When Words Fail Us...

Top of the evening to all....

The director of the Jewish Welfare Board asked one of the military rabbis to write something in response to the events that took place in Texas.  I volunteered.  Below is my article.

R/SCG

-----Break-----

When Words Fail Us

            There was a time when such disturbing events took place far away.  We would read about a terrorist attack in Europe or on a subway in Japan.  We might have glanced at the article, but quickly turned to the crossword puzzle.  Even if it involved the local Jewish community, this was still elsewhere.  This did not happen in our country.  This was not the United States.  

 

            The last several years have shattered that sense of distance.  Pittsburgh, Poway, and now Texas...these are places we know.  Our friends live in these communities.  These are shuls where we might daven.  When violence takes place in our backyard, we find ourselves without words, wondering what to say.  How do we find comfort in words when circumstances leave us speechless?

 

            I have been privileged to witness reaction without words.  In December, I took part in rehearsals for Dignified Transfers at Dover Air Force Base (AFB).  When the remains of US combat deaths are repatriated, Dover AFB stands ready to honor our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Guardsmen, Airmen, and Guardians.   Dover AFB neither slumbers nor sleeps. 

 

            Quiet conversations on the tarmac come to an abrupt halt at the words "family in sight."   Inside the C-130, a chaplain offers a short prayer.  The carry teams lift each transfer case.  Uniformed personnel execute a slow salute, holding that salute until the transfer case is placed in the vehicle.  Throughout the transfer, those present will hear only the commands of the officer in charge.  Dignified Transfer is otherwise silent.

 

            In January, I accompanied my colleague and friend, Rabbi (Major) Steven Rein, USAF, to the funeral of a Jewish Air Force officer at Arlington National Cemetery.  Again, the absence of spoken word was striking, broken only by terse orders to the casket team during the transfer of the casket to the caisson and a muffled drum beat as the deceased is borne on this final journey.  As military honors conclude, the concussion of a rifle volley tears through that silence.  A lone bugler sounds "Taps," the gentle lament of a nation in mourning.  

 

            The aura of military ritual is gripping.  To witness Dignified Transfers and Military Honors...to hear the clipped phrasing..."family in sight..." orders to the carry team...slow salutes...walking behind the caisson...rifle volley..."Taps..." and silence.  That silence is part of the ritual.  It is as heart-rending as the bugle call.  That silence reminds us that for many situations, there are no words. 

 

            Words of solace will come only in their time.  They will have meaning only when we are able to hear them.  For now, we remember Aharon's reaction at the tragic death of two of his sons (Leviticus 10:3).  וידם אהרן - Aharon fell silent.   As we struggle to find words, as Aharon's silence is suddenly, unwillingly our own, let us remember that words often fail to capture magnitude of trauma or depth of emotion.  We hear instead the power of ritual and hopefully find comfort in the solemnity of silence. 

 

May we be comforted from the Heavens - מן השמיים ננוחם.

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Rav Sean Gorman

LCDR, CHC, USN

Haven't We Been Here Before?

Good evening everyone.

We are all likely aware of the events that took place at Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas over Shabbat.  Thank God that synagogue attendance was low due to COVID (I just love that irony) and that those present persevered and survived without physical injury.

I follow the news assiduously.  I also keep making the remarkably stupid error of reading comments after the news articles.  (Note to self: STOP!!)  In comments after one article, many people extolled the virtues of attending such events with a concealed weapon.  In and of itself, I have no issue with personal firearms.  Conceptually, even in such situations, there might be room to discuss having a weapon handy.

However, and it is a huge "however," what might seem intelligent as a concept often does not make the jump into reality.

All of the comments supporting bringing a weapon to shul mention Constitutional rights and self-defence.  The use of lethal force in self-defence requires training and preparation.  Training with a weapon is only part of the issue.  Do the folks in the pews know what to do?  When the rounds start flying, people will panic.  Some may duck.  Others may freeze.  Do we want a situation in which one of the good guys has to make a decision with a human shield as part of the equation?  Still others may hamper the good guys in a panicked rush to find safety.  Being armed will not mitigate the panic.  A weapon will not bring order to chaos.  The presence of a firearm will not level the playing field.  It is not a good idea.

What might we do instead?

