Shavuot 5768

Recently, I have had the pleasure of speaking at two local high schools. I was invited as a “Jewish representative” and was asked to introduce Judaism and Jewish concepts to local teens that were curious about religion in general. During the question and answer period at both schools, I was asked a similar question: “How do Jews feel about people who follow other religions?”

The question did not surprise me. Unfortunately, religious discourse is all too often reduced to this basic assumption that “we” are right and “they” are wrong (assign “we” and “they” as fits the situation). However, as Reform Jews, we embrace a very different central value, that of pluralism. As pluralists, we assert that we do not hold a monopoly on truth. We have our truth and they can have their truth.

This Sunday night, we will welcome in the festival holiday of Shavuot. Together, we will stand with Jews across the world as we recreate the ancient moment that we received Torah at Mt Sinai. On Shavuot, we celebrate our people’s central experience of Revelation. I believe, though, that we can take our celebration further. This Shavuot, let us recommit ourselves to our values of pluralism. Let us renew our efforts not only to understand our own truth, but the truths of others as well.

Most Jewish prayers follow a three-step model: The individual first relates to God, then to the community, and then to all of humanity. I believe this model can serve as a reminder for us, in our own search for truths. First, we can seek to understand our own truth. Then, we can seek to understand the truth of our people. Then, we can seek to understand the truths of humanity.

If we, as a Jewish community, become complacent, interacting only on the individual or communal planes, if we see these as the ultimate levels of understanding, then we risk becoming isolated, separating ourselves from our world community. However, if we seek to accept the validity of multiple truths, we have the potential to repair the fissures in our world.

On this Shavuot, let us celebrate Torah, and let us celebrate our ability to respect and learn from others. Above all else, seeking to understand the truths of others reminds us that Torah is a vital and ever-present part of our existence. Truths do not only spread out as living, breathing branches on our tree of life, but also grow deep, serving as the strong roots that keep us balanced and firmly planted in this world.