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The Summer Covenant of GoodnessAugust 2007From the Desk of Rabbi CohonSummer is a great time to think. Life is slower--and hotter--and the pace of events more gradual, which allows leisure for contemplating some of the serious issues of life. And figuring out answers to some of these big questions is a great way to prepare for the coming of autumn and the Jewish New Year. Fortunately, our Torah reading calendar for the month of August offers particularly sumptuous intellectual and spiritual fare for summer consumption. We are now reading the Book of Devarim, Deuteronomy, and the dramatic final text of the Torah, composed of Moses’ discourses to the people of Israel as they stand at the border of the Promised Land. It is, in many ways, the most powerful writing in the whole of the Torah. Among its religious and literary treasures are the extraordinary passages of the Shema and V’ahavta, as well as a recapitulation of the 10 Commandments and many phrases that have become bywords of our culture. "Cast your bread upon the waters," Deuteronomy tells us, and "the poor will never vanish from the earth; "open your hand to your poor brother and give him whatever he needs;" "I have carried you on eagle’ wings"; "II set before you this day blessing and curse, life and death-- choose life" and much more. The essential message of Deuteronomy is one of covenant, a shared responsibility with God for the success of goodness. If we act well, everyone will benefit. If we act as Jews, fulfilling our mission to work to better the world, then goodness and morality will flourish. It is a great and profound role that we have to play in this Jewish conception of the world: we act to make the world holy. If we can fulfill this charge, we will create communities of goodness, blessing, and growth, and ultimately of peace. May we carry this message from the summer into the busier days of fall, and from the synagogue into all the other aspects of our lives? L’shalom v’rei’ut, in peace and friendship, Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon
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