Riverside Church New York
As part of his tour to promote his latest book, Embracing Israel/Palestine, Rabbi Lerner delivered this sermon at the historic Riverside Church in New York on January 22, 2012. Listen to find out why he encourages activists not to be “realistic” as they strive to transform consciousness in their communities and in the world.
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My dear friend and teacher, Rabbi Gershaun had a link to your wonderful speech. I was moved and remembered what my high school class president said during a Catholic mass at our reunion. You both reminded me of an important concept. There is perfection in embracing the imperfections in ourselves and others. If we paralyze ourselves in a self imposed desire of perfection, the greatest songs would never have been sung, the greatest discoveries would never have been noticed because they would have been disregarded as a mistake. Your comments regarding homeland security,are back up by fiscal facts . The greatest threats our country has recently faced, have been averted by regular citizens. The underwear bomber, the Time Square bomber, and the shoe bomber were all stopped by regula r citizens. Your presentation was very motivating. I recently attended Kasich’s state of the state address and filmed the disruption by protesters. after they were removed, I mic checked his speech myself. Of course the police removed me also. I have some very grandiose ideas as to what I think would be fair to the home owners of this country. I feel empowered to try to be the change. Another concept you presented, is much more difficult for people to practice. I think people have a gut reaction that’s backed up by the bible that says, “an eye for an eye”. It’s much more difficult to practice “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me” when you’re living a comfortable life. it’s even more difficult to turn the other cheek when my own has been slapped, which seems to be happening frequently now. I draw up on it for comparison to others. Thank you so much Rabbi Michael Lerner! I often say, I am not a religious woman but I am a woman of faith.
The challenge is to love and embrace even those who despise us and our agenda. I pray that we Occupy folks will be able to be kind and gracious to those we hope to change. Sometimes we come across as holier than thou, turning off the ones whose hearts we are trying to melt. With the good rabbi, it might not be realistic to expect change, but we must be unrealistic!
Is there a written text of this available? I want to forward it to the folks in our little Occupy Corning/Elmira movement here in rural western New York. I quoted the rabbi “Don’t let the reality police in” at the only General Assembly meeting that I have so far attended. The one person I was looking at looked puzzled. I don’t think they will listen to the whole audio but if I had the text maybe I could better use it to explain what I mean. I was a little discouraged to hear them talk about being “practical” (of course that is necessary for tactics) which so often means to water down the vision. “Eyes on the prize!”( from the civil rights movement.)
Dear Michael,
I listened with respect, delight, and a further determination to do all in my power to bring this message and your very presence to speak here in Columbia, S. C. I have a close connection to Pastor Darrell Jackson of the Bible Way Atlas Road Church, who is also a Senator in our SC State Legislature. Darrell’s sermon theme for the year is “Beyond These Walls.” Bible Way has a membership of 12,000. Darrell is highly respected in the community. He ran for and was elected senator at the urging of the late Senator Isadore Lourie, a fellow congregant with me @ Beth Shalom Synagogue, and a friend.
Please pray with me that Darrell wants to bring you here as well.
Marjorie Trifon
member of NSP
5822 north trenholm road
columbia, sc 29206
803-782-0765
diamondmarge@bellsouth.net