Rosh Hashanah Morning Sermon

September 27, 2003

 Second Chances

Rabbi Anthony D. Holz

Recently, the big Baptist Church on Savannah Highway had a sign in front that read: “God Has a Big Eraser.” Uh-oh,  sounds threatening. Does this mean that God can rub us out on a whim? Or does it mean something else?

 As Jews we can easily connect this idea to the traditional wish at this time of the year that we be inscribed in the Book of Life. To be able to move beyond mistakes and errors is a truly divine trait. Perhaps we all can sometimes use a big eraser, to give ourselves and others a chance to begin again.  

In this connection, let us remind ourselves of a similar thought in the Torah. Chapter 8 of the Book of Numbers tells us that the year after the children of Israel left Egypt, all the Israelites were commanded to observe the Passover celebration. But some members of the community were not able to celebrate at that time, and they appealed to Moses for another occasion to observe Passover. Moses’s final decision was that if people had health problems or were on a journey, so that they were not able to observe the holiday at its prescribed time, then they could celebrate it a month later. If you missed the officially appointed time, you got a second chance.

 Think about this idea of a second chance. We can apply it to many different areas of our lives. We all can benefit from second chances.

 Let me give you some examples.  Many of you know that I have long been active in the Greater Carolinas Association of Rabbis, a group which annually holds its convention in the mountains of North Carolina, at a retreat center called Wild Acres. Every year we have excellent Scholars-In-Residence and learn much. But the real value of this convention is the opportunity  to reconnect with long-time colleagues and their families. The rabbinate may sometimes be a lonely profession, and there is great value in coming together with other Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and traditional colleagues, male and female, to simply relate to one another as individuals, as families, and as fellow members of a larger community. External issues, such as which variety of Judaism one is involved with, or whether a person holds particular beliefs or values, become secondary to the human contact.

In August of this year, I heard how four of my good friends each had an opportunity for a second chance in life.

 Let me first tell you about one friend whom I will call Barry. Barry had gone through a number of years when his health was in major decline and his activities became more and more restricted. All of this changed when he underwent open heart surgery. Although the surgery was risky, and his family had gathered for a worst-case scenario, the surgery actually changed his whole life for the better. He and his family now reasonably expect to share some golden years together.

 Another rabbinical friend, whom I will call Steve, was scheduled for a simple surgical procedure,  one that would require at most one night in the hospital. However,  while the surgery went well, unexpectedly Steve remained in a coma, unconscious, and this continued for 10 days.  Imagine the anxiety and worry felt by his family, his friends, his congregation. At last, the doctors tried something different, and as a result, he regained consciousness and had a complete recovery. After having begun to live again all over, the joy for his family and dear ones can only be imagined. I’m pretty sure, that after an extraordinary year, Steve is now probably speaking to his congregation on Rosh Hashanah pretty much as I am speaking to you.

 The third friend who went  through a major physical trauma I will call Rachel. She seemed to be having a wonderful pregnancy, long desired and long awaited. But, suddenly in her ninth month, all of her major organs began to shut down one by one. She spent several days in the intensive care unit at a hospital, where the doctors could do little, other than to make sure that she was maintained with intravenous fluids. Her husband and family were quite naturally distraught. Eventually, however, her basic health reasserted itself . And she is now a very happy and healthy mother, after having gone through a near-death experience.

 And, the last of my four friends I will call Fred.  A brilliant man he suddenly began  having severe headaches.  He was faced overnight with the necessity of undergoing immediate brain surgery or having a major stroke.  He had less than 24 hours to set his affairs in order. He resigned himself as best as he could and underwent the surgery. He recovered his health and all his faculties, to the great relief of all his loved ones.

 At this Rosh Hashana all of these friends and their families have reason to utter the Gomel blessing which we recited in this congregation a few minutes ago. All of these individuals went through life-threatening experiences, agonizing for their loved ones. But they all recovered and were able to begin again.

 And, of course, our Torah reading about Abraham and Isaac gives us another example.  Isaac lived through his life-threatening experience, came down from the mountain and went on to become a husband, father and patriarch, the second of the patriarchs of our Jewish community.

 And Abraham, the founding patriarch, after having almost sacrificed his son (which he thought God wanted him to do), was given the opportunity to sacrifice the ram.  He was able to stop in time, and was able to come down from the mountain to resume his life in the promised land.

We all can benefit from second chances. With the best of intentions, sometimes things may go wrong, sometimes we may make mistakes, or sometimes we may make detours on our life-journeys. Some people never graduate from High School or get a University degree. And then many years later they go back to school. Others change careers. Some people may have a less than successful first marriage and then have a much happier second marriage. And many find new beginnings within their existing marriages, rejuvenating  and strengthening the relationship. Part of the appeal of the Cinderella story of the race horse Sea Biscuit is that it strikes a chord within us all: everybody needs a second chance, deserves a second chance. That is what our High Holy Day observance is all about, this period of the year when we seek to make the future better than the past.

 In addition, if none of us are perfect then two things are clear, two truths  that will help us in a world where we all need second chances. The first truth we need to recognize is the importance of civility, of the kind of behavior that allows us to continue relating well with others, even those with whom we disagree, perhaps especially those with whom we disagree.  If we are all less than perfect then surely we should cut others some slack.  These remarks can be applied to a wide variety of human interactions. But specifically as rabbi of this congregration, I have noticed how, when expectations have not been met, some congregants have on occasion been less than tolerant and sometimes even abusive to those whom they thought were making mistakes. I am not talking about myself, but it has saddened me to find elected officers and trustees and caring  staff members subjected to this kind of treatment.

One always catches more flies with hone than with vinegar. Without suppressing dissent, we need to learn to be less forthcoming in our criticisms, less judgmental. Most specifically, when members of our community come here to worship, that is surely not the time to confront them.  However misguided others may seem, unless we are dealing with actual criminals, every one of us is  doing the very best he or she can. Nobody likes to be wrong. Yet, we human beings learn far more by trying,  sometimes making mistakes and if necessary, getting things right the second time around, than from being humiliated and made to feel bad by others. We all deserve a additional chances. 

 And lastly, in a world where everybody is fallible, let us remind ourselves of the vitally important role that a congregation, a religious community dedicated to truth and value, can play. If we learn to do a better job of  accepting ourselves and one another- with all our flaws-, if we learn to do a better job of keeping quiet, of listening, we can heal one another, help one another, together we can bring about a better world.

 The writer of Ecclesiastes (which we will study a week from this Wednesday) gives us wise words: Two are better off than one, in that they have greater benefit from their effort. For should they fall, one can raise the other; but woe betide him who is alone and falls with no companion to raise him! Further when two lie together they are warm; but how can he who is alone get warm? Also, if one attacks, two can stand up to him. And a threefold cord is not readily broken!

 Let us work at becoming a more supportive community. And let us all learn to use a big eraser.  Thus can we make this a significantly better world.  Let this be our task in the New Year. Amen