This week’s Torah portion, Korach, tells of two rebellions, that of Korach against the religious authority of Aaron, and that of Dathan and Abiram against the communal authority of Moses. Thus the portion continues the ongoing theme of rebelliousness among the Israelites, starting with the Golden Calf, to complaints about the manna, to rebellion of the spies in last week’s portion that led God to condemn the Israelites to 40 years of wandering in the desert. Here, the rebels and their supporters are variously punished by being swallowed up into the earth, by fire, and by plague, while God reaffirms the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
In enumerating their complaints, the rebels wax nostalgic about Egypt, which they recall as a land ‘flowing with milk and honey’. Rabbi Steven Kushner reflects on the irony of using the description of the land of Israel, the land of freedom, to describe Egypt, the land of slavery. He points out the human tendency to repaint the past with rosy colors and to forget the parts that were dark and difficult.
Today our country is challenged by the rise of white Christian nationalism, that is nostalgic for a past where, in their perceptions, their rights as the majority culture were unquestioned. They are working hard to bring us back to that time, when voting rights for people of color, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights of all kinds, were not in existence. Over the course of the year, you will hear me speak often about these and other social justice issues, why they are central to our Jewish values, and what our responses can be to address the many challenges we face as Jews and as Americans. Commitment to social justice, to tikkun olam, is foundational to Reform Judaism and has been the center of my rabbinate for over 30 years. I look forward to getting to know each of you and to learning what you are passionate about, what moves you, and how we can work together to create the Beloved Community we all want to see.
-Rabbi Bonnie Margulis
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