Leonard Grossman

Remarks and Jewish Prayer at

March 22 FOR and OPCPJ meeting

Pilgrim Congregational Church

Oak Park, IL

Once again we teach a generation the old lie:

"Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori."

"How sweet and honorable it is to die for one's country"

Wilfred Owen taught us nearly a century ago how noble language is used to

distort the truth in the name of war.

Now we live in a world of "shock and awe."

Those words steal from another realm to explain our motives and explain our

cause.

This is a week in which George Orwell would feel quite at home.

A week in which doublespeak and newspeak have reached new heights.

On Sunday our president went to the Azores. The papers trumpeted that he

was going to a "Last Chance Summit." But last chance for whom?

For Saddam?, for the UN?, for Bush? for sanity to prevail?

When he returned, the Sun Times blared:

"Moment of Truth for the World"

Where was the truth? How was it served?

By Wednesday the Headline on the Drudge Report pronounced.

"The Games Begin" as though this were a sporting event halfway around the

world.

And then came "shock and awe."

And through the last two days the phrase repeats, as we watch towering

flames and hear the sound of devastating explosions.

Shock and Awe.

Why not shock and fear? Shock and devastation, shock and depression, or

shock and terror or despair?

But in self righteous hubris, we choose to announce that our goal is to

inspire awe.

The word Awe should be reserved to describe transcendent things, for

moments when nature or the world present us with the assurance that there

is something greater than ourselves, moments when we come close to

comprehension. But to have as a goal the ability to inspire awe in others

is a form of self worship and idolatry. Our rulers do not reign by divine

right. They are mortal and have the limitations that plague us all. Yet

they desire to inspire awe.

Let us work towards a world that would truly inspire awe.

In the words of a Jewish prayer:

"May we see a day when war and bloodshed cease

when a great peace will embrace the world."

"Lo yissah goy el goy herev, lo yilmadu ad milchama,"

When nation will not lift sword against nation,

When we will not learn war any more."

For all who live on earth will know

We have not come into being to hate or to destroy,

We have come into being

to praise, to labor and to love.

Compassionate God, bless the leaders of all nations

with the power of compassion

Fulfill the promise conveyed in scripture:

And you will lie down and no one will terrify you.

I will rid the land of vicious beasts

And it shall not be ravaged by war,

Let love and justice flow like a mighty stream.

Let peace fill the earth as waters fill the sea.

and let us say: Amen"

[Paraphrased from Siddur Sim Shalom Published by The Rabbinical Assembly

1985]