A Calling

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.

Sometimes when we talk about people choosing faith-based involvement, it is referred to as “a calling.” The term is used to describe the realization that clergy or those in supportive roles are “called” to duty for the purpose of serving God. It is a true reflection of the spiritual aspect of a person’s life incorporating preaching and teaching and personal fulfillment. We are all familiar with the expression “the spirit moves me” and it is that feeling which permeates our lives as we endeavor to express the meaning of faith and its significance.

There are, of course, exceptions. We read about them almost daily. There are those who subvert the very essence of that calling. While it is difficult for us to judge, it is our responsibility to be aware of human fallibility. Certainly not all are guilty and we should not lose faith in our beliefs. On the contrary, we should use this abhorrent behavior to teach us a valuable lesson: Sometimes people are drawn to things that set bad examples, which destroy our spirituality.

The newspapers are filled with the turmoil within the Catholic Church. Needless to say Catholic clergy are not alone is the desecration of human values and moral teachings as described in all Holy writings. And excusing these horrors because of the understanding of human fragilities is unacceptable. There is no excuse. Those who are guilty of these atrocities should be held accountable and punished. Those who protect them should also be put-up for justice because they are as guilty as those who perpetrate these unforgiving abuses against children.

Singling out unsuspecting children is revolting and everyone involved should be punished to the full extent of the law. And there is a higher law that will eventually come into play as time moves on and a different calling requires these people to answer that call for eternal judgment.

However, there are times when mob madness causes untold hardships on unsuspecting adults who get caught-up in this web of disgust and revulsion.

In our own Phoenix Jewish community we have seen this happen. A rabbi is shackled and carted off from the parking lot of his synagogue in front of his wife and others who were there at the time. No warning, no arrest warrant, no identification of those involved. A gun shoved in his face and off he disappears. No knowledge of where he is going or why.

There was a meeting a while ago, in Chandler for invited guests, mostly congregants, and others who were supportive from the very beginning, including me, of this rabbi. An accusation was made by a seventeen-year old teen ager claiming that this rabbi sexually abused her when she was seven-years old. That was ten-years ago.

I am sure all of us living here in the Valley of the Sun read bits and pieces of the experience encountered by the rabbi and his family.

The meeting was necessary, from my perspective, because it gave those in attendance the opportunity to talk to the rabbi and his attorney and hear, as well, from his wife. The summary of his experience would certainly be a best seller in store-bought dime novels. It had chilling aspects, sexual innuendos and intrigue.

One thing that stood-out, in my mind, was the fact, brought out at the meeting, that there was a strong indication that the therapist who was treating this troubled child, may have planted ideas and thoughts in her mind that eventually became, to her, reality. Is it unimaginable? Not really.

We read constantly about situations surfacing and, in fact, there was a very similar incident portrayed on one of the Law and Order programs on television. Books have been written on this subject and classes are given to therapists warning them of the dangers of planting such fabrications into unsuspecting minds. I really don’t know if this is what happened, but the possibility was brought-out in the presentation.

Nothing was done about this supposed incident even though it was reported some two years ago. Evidently it was thought at the time to be unsubstantiated and therefore did not warrant any further participation by the police.

I believe that the notoriety about clergy abuse of children, especially sexual abuse, has created an atmosphere of suspicion and doubt and the only way to alleviate this corruption is to find everyone guilty whether true of not.

Perhaps the police were diligent and perhaps they were not. It is clear to me that this overextending of authority and disregard for facts and circumstance will have a devastating effect on this family for all time. I also believe that he will be completely vindicated but that will not change the attitude of people who will remember the charge but not the exoneration.

In fact, now his congregation has seen fit to request his resignation even though no trial has been held or additional evidence submitted that refutes his claim of innocence. And what happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” I even wonder whether he is receiving any support from the Conservative movement of which he is a member as well as the Jewish Theological Seminary of which he is a graduate.

The clergy who are guilty of undermining the values of Godliness and the sanctity of life have cause damage to the “calling” we have answered and the dedication of so many in the cause of human salvation. These same clergy have created an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion that spills over into the lives of innocent people who want nothing more that answer that call and be true to its message of connection to each other and to God who made the call and witnessed the call being answered.

We must pray that sanity will prevail and our rabbi will be ready, willing, and able to answer that call once more secure in the knowledge that his destiny will forever be joined with our Creator who gave him the will and the understanding to teach and preach and remain a light unto his people.