Holy Rage and a Covenant of Peace

Dear Friends,

Today, the seventeenth day of the Hebrew month Tammuz, initiates a three-week period of mourning and introspection that leads to Tisha b’Av, (the 9th of the month of Av) which is the day that marks the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and 70 CE. 

Tradition teaches that the Temple was destroyed because hatred became the operating principle in the community. The scorn, contempt and disdain that characterized daily interactions caused the Divine Presence to flee and leave the sacred vulnerable to attack.

Each year, this season calls us to acknowledge the hatred that has taken root in our hearts and face the destruction that is the result of human arrogance, disdain and cruelty.

This week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, casts an interesting light on this time.

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

I cannot abide this perspective. Our tradition must offer a different teaching to guide us not just in this season, but in these very troubled times.

Pinchas is the grandson of Aaron, the Kohen Gadol,
the sacred leader of the people.

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 is the brit shalom we are asked to enter.

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,
so that hatred does not take root in our hearts
and cruelty does not become the acceptable law of the land.

How to enter this covenant?

Be like the disciples of Aaron and act from love.

Look under the rage you feel as you witness cruelty,
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 does not 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.

As we enter these three weeks and step toward July 4th
may we be rooted in what we love.
May we be empowered by all we love.
And may we rise together with strength and devotion
for the sake of shalom.

May it be so.
Rabbi Yael