This Time Is The Last Time

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

I am a fan of films that were produced during the “Golden Age” of movies. Somehow they ring with sentiment, innocence and deliver a message that resonates to today.

One such film was “This is the army.” The songs and lyrics were written by Irving Berlin, probably the most patriotic song writer of his time. Even today we sing God Bless America during good times as well as bad. His fervor for the message of freedom represented by a country called America is legendary. One other song writer comes to mind, George M. Cohan – but Irving Berlin, to me epitomizes the struggle and yearning of a displaced people to breathe freedom and contribute their very beings to this dream that became reality.

Watching the movie gave me goose bumps as I listened to the songs and the clear message that “This time would be the last time.” Twenty five years earlier we marched across Europe proclaiming the end of all war and here we were, once more, sacrificing lives, resources and limbs to make sure that this, indeed, was the last time we would have to send our youth into harms way. It was a noble thought and a just expression of the goodness that was America.

Norman Cousins once wrote that patriotism begins with human allegiance. And that in essence was what we believed as we sailed across the seas to distant places, familiar to some, but strange to most. It was a time of enthusiasm and loyalty to country that we have not seen since.

We have been in many struggles in our history as a nation, but none seemed to generate the collective patriotism as the big war – the war fought by the “greatest generation.” And it was known by the principles of decency and fairness and togetherness that made us a nation of one voice and one mind. Youngsters collected nickels and dimes to purchase war bonds giving our leaders the ability to champion the cause of all humanity. We collected fat, rubber and anything that could be melted down to afford our soldiers, sailors and marines the ability to finish what we never started but were forced to participate in. And we did all this not for our sake alone, but for “the wretched refuse” who came to our shores for safety. We accepted the “homeless, tempest-tossed” who sailed into New York Harbor and dreamed the dream of the ages.

Sixteen million men and women were called to service and they, in large part, went with a feeling of righting the wrongs that existed in the world. Many died and many were wounded beyond repair. And we welcomed them home with the dignity they deserved because we were a giving people.

Never in the history of this country have we seen such devotion since that time of hoping and longing. Never have we shown our gratitude for those who sacrificed so much for us.

There was Korea that followed the “last time” and then Viet Nam and Somalia and Grenada and the Gulf war and the Iraq war. And there were and still are conflicts all around this globe that brings us the realization that man wasn’t destined to be peaceful. We seem to be drawn to killing as though it were some initiation into manhood. The world has not learned anything from the past. I don’t remember who said that if we don’t learn from history we are doomed to repeat it but it is one of the truths that ring throughout the annals of time.

Chaim Weizman wrote that the Messianic hope is a hope which a nation cannot forget without ceasing to be a nation. A time will come when there will be neither enemies nor frontiers, when war shall be no more, and men will be secure in the dignity of speech. I cannot help but wonder whether that is truly a dream or a sincere wish. I believe that he speaks for all of mankind because we need the assurance that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that fear will be a memory.

What will it take for everyone to realize that “this time is the last time” refers to an age of enlightenment followed by a commitment to further the essence of our being which is the connection to one another and to God?

In The Word, I read a very significant story from Tanhuma:
If the man of learning participates in public affairs and serves as a judge or arbitrator, he establishes the land. But if he sits at home and says to himself, “What have the affairs of society to do with me? Why should I concern myself with the lawsuits of the people? Why should I trouble myself with their voices of protest? Let my soul dwell in peace!” – if he does this, he overthrows the world.

When Rabbi Ammi’s hour to die was at hand, his nephew saw him weeping bitterly. He said: “Uncle and Teacher, why do you weep? Is there any Torah that you have not learned and taught? Is there any form of kindness that you have not practiced? And above all else, you have never accepted a public office and you have kept yourself apart from sitting in judgment.”

The rabbi replied: “It is for this very reason that I weep. I was granted the ability to weigh justice between those who argue and I have not conducted myself according to my capability.”

We are embarking on a New Year. A year that is no different than the past one because we are still struggling to understand that greed and anger and hate must be subdued. But it can be a year in which we discern that religion should help our country to understand that our responsibilities to each other are the same responsibilities we should show to God.

Will we ever learn that this must be the last time because we are running out of time? Our nation faces many issues and perhaps that is why we chose to elect a fresh approach to our survival not only as a nation but a people who remain committed to the principal of human allegiance.