Rabbi Yolen

Igave a unique sermon to a Mt. Gretna Chautauqua community last month centered around prophecy. I elucidated three questions which animate God’s hand in our world: 1) what qualifies a prophet, 2) what is the nature of prophecy, and 3) do modern prophets exist today in our world?

These are important questions as we increasingly look to ideologues to represent our politics, we expect artists to inspire our feelings, and we hope religious leaders will direct our spirit. If we are smitten with any of these leaders enough to call them a prophet, we will act in a manner accordingly - with serious expectations.

We, in hindsight, may agree that Martin Luther King Jr was a prophet, and his words have guided our civic rituals for some time now. But what about those whom today are called prophetic? What about people like Greta Thunberg or Alexandria Ocasio Cortez? What about Donald Trump or Joe Rogan? What about “The Rebbe,” Rabbi Menachem Schneerson or Pope Francis?

I believe that our society’s social fragmentation is partly due to our misapprehension of prophecy, and that we should give more thought to who we elevate to the ranks of prophet before we blindly endorse these strong yet polarizing leaders - that skepticism may be our saving grace.

To search for any answers to these questions above we need to look at Deuteronomy 18:1822, whereby God warns Moses to tell the Israelites, “I will raise up… a prophet like yourself whose mouth I will put My words and who will speak to them all that I command. Anyone who fails to heed the words spoken in my name will be called to account. But any prophet… whom I did not command… that prophet shall die.” And further, “You may ask yourself, ‘how can we know this oracle was not spoken by the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the prophecy does not come true, that oracle was not spoken by the Lord, the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, do not stand in dread of him.”

God is admitting that there will be prophets whom you must trust (or else!) and there will be prophets who are patently false and you must not trust (or else!). Thus, the golden rule of prophecy is “a real prophet’s oracle must come true.” Both in biblical times and now, the answer to question number one, “What qualifies a prophet?” is an easy one. Prophets speak God’s truth and their prognostications come true.

Joshua tells the Israelites to conquer the land, and it happens. Samuel is told to anoint a king, and he does. Jeremiah predicts destruction, and it happens. Zerubabel talks about resettling Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is resettled. The unique exception is Balaam, who is hired to curse the Israelite, but instead blesses them “Mah tovu,” or “How wonderful are your tents, oh Jacob, your dwelling places Israel.” In each instance the prophecy has come true and the prophet is vindicated - even if they were not a “Jewish” prophet (such as Balaam), these individuals qualify as oracles. But do you know who’s not a prophet to the Jewish people? Jesus. Mohammed. Krishnah. And many others. We can value other faith’s prophetic teachings, we can support and love other faith’s adherents, but the Jewish prophetic tradition is closed to those other wisdom figures.

As I looked out at the Christian community I was addressing and realized the differences in our prophecy, I began to answer the second question - what is the nature of prophecy?

To Jews, the commonly held belief is that God spoke to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron, but with each successive generation, the presence of God was diluted. By the time the Temple was destroyed, the Rabbis can sometimes hear God’s voice as a “Bat Kol,” or as “Ruach haKodesh,” described in the Talmud, but primarily to us, God is silent and we must study text, pray, and follow mitzvot to adhere to God’s will.

To many sects of Jews currently, God is reserved for “halakhic observance,” or the letter of the law over the spirit of the law. For Christians, with their emphasis on the “Holy Spirit,” laws are less pharisaic (pun intended) and more prone to improvisation. One of the most beautiful rituals of Christian worship is the way that Christians will improvise a blessing of thankfulness before a meal. In Judaism, we have formulas to bless food depending on the type of food we eat - this is a practical example of a ritual derived from prophetic differences.

Question number two, “What is the nature of prophecy?” It is difficult for me to answer this because I feel God in many places and at many times. I feel God both when I study Torah during Shabbat morning service, and when hiking a mountain vista. I am reminded of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov who, on Yom Kippur, defended a shepherd’s flute-playing because “that is his prayer to God.” But I am also sensitive to the dialectic pilpul of the Lithuanian yeshivot who exclusively found God in the text of tradition. As paradoxical as it sounds, I would define the nature of contemporary prophecy as a sensation one experiences when one roots down deeper in tradition while still inspiring oneself to connect to those outside oneself. Prayer in Hebrew is “Hitpaleil,” a reflexive verb which seems to indicate an internal and external experience of Godliness. Since this is so personal, I’d like to ask you: what is your prophetic nature?

