Parshat Vayechi 5766

I was going to give a regular sermon this morning on the weekly Torah portion as I do every week, but given the events of the past week I changed my mind. As many of you are no doubt aware Rev. Pat Robertson became the subject of media attention once again after making an outrageous statement about Israel’s Prime Minister. He claimed that Ariel Sharon’s recent stroke was an act of divine punishment for having given up land in Gaza this past summer. Quoting the prophetic book of Joel, he said that no one had a right “to divide the land of Israel.”

This is not the first time that Robertson has made an outrageous theological statement. He made a similar claim about Yitzhak Rabin not long ago. This is the man who said that feminists and gays caused 9/11, that the US government should assassinate the president of Venezuela, and that God should take down a couple of the justices on the Supreme Court because Rev. Pat disagrees with their point of view. Other evangelical leaders may think these things, but Robertson says them. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and to do that on television in front of millions of viewers. As far as Rev Pat is concerned his truth is “The Truth,” “the gospel according Rev Pat.”

I suspect that people are getting tired of Robertson’s diatribes. People at both ends of the political spectrum have condemned him and have taken him to task for his insensitive and ridiculous remarks. And for the first time, Pat Robertson actually issued a retraction on the 700 Club and sent an apology to the family of Ariel Sharon for his statement.

But I’m not sure he really gets it or understands why his comments were so offensive. I suspect that Reverend Pat is more concerned about loosing his share in the evangelical theme park that Israel is bankrolling near the Sea of Galilee than he is about acknowledging how hurtful his comments were to the people of Israel. Unfortunately, Pat Robertson may not always be right but he’s never in doubt about his point of view.

With that in mind I’d like to share an open letter with you that I wrote to Rev Robertson this week. I haven’t decided whether I should mail it to him but I hope it captures some of our feelings and thoughts in light of this week’s events. I had to get a few things off my chest. Here it is:

Dear Reverend Robertson,

I don’t know how often you receive letters from Rabbis but I’d like to share with you some concerns with you regarding your recent comments about Ariel Sharon. I know you’ve apologized but I think you need to spend a little more time in reflection and prayer considering the problem with what you did. In my tradition true repentance involves more than just words. It must include a sincere recognition of ones wrong doings, an apology to the wronged party and an attempt to right the wrongs we have committed. Improper words once uttered however can never be taken back completely.

First I want you to know how much I appreciate how much support you’ve shown the people and land of Israel in recent years. Israel needs more advocates like you. I realize that there are not many issues about which we agree. We come from two different world views. The security of the land of Israel is one of the few areas about which we seem to be of one accord. And even then, we agree about Israel for very different reasons…

However, being passionate about the Holy Book of Joel and the divine claim of the Jewish people to the land of Israel does not make you God’s official mouth piece. We read the same Bible, Rev Robertson, and I don’t believe that we read it in the same way. You have any more insight into what God wants than I do or anyone else for that matter. Certainly neither of us can know what is in the mind of God – wouldn’t you agree?

In a word I think my issue with you comes down to one word – arrogance. How can you claim to be so certain of God’s will? How is it that you happen to know why and how God struck Prime Minister Sharon down? Does that mean that every time someone has a stroke they’re guilty of some terrible sin? Has anyone in your family ever been sick? Did you tell them the same thing you told the world about Sharon? And I’m wondering - why did God choose to share this information with you?

It is the height of arrogance for anyone to think that they can read God’s mind. To read God’s mind is to be God. Your comments were wrong, then, for a whole variety of reasons even if you sincerely believe them and as a fellow clergy person I think you need to look at what you did from a theological, pastoral and political point of view.

The truth is Rev Robertson Israel is not the real issue here. The real question is whether you are being a good minister and servant of God when you make such outrageous comments.

First, I believe that such statements represent the worst type of religion, no matter what your theology happens to be. They depict God as cruel and retaliatory. Of course you have a right to believe that God punishes sinners. But to make such a statement in public is presumptuous and impertinent. It presumes that you know something no one else could possibly know!

Not only are you a poor theologian but you also are a terrible pastor. The role of a pastor, whether he is a minister, a priest, an Imam, or a Rabbi, is to comfort others, to give them solace and strength. Comments such as yours inflict a second pain on a victim of a tragedy who is already suffering.

Could you imagine what would happen if I walked into the emergency room of a hospital and told one of my congregants that he or she was obviously having a heart attack because they did not observe Shabbat, attend services, or believe in the same beliefs I believe in? It seems to me that such statements are not only un-Jewish but not very Christian either. If I did this, I’d be looking for a job. To be a pastor is to be a support, and a comfort to others; it is to help people grow and not to be a source of pain. No matter what you believe personally there is a time and place for every comment – this was not the time or the place. Judgment is not called for in times of tragedy and sorrow. I am not sure it is ever called for.

Finally, I’d like to know, Reverend Robertson: how did you decide what the Biblical borders of the land of Israel were or should be? Is Gaza really part of Biblical Israel? What is this judgment based on? Bible scholars have been arguing for generations about the historical borders of the land of Israel. Are we talking about the borders in the time of the Judges, Samuel, King David, or some later period? The Bible is not of one mind on this issue. Once again you seem to know things that most of us are humble enough to realize we can’t answer with any certainty. And what about the Palestinians – where do they fit into this picture?

Pardon me for doubting your motives, Rev. Robertson. I guess you mean well. But it’s easy for you to sit on the set of the 700 Club and proclaim your self-evident truths. Your life is not at risk and your well being will not be affected by what you say. Every Israeli is affected. Fortunately the vast majority of people in the land of Israel understand that peace has to take precedence over some questionable proposal of what the divinely ordained borders of Israel are and that Israel’s future is dependant upon its ability to learn how to live in peace with its neighbors.

With all due respect, I’m not sure you are any more helpful then the President of Iran is for the future of Israel. At least I know that the leader of Iran is my enemy. What are you? Pardon me for saying so but I suspect that you have some grand end game in mind which involves some type of conflagration between Israel and its Arab world that will usher in the second coming. In the end Israel must disappear if your Messiah is going to return. How is that any different than threatening to drop a nuclear bomb on Israel?

For my part, I’d rather live by the words of the psalmist: Hiney mah tov u’mah naim shevet Achim gam yachad: How good it is for brothers and sisters to learn to live together in peace.

You know in the Torah portion which we read in synagogue this week we find Jacob blessing his sons before he died. We’re told that Jacob was vouchsafed a view of future generations – but when he tried to reveal these secrets to his children God took the vision away from him.

I won’t question whether or not you have some divine knowledge the rest of us lack. But I will question if it is wise, humane or sensible to reveal what you think you know to others. I would ask you to speak more humbly, no matter what you happen to personally believe. Your words are damaging and they are a source of pain. Why don’t you try and use your religion to bring about healing and reconciliation in the world instead of divisiveness and hurt?

So go back to school Rev. Robertson. I believe they are offering courses in Theology 101 and the basics of pastoral care. You have a lot to learn. And most important, remember that the worst form of idolatry takes place when we worship at the altar of our own self esteem.

Sincerely yours

Rabbi Mark Greenspan