Sacrifice

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

In November one of the weekly scriptural readings relates the story of the life and death of our first matriarch – Sarah. Her story is a testament to survival and continuity. It is a story that has significance for us today as it did when it occurred.

In November we commemorate the sacrifice and devotion of men and women who answered the call to duty and draped themselves not only in a uniform but in a feeling of commitment and affection. We honor all our Veterans – whether yesterday or today.

In November we pay tribute to pioneers who left the security of their native lands to journey to a place that offered safe haven and refuge from despots. They too gave up everything for an ideal that spoke to them in ways humanity has longed for since the beginning of time. We pause to give thanks to Almighty God for the success of their journey and the freedom we inherited from them. This is Thanksgiving in the highest sense.

All three are connected because the Torah talks to us about attachments and responsibility and dreams.

Sarah, the matriarch of our people gives birth in the winter of her life, a time when all things sleep and wither and even die. Her vision of continuity was fulfilled with laughter and tears. The portion of scripture we read tonight encompasses a spiritual experience of faith and devotion of a father answering the call of sacrifice. And the chapter deals with her death caused by despair and loss of faith as she attempts to understand the need for such an inhuman act as the death of her son to answer a mysterious voice taking from her the one thing she longed for her whole life.

Then this particular chapter continues with a search for a place in the sun for Isaac and the continuation of a promise made in the wilderness by this same voice no one can identify. And then the reading ends with the death of Abraham.

Think about it – we witness in this reading anguish, birth, despair, a promise for the future and the end of an era. Therein lays the connection.

The detail of a mother’s anguish and pain speaks to the suffering all mothers and fathers feel as they send their children off to war, to answer the call of their country. It wasn’t that long ago when banners with stars hung in practically every window of every home indicating that a loved one was somewhere fighting and dying for the same cause our ancestors fought for.

It wasn’t that long ago when people set sail on a journey that held no promise other than the assurance of freedom from tyranny. And there were mothers and fathers who witnessed the death of their children from disease and starvation, but they carried on with determination and fortitude.

Yes, the lessons of November are rather simple: Sometimes we go through experiences that require us to search for new meanings because of disappointments, tragedies or illness. Sometimes we go through unimaginable sacrifices to ensure that the gifts inherited by us from God can have significance. Sometimes we find it difficult to communicate with a loved one or reach out to help someone in need.

All these efforts can be summed up in a simple Torah reading, or a tribute to a service man or woman, or in the humbleness of a holiday that brings us closer to each other with memories of days and weeks and years of smiles and tears.

Sarah speaks to us in ways that bring our attention to the important things in life. Her story offers us the ability to enter into a spiritual awakening: To love each other and treat each other with dignity and to stand in awe of each other.

When you see a man or woman wearing the uniform of our country, stop and salute them. When you enter a restaurant and see a person in uniform waiting to be served, step right up and pay that bill and say “Thank you” for a job well done. It wasn’t that long ago when we looked at these people with disdain. That was a dark period in our history. We gave them no choice and then turned our backs on them when they returned.

Continuity, service and thanksgiving – what a month – what a history – what a feeling of accomplishment not only as Jews but as Americans; that is what November represents.

May God bless our Veterans, past and present, bless our country and above all bless us all with good health and happiness as we join together to remember our past and forge ahead with thankfulness to the ONE who is with us all the days of our lives.
AMEN