Lastly, and most polemically, “Do modern prophets exist in our world?” I would love to say emphatically “No!,” because with a definitive answer like that, people can study their own texts without opening up their religious cannon to new (and threatening) experiences. Yet the truth is that prophecy will forever be part of the human experience.

There are “futurologists,” who predicted things about the age of the internet that were spot on - and now they are predicting scary things about Artificial Intelligence that should concern all religious traditions. There were climatologists who predicted things about the Earth’s weather which were both right and wrong. There were peak oil activists who predicted things about the economy which were both right and wrong. By the test of the Bible, if it hasn’t been proven true, it’s either a false prophecy to test us, or an inchoate prophecy that needs more time to come due. How can we tell? By living a little longer through it.

The note of unity I ended this interfaith sermon on was about the shared experience of being a prophet. The hardest thing all prophets experience is loneliness. In almost all the writings of prophets, contemporary or biblical, they bemoan that no one understands. “No one is ready to make the right sacrifice to God,” they complain. Sometimes they have estranged relationships with their wives, kids, or parents. Sometimes they feel slighted that they could not enjoy the regular experience of humanity, instead forced into “service” of the Lord or society. One of the most tender and realistic teachings of prophecy comes from the Israelite wanderings in the wilderness, Numbers 11:27-30. Two youths rush to Moses, upset that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. “Why are you upset for me?” Moses responds, “All the Lord’s people should be prophets!”

Those who experience prophecy passionately know all too well the burden of loneliness. Whether it comes to you in the form of social justice, following the halakha, environmentalism, humanitarianism, or anything else, sometimes a person’s prophecy can be a harsh revelation and an isolating sentence. Be forewarned, however, that nobody knows who the real prophets are, or what real prophecy is, until much later in life. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, despite being called a “great prophet” by MLK himself, was only recognized as such after his passing. As the saying goes, “Everyone achieves sainthood upon death.”

So take your own prophecy, and anyone else’s, and apply a large kosher grain of salt. While Psalm 145:18 says, “God is close to all who call sincerely,” anyone who insists they know exactly how to speed-dial God is a charlatan. For prophecy to speak to me in this wild 21st Century, it must be an admixture of skepticism, fear, empathy, integrity, sincerity, tradition, and most importantly, compassion. It must be undergirded with the love of the people of Israel, ahavat Yisrael.

We may never see another Moses Rabbeinu, but Jewish prophecy will never disappear, so tread carefully!

BY RABBI SAM YOLEN, CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL (LEBANON)

Marlin & Roxanne Toser Mazel Tov - 66 Years Together August 17, 2022

Event – Free and Open to the Public.

The Center for Holocaust and Jewish Studies presents

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Tuesday, September 13, 2022 • Noon

Webinar, register at bit.ly/3QoYncU

For additional information, contact Neil Leifert at 717-580-2954 or chjs@psu.edu.

n e t Frankel Staub, of blessed mem o J a r y

F ounder of Kol HaNeshama

The Harrisburg Jewish Chorus

Entering Ninth Season Seeks New Members

Do you love to sing? Can you imagine the joy of blending your voice in rich harmony with other singers and developing new singing skills? If so, please consider joining Kol HaNeshama! Under the direction of Marina Cherepinsky, the mixed voices a cappella chorus, an activity of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, offers you the opportunity to master surprisingly diverse and engaging Jewish music.

We are actively recruiting new singers (18 and older) to join us for our weekly rehearsals on Sunday evenings, starting on August 28, 2022. Come and see if this might enrich your life as we ‘sing our hearts’ and find warm audiences with whom to share our music.

Contact Dave Spector at djspector@icloud.com or Marina Cherepinsky at mnc2@live.com We hope to sing with you this season!

BETH EL TEMPLE 2637 N Front St | (717) 232-0556 | www.bethelhbg.org

Beth El Temple has resumed in-person Friday evening and Shabbat morning services. We also offer a mix of in-person and Zoom minyans. For more information, visit Beth El's website.

