-
tive ways to unfetter the pent-up anger
mandments). God both rewards for good that resides among us when someone
behavior and offers capital punishment
else wrongs us or our loved ones.
for those who disobey the laws.
As we begin the intense journey
The vengeful God is not the metaphor toward teshuvah (repentance) on the
we choose to use when teaching our
High Holidays, we must remember that
children about our God, who loves the
God has many attributes. Vengeance is
people of Israel as parents love their chil- one metaphor, but we should use God’s
dren. In fact, many teachers will gloss
vengeance as a model of Divine punish-
over the middle paragraph of the Shema ment rather than just retaliation.
rather than attempt to rationalize this
We should find appropriate ways to
vindictive attribute of God.
channel our anger and vengeful feelings
How do we reconcile this God of
into constructive acts of revenge, always
vengeance with our other metaphors of
mindful of the potential for repentance.
God? How do we make sense of a God
Our God has many attributes. It is
who wishes us to accept the repentance
desirable for us to emulate many of
of others rather than meting out revenge those attributes, but rather than seeking
on those who hurt us? Do some acts of
vengeance, let us put our efforts into for-
vengeance sound justified while others
giving others and seeking paths toward
make us cringe? Is it OK for God to be
peace.
vengeful against God’s adversaries but
Rabbi Jason Miller is an educator, entrepreneur
not for us? Are we a society for whom
and blogger. He is the founder and director of
“an eye for an eye” carries any real legal
Kosher Michigan, a kosher certification agency
or moral weight?
based in West Bloomfield.
Are we troubled by the stories of
revenge in the Torah, but not by today’s

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

Featured Keynote Speaker

Lt. General (Res.) Benjamin “Benny” Gantz

Former Chief of Staff, Israel Defense Forces

Honoring

Alvin and Henrietta Weisberg

2016 Distinguished Humanitarian Award Recipients

Honorary Chairs
Lori and Steven Weisberg
Sue and Alan J. Kaufman

To reserve seats, inquire about table packages, and learn about
sponsoring an ambulance in Israel, please call 877.405.3913.

*

www.afmda.org

2117280

August 18 • 2016

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