Ki Tisa 5782 - For Your Generations
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February 19, 2022
Last week, we focused on the words l’dorotam - for their generations, in the context of this synagogue space. We read God’s commandments to the children of Israel to keep a ner tamid (an everlasting flame), to sacrifice a lamb every Pesah, and to bring a yearly offering on Yom Kippur. In a different sense in each generation, we have kept those commandments for thousands of years; so too, our ways of practicing Judaism and maintaining this congregation today will affect endless generations to come.
Last night, we spoke about l’dorotam - for their generations - in the context of mitzvot. Every mitzvah we do, positive or negative, affects both our lives and endless lives to come. That assertion is highlighted by the prayer we just sang, one that comes from our parashah - V’shamru v’nei Yisrael et ha-Shabbat, la’asot et ha-Shabbat l’dorotam b’rit olam. The children of Israel shall keep Shabbat, doing Shabbat for their generations, as an everlasting covenant (Ex. 31:16). This morning, we are back onto the topic of generations. This time, we’re bringing God’s Thirteen Attributes. From our Jewish text and personal experience, we know that our individual deeds, legacy, values, and daily practice all have the power to shape our world l’dorotam, for the sake of their (our) generations.
Every High Holy Day season, we repeat the attributes that God proclaims to Moshe as both recover from the horrors they witness when the children of Israel build a golden calf:
Adonai, Adonai, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and wrongdoing; [here’s where the High Holy Day version ends…] yet God does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations (Ex. 34:6).
While God can extend kindness to infinite generations, God can also extend punishment to three or four generations. Any of us who have families know these lovely attributes of God to be true. We inherit our relatives’ strengths and weaknesses, and we inherit the resulting fallout. Where and how we were raised was affected by where and how our parents and grandparents were raised. If we are lucky, those of us with children or students will see our values passed down to them and those they teach. Accordingly, each generation’s suffering and success has been aided by and will always be aided by the deeds of previous generations.
As we have discussed the past few weeks, we have the power to shape how our future generations will live, whether they will inherit the kindness or consequence we have earned from God. In our respective occupations, the way we treat co-workers and clients will affect the culture of our industry in the distant and not-so-distant future. The discoveries we make, the speeches we give, and the articles we write will change the minds of infinite learners to come. In our relationships, the respect or lack thereof that we lend to the stranger will affect how that person treats others, and so on and so forth. When we support policies that benefit our local, state, or national economy, healthcare, or education, we shape not only the way we live, but the way people will live for years to come. The amount of times we forget to bring a water bottle or reusable bag and take plastic instead will make marks on our planet in ways that both we and our children can witness. Most directly, the lessons we teach to those who will live longer than us, either through clear instruction or through our modeling, will morph into the lessons they teach their children and the ways in which they live their lives moving forward. Through our actions and their consequences, we shape our world and the lives of its inhabitants for infinite generations to come.
What might it mean, then, for us to treat our every word and action as a moment of great potential? Whenever we make a statement or take a step, what would it mean for us to ask ourselves whether our words and actions support the world we want to see for those who come after us? What will be the consequences of our words and actions, not just in our own lifetime, but in numerous lifetimes to come? With the food we eat, the people we acknowledge, and the ideas we promote, we have thousands of daily opportunities to shape our vision for the lives of our loved ones and their loved ones after them.
This morning, I challenge you to think about the legacy you, personally, wish to leave behind for generations to come. The next time you find yourself teaching a child, say the words and perform the actions you want to see them emulate. The next time you find yourself in conversation with someone with whom you disagree, model the kind of conversation you know will work towards peace in time to come. And the next time you have a choice between the good and the easy, choose the good, not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of your great-great-grandchildren.
While the Rabbis who shaped our liturgy may have been frightened by the prospect of their misdeeds affecting the next three or four generations, I find hope in the full version of Exodus 34:6. While we may have the power to incur God’s anger for three or four generations, we also have the power to incur God’s favor up to the thousandth generation, a whole lot longer. Our victories have the potential to impact a whole lot more people than the wrong we will inevitably perform. Even when we are handed a fate we cannot fully reverse in our own lifetime, we can use the good we have also inherited to make sure those after us do not suffer the same consequences that our grandparents handed down to us. With every word and action, whether we like it or not, we are choosing the legacy we leave for our children, our grandchildren, and endless generations to come. Shabbat Shalom.
