Holy Rage

Seek Peace

And Pursue it

Psalm 34:15

Dear Friends,
Here in the Hebrew month of Tammuz, I return again to this teaching I have shared before. I hope it is helpful in these turbulent times.

In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, we read about a brit shalom, a covenant of peace. God made this covenant with Pinchas after a rampage of violence. It can seem from the text that this brit is a reward for rage and cruelty.

This I cannot accept, so I turn the Torah around and around and realize that Pinchas is the grandson of Aaron. This opens a way for a different teaching.

In the rabbinic text pirke avot, (Ethics of our Ancestors) it states:
Be like the disciples of Aaron, love peace, pursue peace, love creatures and creation, and draw close to ancient, eternal wisdom. 
Pirkei Avot 1:12

This I believe is the brit shalom we are asked to make.
With eyes wide open, even as we experience the horror and destruction of our times. Even as we face all that must be challenged and changed in our country and the world, we are asked to a make a commitment to shalom to ensure that hatred does not take root in our hearts.

How to enter into the covenant?
Be like the disciples of Aaron, the tradition calls, and act from love. Look under the rage you feel as you witness arrogance, greed and shameful acts of power. Look beneath the anger you experience as you see all that is being trampled and destroyed and reach for what you love and value. Feel the love that manifests as rage. Touch the love that becomes fury.

A brit shalom doesn’t call us to deny anger. It says, experience the fury, let it fill you with energy and strength. And then, pivot from rage and pursue peace with love. Pursue healing and justice out of love for creation and all beings. Act from and for love.

May the Mystery that fills all the world guide and hold us. May we be strengthened by each other and by the love, goodness and generosity of so many.

With love and blessing,
Rabbi Yael