Let's start with the fundamentals, beginning at the synagogue door.  In Alexandria, VA, the cost to a synagogue to have a uniformed police officer on the property is $35/hour.  In Toronto, it is $100/hour with a minimum of four hours.  With the assumption of four hours here in Virginia, the cost for 52 Saturdays would be ~$7280.00 USD.  In Toronto, it is ~$20800.00 CAD.  Even before considering synagogue policy, there is room for local government to ease the financial burden and help organizations figure out policy.

For synagogue policy, a fence around the synagogue is a solid beginning.  Keeping people off of the property limits the concerns with getting into the building.  Beyond that, it is entirely appropriate to ask people to show the contents of backpacks, purses, and diaper bags before allowing entry to the building.  A metal detector can also go far in initial security.

Synagogue websites all have COVID policies.  Policies include advance registration for services and showing proof of vaccine.  We do not blink over having to do that.  In coming to DC, I chose my hotel based in part on walking distance to a synagogue.  I checked the synagogue's COVID policy.  If the synagogue had asked for registration, I would have registered.  Okay...what is the difference between such requirements for COVID and asking for identification and registration for attendees as a matter of physical security?

The place I attended services yesterday had only one available entrance into the building.  The synagogue was able to afford police protection.  Two people were checking COVID records.  That means that anyone with nefarious intent would have had to pass three people.  Extra training for the folks checking COVID records might be in order to facilitate reaction to such intent.

In the pews, laminated cards outlined what to do in case of a bomb threat, active shooter, fire, and other emergencies (there were also instructions for what to do in the unlikely event of a water landing).  This congregation takes the security concerns seriously enough to talk about it and to communicate with the membership.

Congregations should address whether the greeters at the sanctuary door know what to do.  Immediate action on their part can buy precious seconds for others to run or hide.

Please note that in general, I agree that the physical security of the synagogue is the concern of the board, not of the bimah (pulpit).  However, when people are scared about coming to shul, that fear becomes a pastoral issue for the bimah.  As well, given that many synagogues have a panic button on the pulpit, the rabbi is a necessary part of the discussion.

The rabbi of the shul in Texas said today that they are "going to tighten security."  Without knowing what the security practices have been, deliberate thought about the security of a synagogue (or any other institution) needs to happen before an attack.  Making tomorrow's policy based on yesterday's events is too little, too late.  When the train has already left the station, running after it is an exercise in futility.

To our friends in Colleyville, we stand behind you and next to you in support as you recover from this violation.

Stay warm.  Stay dry.

R/SCG

Not Interested....Not Remotely Interested...

 Top of the evening to all...

Apparently, a certain Congresswoman from New York is in Florida on vacation.  Good for her!  While in Florida, she has been seen twice unmasked (oh the humanity!).  The second time was at a packed bar.

At this time, I would like to remind everyone of the 614th Commandment: thou shalt not COVID thy neighbour's house.

Anyway, because the Twitter world is...well...the Twitter world, the Congresswoman in question was called for hypocrisy.  She has left her blue state, land of quarantines and masks, to go to a dreaded red state, land of sun and sand.

And again, good for her.  Everyone deserves a vacation.

Her hypocrisy was pointed out to her.  Her response: "it's starting to get old ignoring the very obvious, strange, and deranged sexual frustrations that underpin the Republican fixation on me, women, and LGBT+ people in general."  

Since her tweet was directed at those pointing out the seeming hypocrisy, let's have the conversation.  For one who is quite happy to point out sexism wherever it exists (and even where it does not), she might start by looking in the mirror.  To assume that men might disagree with her only because we want to get her into bed is misandrist.  It reduces men to little more than libidinous creatures.  If a man were to say the exact same thing, the Twitter attacks would be vicious.  They would also be correct.  

I would thus like to inform the Congresswoman in question that men have brains.  I dare say further that even conservative men have brains.  Try engaging us on that level.  Maybe we will all learn something.

In the meantime, no, I am not interested...not remotely.

Enjoy your vacation.

R/SCG

Canti-cide or Parody?

Top of the evening everyone...

There is a discussion about canti-cide versus parody in my house.  Changing a word here and there is canti-cide.  Rewriting an entire stanza enters the world of parody.  As one might be able to guess, canti-cide might warrant criminal charges.

Examples:

Canti-cide, based on "The Boxer," by Simon and Garfunkel:

I am just a rabbi though my story's seldom told...

Parody:

What do you call it when an aging hippy becomes a vegetarian?

This is the dawning of the age of asparagus, age of asparagus, asparagus, asparagus.

