Sermon by Rabbi Alan Freedman

Rosh Hashannah 2003
The Giving God
1 Tishrei 5764
September 26, 2003

 

                  In 1999, the world, and especially children, lost a great talent with the death of the author and poet Shel Silverstein. One of his earliest works for children, and by extension adults, is The Giving Tree. We have three copies of The Giving Tree at home, one in each of the languages that matter most in our household, English, Hebrew and Latin. The Giving Tree is a heartwarming, yet vaguely disturbing, story of the relationship between a tree and a young boy who then matures into a man. The focus of the story is on how the relationship between the boy and the tree changes throughout the boy's lifetime, as the boy's needs and desires change. Throughout the boy's life, the tree is a totally unselfish source of sustenance for the boy, willingly giving of its very being and asking virtually nothing in return.

                  Like most good stories, particularly children's stories, The Giving Tree is a metaphor but a metaphor for what? With appreciation, and perhaps apologies, to Shel Silverstein, I would offer the following adaptation of the story in an effort to answer that question.

                  Once there was, and is, the One God and there was a little boy. God loved the little boy. And every day the boy would say hello to God and include God in his games. They would play hide and seek and, naturally, God always won but the boy didn't mind. It felt good to know that God was everywhere and no matter where the little boy might go, that God would be there, too. The little boy was curious about God, asking questions that confounded his parents and his rabbi. The boy thought it was funny how adults had so much trouble answering questions that he thought were pretty easy. The boy would sing 'Thank you God' and mean it. He was just happy to know that God was always there for him, to be his friend. He would talk to God about things in his life, like his friends, his mommy and daddy, and his icky sister. And when the boy was tired, he would say goodnight to God by saying the Shema and then sleep peacefully knowing that God was watching over him. The boy loved God very much and God was happy.

                  But time went by and the boy grew older. God didn't seem so interesting anymore and the boy's fascination turned to other things, so God was often alone. The boy was busy with school and new friends. He still played games but they were video games or sports. The boy had had a bar mitzvah and confirmation but there really wasn't much room for God in his life now. Then one day the boy spoke to God again. "I know I haven't been around much,' he said 'but I'm too big and too busy to play all day long. Besides, I'm nearly done with college and now I want to have get a job, maybe find a girlfriend and, you know, have fun and buy things. So God, do you think you could arrange that?"

                  God replied, "I'm sorry but I cant give you money or a job, or a girlfriend. But I did give you intelligence and ambition. Take my gifts and use them, and then maybe you will get all that you desire in life and you will be happy." The boy used his intelligence and worked hard and soon he had the life that he desired. He married a lovely and intelligent young woman and they had two beautiful children of their own. And God was happy.

                  But then the boy stayed away for a very long time and that made God very sad. The boy, now a man, worked very hard at his job and had no time for God. God watched over the man, of course, but the man rarely acknowledged God or the gifts that God had given him. But despite his sadness, God still loved the man and hoped that someday, the man would return.

                  Then one day the man cried out to God in great pain. "You killed my father," the man said. "Why did my father have to die?" "I can't tell you the answer to that," God said. "But I have given you inner strength to deal with your father's death and, if you will let me, I know that I can help you get through this pain and you can find a way to be happy once again." The man began to talk to God about his pain and about his life. He even began going to synagogue again, something that he had not done in a very long time. The man began to allow God into his life once again, and God was happy.

                  Within a few weeks, however, when the immediate pain of his loss had passed, the man resumed his everyday life as it was before. He came to synagogue less often and spoke less frequently to God. The man's family held an unveiling, the mourning period was over, and the man stopped coming to God. And, once again, God was sad.

                  Many years passed. The man's children grew up and went to college. He was happily married and spent many years at his career. He prospered in almost every way and he was happy. But as he grew older, the man began to miss something that he really didn't understand. He had everything that he could want in life but he had this sense that there was something more. So one day, he just approached God. "God?", he asked timidly. "Do you remember me?"