CHISUK EMUNA CONGREGATION 3219 Green St | (717) 232-4851 info@chisukemuna.org | www.chisukemuna.org

Chisuk Emuna has resumed in-person services. Visit the website for details. For more information on programs and services, visit Chisuk Emuna's website.

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL, LEBANON 411 S 8th St | (717) 273-2669 | www.congregation-beth-israel.org

Contact Rabbi Sam Yolen at yolen002@gmail.com for details on both programming and minyan. For more information, visit Beth Israel's website.

CONGREGATION BETH TIKVAH, CARLISLE Asbell Center, 262 W High Street (717)-240-8627 | www.bethtikvah.org HISTORIC B’NAI JACOB, MIDDLETOWN Water & Nissley Streets | (717) 319-3014 www.bnai-jacob.org

Historic B’nai Jacob Synagogue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, located at Water and Nissley Streets in Middletown, near the Harrisburg Airport and Penn State Harrisburg Campus. Shabbos Service are led by Marc Bluestein on Zoom. The service program and zoom link will be emailed to members of the congregation and also is available by request using the contact form on the website at: http://www.bnai-jacob.org. We are a community Shul and you are welcome to join us. There are no membership dues or admission fees. Our Congregation is currently working with consultants to reopen for inperson services later this year.

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KESHER ISRAEL CONGREGATION 3200 N 3rd St | (717) 238-0763 | www.kesherisrael.org

Kesher Israel is holding in-person daily and Shabbat davening. For details about services, meetings, and programming, contact Benjamin Altman, President, at president@kesherisrael.org, or Ashley Caraballo at office@kesherisrael.org. For more information, visit Kesher Israel's website.

OHEV SHOLOM CONGREGATION, YORK 2090 Hollywood Drive | 717-852-0000 www.OhevSholomYork.org

Ohev Sholom Congregation is a Conservative congregation serving York County in an inclusive, egalitarian manner. Established in 1902, the congregation is led by our student rabbi in association with our lay leadership. Ohev Sholom provides adult educational opportunities in conjunction with our local Chabad Learning Center while embracing different levels of observance, stages of life, and family structures.

TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 2090 Hollywood Dr, York | (717) 843-2676 www.tbiyork.org

York’s 140-year-old Reform congregation.

TEMPLE BETH SHALOM 913 Allendale Rd, Mechanicsburg | 717) 697-2662 | www.tbshalom.org

Shabbat services will be held on September 2 and 16. The next in-person Shabbat service is planned for Friday, September 2. If you are not on our email contact list and would like to attend, please call or email the Temple office in advance of the service to be sure whether it is being held in person or via Zoom only. Services are led by Rabbi Carl Choper of Beth Shalom. Please email the office at tbshalom@gmail.com or call 717-697-2662 for information if you would like to join the services. For details on upcoming Temple Beth Shalom services and events, check the website: http://tbshalom.org.

TEMPLE OHEV SHOLOM 2345 N Front St | (717) 233-6459 | www.ohevsholom.org

Services are held Friday nights, in person at 6pm for the remainder of August. For more information visit www.ohevsholom.org.

LEONORE BORSUK

Leonore (Kalish) Borsuk, died peacefully at the age of 96 on July 26, 2022 (27th of Tammuz), in Sarasota, Florida. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 50 years, Howard. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Judith, Deborah, and Esther, and by five grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

Leonore had lived in Louisville for over fifty years before moving to Florida.

The family were members of Keneseth Israel Congregation.Special thanks to Herman Meyer & Son, Inc. and the Louisville Jewish community for help. Graveside services were held on July 29, 2022 at Keneseth Israel Cemetery.

LILLIAN GELLER

Lillian Geller, 77, of Harrisburg, passed away on July 26, 2022, from Alzheimer’s disease.

She is survived by her husband, Harry, and children Ruth of Brooklyn, NY and Ben (Danielle) of Swarthmore, PA.

Lillian was a repeat winner of the Harrisburg Patriot caption contest, an avid scrabble player, a published poet, and a lover of music.