Broccoli and cauliflower, jicama and sprouts abounding.  No more pork chops or f'let mignons, golden living dreams of scallions, mystic crystal watermelons, and the cow's true liberation asparagus, asparagus.

This was a long introduction to this blog entry.  Since the advent of COVID omicron, I have had a song in my head that would not go away.  The rest of the lyrics finally came together this evening.  I humbly apologize at this time to Simon and Garfunkel.  The original song was Kodachrome.  

This rendition is called "Omicron."  The tune is the same.

Have a good evening.

R/SCG

Omicron

When I look back on all the shots I got in high school,

It's a wonder I get sick at all.

Though all these medications haven't hurt me,

I can see the writing on the wall...

 

 

Omicron...

All your vaccines don't matter

There's no thought about the data

Outside your quarantine hotel window

It's a sunny day o' yeah...

 

I've got CDC shot records

I'll show you all the photographs

O' please just don't stick

That darn swab up my nose

 

If you took all the girls I knew when I was single,

And brought 'em all together for one night.

They would all get stopped right at the border,

Due to new rules just put in tonight...

 

Omicron...

 

Vaccines should take my omicron Vaccines should take my omicron Vaccines should take my Omicron away-ay-ay.

That requires a backbone That requires a backbone That requires a backbone today-ay-ay.

Vaccines should take my omicron Vaccines should take my omicron Vaccines should take my Omicron away-ay-ay.

That requires a backbone That requires a backbone That requires a backbone today-ay-ay.

STEM versus Sociology...

 Good evening to all.

STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

We watched Star Trek Into Darkness last night.  Gavi and Jennifer had a dandy time towards the end going through all of the reasons that none of it made any scientific sense.  Injecting Kahn's blood into a tribble would not bring the tribble back to life.  And please note, this is not only a trouble with tribbles.  It would not bring Captain Kirk back to life either.  The space flights from one crippled to ship to the other would never have worked.  The list goes on.  (Please note: there are things that Star Trek got right also, but that is not the point here.)

After dissecting all of the scientific reasons that none of it could work, we finished watching the movie.  The end is quite dramatic, with the prototype of a massive starship crashing into Star Fleet headquarters in San Francisco.

I then pointed out that with all of the scientific analysis that Jennifer and Gavi put into this, there was no need.  Science was not necessary to prove that it is complete fiction and fantasy.  Sociology would be adequate.  How?  It is very simple.  As this massive starship crashes through San Francisco, not one person was taking video on a cell phone.

Have a good evening.

R/SCG

Semper Fidelis

Marine Corps Hymn 

Summertime...

 And I was a bit queasy...

Okay.  I apologize for that one, and I was only seasick a couple of times.

I disembarked from the ship today.  My thanks to the crew of USS HOWARD are endless.  I had a great time, made some great friends, had an amazing pizza at a restaurant (kosher!) in Long Beach, CA, and crossed the Pacific.  As we passed each time zone, we set the clocks back one hour.  During my evening prayer over the ship's 1MC (intercom, all you civilians out there), I told everyone that for all of those times we have all complained that we needed one more hour in a day, we had it several times.  The downside to it is that we lost a day as well.

My ship's summer got completely changed.  The ship just completed a change of homeport this morning upon pulling into Japan.  Change of homeport is a big deal.  Families have to pack up and move.  Things must happen on a certain schedule.  As all of the preparations took place, the Russians decided to have the largest naval exercise since the end of the Cold War.  HOWARD was surged forward to keep an eye on them, and to keep them away from our aircraft carrier that was out there at the time.

A couple of things that the Russians might wish to consider...

1.  That was quite the refuelling at sea.  The Russians slowed down to three knots to get it done.  

The US Navy does things a little differently.  Take a look at this picture:

You will notice that there are two ships in this picture.  The second ship is a US destroyer on the other side.  If you are having trouble seeing it, note the slanted mast.  Given that my vantage point in taking this picture could not have been on either of the two ships therein, you must wonder where I was.  I was on my own ship.  The middle ship is the gas station at sea.  She refuelled both of us simultaneously.  And no, we were not going at three knots.  We were at about 13 knots.  Okay...they will learn eventually.

2.  The strike group commander decided also to give the Russians a visual demonstration of our capabilities.  He informed the pilot of what we were going to do.  Then, the aircraft carrier rapidly increased speed, essentially outrunning the helicopter and forcing it to land on one of the support ships.

Maybe the Russians will learn.  In the meantime, they are out of their league.

R/SCG