Advent IV

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

_{2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38}

Do you know what “the talk” is?

If you are not a black parent, I don’t expect you do.

In his book, Between the World and Me, an extended letter to his black son, the author Ta-Nehisi Coates explains to his son how to “live free in his black body”. “The talk” is when black parents teach their sons how to survive an encounter with the police: no sudden movements, no back talk, no excuse for a violent response. It is often given when boys are about 12. “The talk” is the natural byproduct of parental fear. In Coates’s view, fear is the defining characteristic of black life — fear of the state, of the police, of the ghetto. It is simply a fact of everyday black American life.

Familiar with the term, I was taken aback when my colleague and friend, Rabbi Greg Weitzman of Congregation Beth Emeth said he had given “the talk” to Jewish parents in his congregation who I expect are passing it on to their children. Why “the talk”? The Jewish community is afraid. The Jewish community feels alone.

Anti–Semitism and violence are on the rise throughout the world including our own country. Anti–Semitism is stoked by political rhetoric that calls people “vermin” and that their very presence among us is “poisoning the blood of our country”. Language that dehumanizes people dangerously can lead to violence and spread to include other groups of people. Anti-Semitism is being fueled by the Israeli–Hamas war a politically and historically complex issue.

We will hear within hours the message of the angels “…and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favour rests”.  This song has often been corrupted to “…peace on earth and goodwill to men”.  That is not the Gospel. The peace that God offers can only be received by people of goodwill. Do we therefore have the goodwill to have “the talk” with Jewish people so that peace may come upon the earth?

For Christians…

“the talk” means addressing hate speech and Anti–Semitic ideas whenever we encounter them.

“The talk” means offering words of support to Jewish friends and neighbors.

“The talk” means calling a synagogue, identifying yourself as a Christian and offering words of solidarity.

“The talk” means attending Shabbat services, experiencing the Albany Police outside, having to go through security to pray, introducing yourself as a Christian who wants to supportively be present and thus be identified with the Jewish people.

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us, There is an appointed time for everything,a time to be silent, and a time to speak. [Ecclesiastes 3:1a ,7b] This is the time to speak because…

Martin Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor wrote the following after World War II.

First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew .

Then they came for me– and there was no one left to speak out for me.

This is the time to speak because there may come a time when there is no one to speak.

I am not one for attending rallies, their purposes can easily be misunderstood. Yet I have attended one in support of the Jewish community. I have been present for the beginning of Shabbat at Congregation Beth Emeth after the 7 October 2023 attack as well as Temple Israel the night after the shooting on the front lawn of their synagogue. I have called Rabbi Daniel Ornstein of Ohav Shalom to voice my support. I have regularly spoken with Rabbi Weitzman. I encourage you to have some form of “the talk” with the Jewish community of our area.

This is the time to speak.

Pope Pius XI said, “Spiritually, we are Semites” [6 September 1938].

Pope John XXIII greeted a delegation of American Jews with, “I am Joseph, your brother” [17 October 1960]. Pope John Paul II in speaking to the Jewish community of Rome said, “…you are our elder brothers.” In this same speech, he noted that the Declaration of the Second Vatican Council, ”Nostra Aetate,” ”deplores the hatred, persecutions, and displays of anti-Semitism directed against the Jews at any time and by anyone” [13 April 1986]. The Jewish community is family.

Outside this Cathedral Church is the sculpture called “Portal” [1986] by Robert Blood. Portals in science fiction take characters to other dimensions. After centuries of church sponsored anti–Semitism, Rabbi Martin Silverman and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard led people from both faith communities through the portal to journey together from fear to friendship. Friendship means the Jewish community should not feel alone in their present fear.

If the celebration this year of Christmas is to have any depth of meaning, then we Christians must reclaim the Jewishness of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary and Joseph through the Jewish community in our midst.