Born in New York City, Lillian attended the High School of Music and Art before earning degrees from Harpur College and New York University. She did editing work at Sports Illustrated in New York City and later at the Legislative Reference Bureau in Harrisburg.

Lillian will be deeply missed by her family and by the many friends who experienced her immense love, kindness, acceptance, and sense of humor.

Heartfelt thanks to Patricia Afrane and all the other caregivers and healthcare providers who have cared for her. Services will be held privately for the family.

In lieu of flowers, we invite contributions to either the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, 17110.

MARK KESTER

Mark Kester, aged 67, formerly of the Bronx, NY, passed away on July 20, 2022.

Mark, a proud New Yorker, completed his Ph.D. in biochemistry at SUNY Buffalo. At the time of his passing, Mark was a professor of Pharmacology and the Director of the NanoSTAR Institute at the University of Virginia. He has founded multiple companies that utilize his research and technologies, which he called "nanoSolutions." He was previously the G. Thomas Passananti Professor of Pharmacology at the Penn State Hershey College of Medicine and the inaugural director of the Penn State Center for NanoMedicine and Materials. Additionally, he is the co-author of Integrated Pharmacology, an influential textbook in the medical field.

Mark had a zest for life like no other. He deeply enjoyed athletics, everything from hiking through the National Parks with his children, to his weekly tennis matches. He avidly followed horse racing, specifically those races held at Saratoga Racetrack. His truest happiness was spending time with his family and friends, surrounded by good food and a cocktail he mixed himself. He had a great sense of humor, always finding a way to interject with dark, clever, and provocative one-liners. He was a world traveler, relishing every opportunity to teach, lecture, and fraternize all across the globe, inspiring students and colleagues internationally.

Mark is survived by his children Johanna and Saul Kester, his brother and sister-inlaw Eric and Randi Kester, and his girlfriend Deb Shore. He is additionally remembered by family, friends, colleagues, and students worldwide. He is preceded in death by his parents Allen and Leah Kester.

A private family service will be held in New York. A community memorial will be held at a later date.

Contributions may be made to the Kester Research Fund at the University of Virginia. Checks can be mailed to UVA, PO Box 37963, Boone, Iowa 50037 indicating (22264) on the memo line, or be made online: giving. uvahealth.com.

MARJORIE ZIMAN NELSON

Marjorie Ziman Nelson passed away peacefully at home on Saturday the 23rd of July surrounded by her family.

Marjorie was born on November 10, 1948 in Brookline, MA to loving parents Stanley and Charlotte Ziman. She graduated from CW Post University with a BA in Education. Her passion was sharing the Antique Silver Business with her husband Steven Nelson for 47 years, with locations at the Manhattan Art and Antique Center and other locations in NYC.

She is survived by her husband Steven Nelson, loving sisters Roberta Ziman Barget (Seymour Barget), Sandra Dale Ziman and six loving nephews and nieces and ten adoring great- nephews and nieces. May her memory be a blessing.

EVE PLOTKIN

Eve Plotkin, age 88, of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away on August 6, 2022 from ALS.

She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Abraham Nezin and Celia Miller Nezin. She spent most of her formative years in the Washington, D.C. area where her father operated a laundry business. After receiving a BA in Speech and Hearing from the University of Maryland, she worked briefly as an audiologist until she married Robert Plotkin, whom she met on a blind date. They had two children, Lisa and Rick, and lived for nearly thirty years in Silver Spring, Maryland; they eventually retired to Annapolis, Maryland.

Eve loved reading and shared this passion as a Head Start volunteer and adult literacy tutor. She was consistently involved in local politics, both as a Democratic precinct captain and election judge. In addition, she was an accomplished painter and musician who played piano, ukulele, and the banjo. She had a warm smile for everyone, loved her family and friends, and especially loved a good joke.

Eve was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Robert Plotkin, and is survived by her sister, Etta Becker, daughter Lisa (Michael Green), and son Rick (Marguerite Rippy), and three grandchildren (Mira and David Green; Merrill Plotkin). Eve is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephew and their children.

A memorial service was held on Monday, August 8 at Temple Beth Shalom, 1461 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd, Arnold, Maryland. Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Foundation of Greater Philadelphia or to the League of Women Voters.

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