The National Jewish Post&Opinion Volume 76, Number 1 • September 23, 2009 • 5 Tishrei 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com This photo comes from Universe’s 2010 The Jewish Historical Museum of Amsterdam calendar. More on this and other Jewish calendars on page NAT 14. Cover designed by Crystal Kurz. NAT 2 September 23, 2009 is not only possible but also beneficial to you and I, are included in that moment of one’s well-being to be able to forgive. revelation. That moment is part of our Editorial Again, L’shana Tova to each of you and Shabbat Shalom collective memory. If these verses had your families! been left out, then we could have easily As you can read in Howard Karsh’s Jennie Cohen 9-23-09 BY RABBI JON ADLAND said that the revelation on Sinai was just column on page NAT 10 of this issue, in Sept. 11, 2009, Nitzavim/Vayelech for those who had been liberated from 5769 the Jewish community suffered Forgiving yourself (Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30), 22 Elul 5769 Egypt. Instead, it included all of us. embarrassment because of a few Jewish by Rabbi Steven Z. Leder What does this mean? It means that individuals. In contrast, I would like to Guess how many pages it takes in the Where were you eight years ago this Torah is a part of every Jewish person’s focus on a Jewish man from Indianapolis prayer book until God forgives us on Kol morning? That is the question many of us life, heart, and soul. It means that a Jew who was an example of the exact Nidrei? Three. Barely a minute into the will be asking as we think about this day. can’t just dismiss what Torah teaches and opposite – a true mensch. service, God says, “Salachti – I forgive The Adland family was scattered. Josh what Torah commands without a struggle Melvin Simon, of blessed memory (see you.” Almost immediately our slate is was in Israel on his semester in high to understand. It doesn’t mean that every obituary NAT 3), was a man we can all wiped clean. school program, and Rachel was in school word or ritual or commandment of Torah be proud of. Coming from a meager When it comes to forgiveness, God acts in Lexington. Sandy was flying that day will work in our lives, but one shouldn’t upbringing in the Bronx, N.Y., he – quickly. But what about us when it comes heading toward Dallas for an aunt’s dismiss it without just cause. together with his brothers Herbert and to one of the most difficult and important funeral and ended up in Pittsburgh at the For me, over the years of reading, Fred Simon – set a standard for Jews and kinds of forgiveness; forgiving ourselves? home of a colleague of mine after the studying, struggling, and comprehending non-Jews alike of what a man can achieve How many of us are good at that? plane was grounded. I spent some of the Torah, I have found that what a section and contribute to his community with Most of us expect an awful lot of day in Louisville at a rabbis’meeting before meant to me 30 years ago or 20 years ago dedication and hard work. ourselves. And we expect a lot of our returning home. My mother-in-law had is different today. As we grow older, the The Simons also set an example by children, parents and spouses. We have gone to New Jersey for a wedding and meaning of our actions and thoughts, as embracing their Jewish upbringing, a hard time forgiving them for their was stuck there for a few days until we well as the world around us, change and celebrating their life cycle events at the human frailties. got her home on a train. we need to rethink what it means. Torah synagogue – in this case even to the very The Torah knew better – the heroes of Many of us have stories of that day, but study gives us the opportunity to confront end – and continuing throughout their the Bible aren’t perfect. Their great deeds all of us have memories. It is one of those deep and meaningful questions about life lives to support Jewish causes. overshadow their mistakes, but they all defining moments. Where were you and love, death and loss, as well as the He was also well loved among non- make their share of mistakes. Virtually when you saw Neil Armstrong walk on everyday mundane that we face. Jews locally and internationally, with every family in the Torah is dysfunctional. the moon? Where were you when you Beginning next weekend, our holy President Bill Clinton and Vice-president God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. heard the news that President Kennedy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Al Gore as two of the speakers at the When God creates the world in the Torah, was shot? Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the will be at the core of our Jewish lives. funeral. Because Simon was co-owner of the world is called “good”– not “perfect.” end of WWII mark dramatic moments for The words in our mahzor (Gates of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, several famous For God, good is good enough. Life isn’t a our senior generation. We mark time by Repentance) challenge us to think about professional basketball personalities such trap set for us by God, so that God can the memories we accumulate. what is truly important in our lives. We as Larry Bird and Reggie Miller (along condemn us for failing. God doesn’t set us Our Torah portion this week marks a are urged to set things right, as well as with NBA commissioner David Stern up for failure. We do that all by ourselves. moment in time as well when we are to celebrate God’s magnificent creation. who is Jewish) were also in attendance. Author Anne Lamott puts it this way: “I reminded that all of us stood together at These holy days are meant to be spent Perhaps this was the first Jewish life cycle always imagined when I was a kid that Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah that links with family and friends, not at work or at experience for many of them. adults had some kind of inner toolbox, and binds us together with its stories, school, but in surroundings that allow for Simon’s funeral, which took place at full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, teachings, ethics, rituals, and morals. But, celebration and contemplation. These are Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, with the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of what is amazing about this part of days, not a couple of hours in shul, but reportedly 2,000 people in attendance, patience. But then when I grew up, I found Deuteronomy is that the writers also told days to refrain from the everyday grind was led by Rabbis Dennis and Sandy that God handed you these rusty, bent, us that it would link every generation of and, at the same time, struggle with the Sasso. When assuredly so many would old tools – friendships, prayer, conscience, Jews to this moment. meaning of our existence. turn out to pay tribute to Mel, the seating honesty – and said, ‘Do the best you can It says, beginning in Deut. 29:13, “I In the midst of all of this, we build in the synagogue was already set up in with these; they will have to do.’ And make this covenant, with its sanctions, memories with the special dinners with expectation of the large attendance later that mostly, against all odds, they’re enough.” not with you alone, but both with those loved ones, phone calls from children, evening for Erev Rosh Hashanah services. God, on Yom Kippur,You forgive us our who are standing here with us this day and worship with family. Unfortunately, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said imperfections in just three pages. before Adonai our God and with those the day will come when the chair will be about Simon, “A giant, pure and simple, For You, good is good enough. who are not with us here this day.” We, (see Adland, page NAT 16) and a citizen in the noblest sense of that Remind us not to give up on ourselves word. When the U.S. Army sent young But to give up instead on the search for The National Jewish Mel Simon to Fort Benjamin Harrison perfection. instead of anywhere else, it was one of Help us to love ourselves as much as the greatest breaks the state of Indiana You do; making peace within; entering will ever get.” the New Year forgiving, forgiven and Post &Opinion Indeed, the NBA, Indiana, and the world renewed. have lost an exceptional role model who Rabbi Leder is senior rabbi of Wilshire www.jewishpostopinion.com made the world Jewish community proud. Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. This As is our tradition, we extend the words message if from their Sept. 1, 2009 bulletin Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion of comfort to the family of and all who which can be found at: www.wilshire 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Published biweekly by office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 The Spokesman Co., Inc. mourn Mel Simon,“May G-d comfort you boulevardtemple.org/pages/bulletin. (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) among your fellow mourners of Zion and [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Jerusalem.” Facing Tragedy Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN 238 S.