Rosh Hashanah Message 2020 From Chief Rabbi Funnye

Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah 5781

1^st (Tishrei) Ethanim 5781- September 19, 2020

Chief Rabbi Capers Shmuel Funnye

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tovah U’Metukah, this Shabbat day is filled with a double sense of holiness, where the Shabbat and a Yom Tov converge together giving this day a double portion of Ruach Hakodesh Baruch Hu. It seems in this time of the Covid-19 plague, we are indeed ready to receive a double blessing. The Eternal One of Yisrael, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our forefathers and with the merit of our foremothers Sarah, Rebecka, Rachel and Leah, we give thanks to Hashem for keeping all of you and your families safe and protected. I thank the Eternal One of Yisrael for keeping my family safe, and if it were not for the Holy One sending His angels, Michael, being at your right, Gavriel at your left, Uriel before us, and Raphael behind us, and above our heads the Presence of Hashem. Why? Because the Guardian of Yisrael neither slumbers nor sleeps. So, I want you to lift your hands in the sanctuary to and say Hodu L’Adonai keru Veshmo. That is to say Give thanks to Hashem, declare His Name, make his acts known among the peoples. Sing to Him, make music to Him, and speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy Name; be glad of heart, you who seek Hashem.

So, I’m happy on this Yom Teruah/ Rosh Hashanah, to be in the land of the living, because at last count over 192,000 people in America have lost their lives to Covid-19, thousands more to cancer and other infirmities of their bodies. Too many children and young people in the Black and Brown communities have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. I heard an expression sometime ago, about the KKK, killing our people. The KKK is not the Klu Klux Klan, but rather Kinfolks Killing Kinfolks, this madness must stop. The police departments throughout this country are killing Black and Brown people. Oh, Eternal of Yisrael, how long will this madness continue in our communities? Shooting of people while driving on our expressways and highways! When will it stop? I believe that the madness will not stop, until we learn to see the G-D presence in ourselves and until others can see the G-D presence in Black and Brown people.

I believe that when we are able to see the spiritually in every human being, and we realize that all souls are made in the image of G-D. Genesis 1:26-27; “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, and the whole earth with creeping things that creep on earth.” “And G-D created man in His image, in the image of G-D He created him; male and female He created them.” Bet-Zalam Elohim Bara Oto zar unekavah Bara otom. We are all of us (men and women) created in the image of G-D. When will we learn that when I see you, I see G-D! Let us teach this to our children and our grandchildren. Let us teach this to our neighbors, friends, and yes, let us teach those that are not our friends. This year has been a very challenging year; we have had the police murder George Floyd, and so many others, who lost their lives to police violence. We have also seen mass demonstrations throughout this country, and very sadly in cities like Chicago looting and the destruction of so many businesses. What does the destruction of these businesses have to do with #BlackLivesMatter? There are anarchists in our midst and they are using the #BlackLivesMatter movement to spread fear and unease throughout this country. What does all of this mean for this country moving forward? The upcoming election in November, has never been more important in this nation’s history. Everywhere there is fear! But I want to tell you that FEAR is no more than False Evidence Appearing Real! So, as we go to the polls to vote for president, vice president, senators, and members of Congress, let us not lose sight of the old saying. “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”. VOTE, and fill out you census forms, the census is all about economic and political power. Every vote counts and being counted in the census carries great political power for our members of Congress. I believe that the only hope for our country is the upcoming election and who “we the people” elect to these various offices. I know that this is the Holy Season, and we need to be turning our self-reflection inwardly. However, this Holy Season is extra-special, because in our introspection, we must also look outwardly to see what this country is becoming or as some would say what this country has always been, and that is RACIST to the core! These are the facts, do with them what you will! This racism is not only apart of American culture, but it is tied to what is called today, white privilege or white supremacy. Let us not be blinded by those who would tell us just wait, white people are slowly coming around. But, how long must we wait! How long must we march and protest? Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America, said the following: “I tremble for my country when I reflect that G-D is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.” Abraham Lincoln the 16^th president of the Unites States of America said: “Sir, my concern is not whether G-D is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on G-D’s side, for G-D is always right.” So, as we can all see this issue of racism and white supremacy is not a new subject; it has dogged this country from its very beginning. Where is America’s apology for the cruelty of slavery, America has never admitted that on the back of slave labor was this country built, and I say to you today that reparations are do the those of us whoses ancestors toiled through various fields of endeavor building this country, this includes slaves building the White House! Now is the time to demand reparations for the exploited labor of our ancestors.

The State of Israel does not escape our rebuke as well. I look on with great pride in Israel as they airlifted thousands of our brothers and sisters from Ethiopia to the State of Israel, but what did they encounter? They encountered racism in the State of Israel, and this racism continues to this very day! Israel is a young country as the age of countries goes, and it is not too late for Israel to change its course of its treatment of Ethiopian Israelis. Now is the time for Israel to stand up in this Holy Season, and change her ways in the treatment towards our African brothers and sisters in the State of Israel. I love Israel and the potential that it holds to be a great nation that welcomes all of her children home. When will Israel live up to the words of the prophet Isaiah 56: 1-7; “Thus saith the Lord, keep ye judgments, and do justice; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that lies hold on it: that keep the Sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying. The Lord hath utterly separated me from the people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold I am a dry tree. For thus says the Lord unto the eunuchs that keeps my Shabbats, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant: Even unto them will I give in My house and within My walls a monument and a memorial Better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting memorial, That shall not be cut off. Also the aliens, that join themselves to the Lord, to minister unto Him, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, Every one that keepth the Shabbat from profaning it, And hold fast by My covenant: Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer; Their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices Shall be acceptable upon Mine altar; For My house shall be called of prayer for all people. Saith the Lord G-D who gathereth the dispersed of Israel; yet will I gather others unto him, beside those of him that are gathered.”    

The Eternal One of Yisrael is not a respecter of persons. When each of us hears the blast of the shofar, all hearts should tremble as we hear those notes from the shofar, for the judgment of the Eternal is upon us.