Opinions

Village Shalom letter to residents, families, friends and partners

(Editor’s note: Village Shalom distributed the following letter to residents, families, friends and partners on Feb. 25, 2020.)

June 26, 1919 – February 16, 2020

The Wayside Waifs’ Family mourns the passing of Board Chairman Emeritus Harold Melcher on February 16, 2020. His vision, leadership, and business sense helped transform Wayside Waifs from a struggling animal shelter to a nationally recognized pet adoption campus.

Does Donald Trump suffer from EDD?

Does Donald Trump suffer from EDD (Emotional Deficit Disorder)?  What exactly is EDD?

President Trump’s State of the Union Address

I thought President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech was outstanding, Nancy Pelosi’s inexcusable behavior not withstanding.  I understand that the Chronicle presented its leftwing perspective but I wish that it had elected to provide a more balanced view as well. 

Thank You Barbara Bayer

The announcement of the planned retirement of Barbara Bayer from the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle is a reminder of the tremendous role she plays in the success of the paper serving members of the community, in educating and informing the Jewish community of activities.  KCJC is the primary source of organizational news, and Barbara performs spectacular and gracious work under a weekly deadline.  Barbara treats organizations small and large with respect, curiosity and interest of their work, and as an advocate for each organization’s role in the community.  She gives the same respectful treatment to each individual, and is unselfish in praising and articulating the work of so many in the community.  Kol hakovod and thank you Barbara Baellow Bayer.

Of disagreements, the freedom to question/challenge

Most everyone remembers Perchick from “Fiddler On The Roof”:

“He’s right.” “He’s right, and he’s right? They can’t both be right.” “You know, you are also right.”

The Marcy Avenue Armory is a historic military building taking up a full, valuable block in Williamsburg, New York. Originally built in 1883 to house and serve the military, the armory ended its official military era in 2011. Last week it was home to a different kind of army, that only comes together once every year. The army of Shluchot. The female Chabad emissaries scattered across the globe.

The first Democratic socialist in American politics 

I remember growing up as a small boy living at 26th and Agnes in Kansas City, Missouri. In those days my buddies and I used to play basketball at the old Jewish Community Center on Linwood Boulevard. And there was a Democratic socialist in the White House. His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Love your enemies

In 1993, I took an anthropology class at KU, taught by Dr. Felix Moos, called “Violence and Terrorism.” Mid-semester he opened class by writing the following on the board:

Sunday night begins Tu b’Shevat (literally, “15th of Shevat”). In our tradition, Tu b’Shevat is the birthday of trees.

Now that seems so implausible, celebrating the “birth” of trees in February, when the average temperature is in the mid-40s. But it is.

Because in Israel — exactly at this time — the trees begin to awaken from their winter hibernation and start to bloom. All over Israel this coming week, almond trees will announce the start of spring by displaying the beautiful white and pink almond blossoms.

And our tradition celebrates this moment.

Why?

All one needs to do is to look at the changing weather patterns in our area and around the world — and note the effects such climate changes have already had on us — increased ferocity of hurricanes, of forest fires, of droughts, flooding, excessive heat ... we all know the litany of catastrophes that our planet suffers — and we are made painfully aware how fragile our environment is.

Judaism recognizes the precarious nature of humanity’s “stewardship” over the land — that balancing act between using the resources of this planet to grow our societies and the obligation to protect the planet for future generations. And today, with all the dire warnings how climate change — as a result of our human actions — is radically altering our planet and (therefore) our ability to sustain ourselves .. .maybe it is a good thing that we pause and consider the gifts that nature gives to us?

It is not by accident the rabbis talked about Tu b’Shevat being a “birthday” of the trees. Consider a birthday party. It is a day to celebrate an individual’s growth, to shower that person with love and affection, to help that individual feel appreciated, to let her or him know that s/he matters.

Maybe not a bad idea for us and our environment (represented by our “trees”): to spend a moment recognizing the importance that our world holds for our survival ... and our commitment to protect and “appreciate” it. 

We are not in Israel. And this time of year our trees here are often covered with snow and ice and far from ready to bloom. But it is not too early to acknowledge our dependency on our environment and our need to protect it .. .to shower it with “love and affection”... on this birthday of our trees!

Rabbi Arthur Nemitoff is senior rabbi at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.