Sent to the Congregation 7/24/09

A word from Rabbi Stanway...

Clearly the events in New Jersey in the past couple of days are on everyone's mind and lips. Corruption, bribery, harvesting in organs, rabbis and politicians getting arrested is head-spinning. Even CNN said that "even in a State which is no stranger to corruption, this case seems to take the cake." I agree.

Whenever Jews are in the news when they have allegedly done something illegal (Madoff, et al.) it brings shame upon us all. With the events happening, literally, in our own backyard and the Syrian Jewish community under scrutiny again, parts of the Hassidic community under the magnifying glass and the press taking every opportunity to use the word 'rabbi' to discuss some of those charged, it is embarrassing to us all, to say the least.

All over town, at the JCC, the Federation, temples, yeshivot and anywhere else Jews gather, this is subject of the day. And it ought to be. What these men and women did was betray their communities' trust and was a Hillul Hashem - a true desecration of God's name.Still, however tempted we are to deride these people, let us not. There are plenty of others who will have a field day smearing all Jews because of the actions of these ones. We ought not to be among them.

As Jews we ought to speak and act as Jews are supposed to. Whether we like it or not, people judge all Jews by what some Jews do. We could - and should - live our lives within the law, with high ethical standards, with tzedakah and righteousness and goodness. If we have something bad to say about someone, let us keep it to ourselves. We must be sure not to give 'pitachon peh' - literally 'a mouth opening' - an excuse - to others to find a reason to justify their negative image of Jews. Instead of having people judge what these Jews and fellow New Jerseyans have done, let all of us be the bearers of what Jews are and do. Let us be the examples of righteousness and goodness and ethical behaviour. Let us earn our livings honestly and let our speech reflect only the best that is in us all.

I don't know if any or all of these people did what they are alleged to have done and I can't control the way people look at Jews based on these allegations. What I can control, though, is what I say and how I live my own life. Perhaps that will be the example of how a Jew really ought to live. I hope you join me in this effort.