                  "Yes, my child, I remember you. You have never been far from my thoughts. What can I do for you now?" God replied.

                  "I don't want you to give me anything. I have everything I could want now. I'm retired, so I don't need a promotion. My kids are on their own, so my wife and I don't need a big house. I have enough money and we have the joy of grandchildren. Well, I guess there is one thing. I would like some time and, oh yes, some peace."

                  "I have plenty of both", God said. "Come and be with me."

                  The man sat and opened a book he had not opened in many years. He remembered something, his nighttime prayer from his childhood. Shema yisrael Adonai elohenu, Adonai echad. "Now I understand, God" he said, "You are One and I am complete and at peace when I am at one with You." And God was happy. The End.

                  God is waiting for us to return. That is what we are doing here today. Put aside the fancy liturgy and the drama of the Akedah. Torah tells us that today is Yom Hazikaron, the day of remembrance. But remembrance is a two-way street and it is both we and the Eternal who are called upon to remember on this day. Certainly, we stand in awe before the Holy One on this day of judgment. For, as the liturgy tells us, God indeed remembers the secret things, God remembers that which for us is long forgotten. For us, this is a frightening prospect, for none of us could pass a test of strict judgment.

                  Yet, God's capacity for remembrance also is our source of hope. We trust and we pray that in addition to our deeds, good and bad, God will also remember the Eternal One's covenant with the Jewish people. We pray that God will remember that our ancestor Abraham was promised that the Jewish people would be as numerous as the stars and as sand on the shores of the sea. We pray that God will remember the merits of our ancestors and that we are descendant from these righteous people. And, most of all, we call upon God to remember that by Adonai's own description, the essence of God is mercy. For in Exodus, Chapter 34, God reveals to Moses the 13 Attributes we recited before the open ark this very day: (insert Hebrew)

                  Adonai, the Eternal One, is merciful and gracious, endlessly patient, loving, and true, showing mercy to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. We want God to remember, to remember and take note of us. To remember that, although we are indeed created in God's image, we are only a pale imitation and, at our essence, are but frail mortals.

                  But on this day and in the year ahead, who among us will remember God? Who will remember to seek God's Presence in their daily lives? Who will offer thanks for the many blessings that God bestows and who will seek God's strength to face the many challenges that life provides? It is the Unetaneh tokef prayer in reverse. It is not God who decides our fate but it is ourselves. Who shall have an impact and who shall merely be passing by? Who shall truly live and who will be spiritually dead? Who shall be poor in spirit and whose life will be rich in meaning? Indeed, who shall be secure and who shall be driven? Who shall be tranquil and who shall be troubled? Who shall be humbled by life and who will exalt in it? The choice is ours. Those who remember God, those whose lives include prayer and study, humility and gratitude are truly rich. Those who bring an awareness of God into every aspect of their lives--their family, their professional life, their personal relationships will truly be blessed but the blessing will come about because they have opened their lives to God.

                  It is not the death of sinners that the Eternal One seeks but that they should turn from their ways and live, truly live. God is not neutral toward us. As God's creation, God has a stake in the outcome of human lives. God cares about us. Too often, I believe, we have ceded the ground of Divine love to the Christian community. We in the Jewish world too often seem determined to portray Adonai as a demanding, judgmental and wrathful God. Well, I have good news today. God loves us. God loves us and all that God asks is that we pay a little attention once in awhile. For we read in Deuteronomy, Chapter 30 that when we return to the Lord our God, and we and our children heed God's commandments with all our heart and soul, then the Lord our God will take us back in love. When we return or, in the Hebrew, v’shavta; the same root, the same word as teshuvah.  

                  And that is what is what we are doing here today. We are engaged in the process of teshuvah, we are returning to God and God will take us back in love. Despite our weakness, despite our transgressions, despite our alienation, God will take us back in love. And God will be happy. Cain ye ratzon, may this be God's will and let us say: Amen.