Divrei Torah

.Picture this:  The rabbi sits down to begin writing her sermon. The topic is: “Israel: Is there hope even now?” She types out the question. She stares at the screen. She doesn’t know how to answer.  She doesn’t even know where to begin. Ok, I know you get it.  The rabbi is me. The question

A reading, found in our machzor : Dwell on each sound of the shofar; contemplate its meaning. T’kiah –  (BLOW) One whole note Sh’varim-T’ruah –  (BLOW) Three broken notes; nine staccato notes T’kiah –  (BLOW) One whole note . . . T’kiah –  Once I was whole Sh’varim-T’ruah  In the wear and tear of living,

Before we existed, the story goes, God convened a heavenly council—calling on the angels, each representing a different facet of the divine.  There was the Angel of Peace, calm and serene, who spoke first. “Don’t create them,” Peace said, voice steady but firm. “Humans will bring strife and conflict, they will tear at each other,