Sun, November 10 2024
9 Cheshvan 5785
Rabbi's Sermons
Bereshit - Genesis
- Parshat Bereshit: Oct. 26, 2019, October 1, 2021, October 2, 2021, October 25, 2024
- Parshat Noah: Nov. 2, 2019, October 8, 2021, Oct. 29, 2022, Nov. 1, 2024
- Parshat Lekh-L'kha: Nov. 9, 2019, Oct. 31, 2020, Oct. 31, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 15, 2021
- Parshat Vayeira: Nov. 16, 2019, Nov. 7, 2020, Nov. 7, 2020 - Part 2, Oct. 22, 2021, Oct. 23, 2021
- Parshat Hayei Sara: Nov. 14, 2020, Oct. 30, 2021
- Parshat Toldot: Nov. 30, 2019, Nov. 21, 2020, Nov. 6, 2021
- Parshat Vayeitzei: Nov. 28, 2020, Nov. 13, 2021
- Parshat Vayishlah: Dec. 14, 2019 , Dec. 5, 2020, November 20, 2021
- Parshat Vayeisheiv: Dec. 12, 2020, Nov. 27, 2021
- Parshat Miketz: Dec. 4, 2021
- Parshat Vayigash: Jan. 4, 2020, Dec. 26, 2020, Dec. 11, 2021
- Parshat Vay'hi: Jan. 11, 2020, Jan. 2, 2021
Shemot-Exodus
- Parshat Sh'mot: Jan. 18, 2020, Jan. 18, 2020 - Part 2, Jan. 9, 2021
- Parshat Va'eira: Jan. 25, 2021
- Parshat Bo: Feb. 1, 2020, Jan. 23, 2021
- Parshat B'shalah: Jan. 30, 2021, Jan. 15, 2022, Feb. 3, 2023, Feb.4, 2023
- Parshat Yitro: Feb. 15, 2020, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 6, 2021, Feb. 21, 2022, Feb. 22, 2022
- Parshat Mishpatim: Feb. 22, 2020, Feb. 18, 2023
- Parshat T'rumah: Feb. 29, 2020, Feb. 29, 2020 - Part 2, Feb. 20, 2021, Feb. 4, 2022, Feb. 5, 2022, Feb. 25, 2023
- Parshat T'tzaveh: March 7, 2020, Feb. 27, 2021, Feb. 12, 2022, Feb. 11, 2022
- Parshat Ki Tisa: March 14, 2020, March 6, 2021, February 19, 2022
- Parshot Vayak'heil-P'kudei: March 21, 2020, March 13, 2021, February 26, 2022, March 18, 2023
Vayikra-Leviticus
- Parshat Vayikra: March 20, 2021, March 11, 2022, March 24, 2023, March 25, 2023
- Parshat Tzav: April 4, 2020, March 27, 2021, March 19, 2022
- Parshat Sh'mini: April 18, 2020
- Parshot Tazria-Metzora: April 25, 2020, April 17, 2021, April 2, 2022, April 20, 2024
- Parshot Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: May 2, 2020, April 24, 2021, May 7, 2022, May 3, 2024, May 10, 2024
- Emor: May 9, 2020, May 1, 2021, May 13, 2022, May 14, 2022, May 6, 2023
- Parshot B'har-B'hukotai: May 8, 2019, May 16, 2020, May 7, 2021, May 21, 2022, May 28, 2022, May 24, 2024, May 31, 2024
Bamidbar-Numbers
- Parshat Bamidbar: May 15, 2021, May 20, 2023, June 7, 2024
- Parshat Nasso: June 6, 2020, June 6, 2020 - Part 2, May 22, 2021, June 10, 2022, June 2, 2023, June 14, 2024
- Parshat B'ha'alotcha: June 13, 2020, June 13, 2020 - Part 2, June 9, 2023, June 10, 2023, June 21, 2024
- Parshat Sh'lach: June 20, 2020, June 20, 2020 - Part 2, June 5, 2021, June 28, 2024
- Parshat Korah: June 27, 2020, July 18, 2020, July 24, 2023, July 5, 2024
- Parshot Chukat-Balak: June 26, 2021, July 12, 2024, July 19, 2024
- Parshat Pinchas: July 11, 2020, July 11, 2020 - Part 2, July 2, 2021, July 3, 2021, July 22, 2022, July 23, 2022, July 26, 2024
- Parshot Matot-Masei: July 18, 2020, July 18, 2020 - Part 2, July 10, 2021, July 30, 2022, August 2, 2024
D'varim-Deuteronomy
- Parshat D'varim: July 25, 2020, July 25, 2020 - Part 2, July 17, 2021, August 6, 2022, August 9, 2024
- Parshat Va'et'hanan: Aug. 1, 2020, July 24, 2021, August 12, 2022, August 13, 2022, Aug. 16, 2024
- Parshat Eikev: Aug. 8, 2020, July 31, 2021, August 19, 2022, August 20, 2022
- Parshat Re'eh: August 7, 2021, August 30, 2024
- Parshat Shoftim: September 7, 2019, Aug. 22, 2020, August 14, 2021, August 14, 2021 - Part 2, September 3, 2022, September 6, 2024
- Parshat Ki Teitzei: Aug. 29, 2020, August 20, 2021, September 13, 2024
- Parshat Ki Tavo: Sept. 5, 2020, Sept. 5, 2020 - Part 2, August 28, 2021, Sept. 17, 2022, Sept. 20, 2024
- Parshot Nitzavim-Vayeilech: Sept. 11, 2021, September 24, 2022, Sept. 27,2024
- Parshat Ha'Azinu: Sept. 26, 2020, October 4, 2024
- Parshat Haberakhah
Rosh HaShanah: Sept. 19, 2020, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 2, Sept. 19, 2020 - Part 3, Sept. 20, 2020, Sept. 7, 2021, Sept. 8, 2021, Sept. 9, 2021, Sept. 26, 2022, Oct 2, 2024
Yom Kippur: Sept. 28, 2020, Sept. 16, 2021, October 5, 2022
Sukkot: Oct. 3, 2020 , Sept. 20, 2021, Oct. 16,2024, Oct. 18, 2024
Passover: April 3, 2021, April 23, 2022, April 7, 2023, April 12, 2023 April 27, 2024
Rosh Hodesh: April 22, 2023
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