I recently had the opportunity to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. It is located in the former Woolworth store in Greensboro, NC where the lunch counter sit in movement began in 1960. By coincidence, the day I was there happened to be the exact anniversary of the day when the activists achieved success and the lunch counter was integrated.
It was a very moving visit with many compelling exhibits and educational displays. One element of the museum has stayed with me. It used visual aides to demonstrate how this movement started with four boys and spread to a massive series of activities with many hundreds of activities. It was an inspiring reminder that every single person can make a difference.
This lesson comes to us in a very different way in our Torah portion for this week. Individuals can make a difference for good…or for bad. In Chapter 9 of Deuteronomy, we read the characterization of the Israelites as a “stiff necked people.” Emanating from the incident of the Golden Calf, it is a reminder that we can be stubborn and defiant, refusing to open our minds to right and good action.
Reading this portion is a reminder that we each have the ability to be faithful, generous, and kind. Especially as we go through this season of preparation for the High Holy Days, I pray that we will realize our potential to make a difference in the world. Let us be open minded, flexible, and ready to respond to the needs we perceive around us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Stein
