The Wisdom of Community

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein explores the wisdom of Solomon and Moses, highlighting the importance of community and seeking divine presence in times of struggle. He discusses how true wisdom is put into practice by being with others, and how seeking comfort from both community and God can bring strength and light into our lives. The sermon also touches on the idea that there are times when human help is insufficient, and that knowing a higher power is present can be a source of comfort.

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What is Kolot: Voices from The Ark Synagogue?

Welcome to Kolot, the podcast of The Ark Synagogue, a bold, experiential and caring Progressive Jewish community in Northwood, London.

Through sermons, reflections and conversations from across our community, Kolot explores Jewish life, learning and values in the world we live in today. Rooted in tradition and open to new perspectives, these episodes bring together voices that inspire thought, connection and belonging.

Whether you are Jewish, exploring Judaism, or simply looking for meaningful reflection, you are warmly welcome.

To learn more about The Ark Synagogue, visit arksynagogue.org.

Tomorrow is Liora, my daughter’s birthday. I wonder what her response would be if I asked, “What do you want for your birthday? You can have anything you like. Just name it.”

This morning we have heard from two of our greatest leaders: Moses and Solomon.

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First, let us consider Solomon, who says:

חׇכְמָה וּמַדָּע תֶּן־לִי וְאֵצְאָה לִפְנֵי הָעָם־הַזֶּה וְאָבוֹאָה

Grant me wisdom and knowledge to go out before this People and to come back in.
(2 Chronicles 1:10)

Solomon’s response to God in a night vision, upon succeeding his father David to the throne of Israel, is met with understandable approval.

God said to Solomon:

“Because you have asked for this, and have not asked for wealth, property, or glory, nor for the life of your enemies, nor even for long life for yourself, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. And I grant you also wealth, property, and glory, the like of which no king before you has had, nor shall any after you have.”
(2 Chronicles 1:11–12)

Wisdom may be found in an individual, and it may be found in a palace. But, like King Solomon, it is only truly acknowledged when it is put into practice — when one goes out before the People, to be with them in good times and in bad.

Whilst we, as your Rabbis, do not claim the ‘wisdom of Solomon’, we can attest to the wisdom of community. Indeed, we have a deep need to be amongst others, especially in times of strife — both to offer support and to receive it.

Rabbi John Rayner, z”l, wrote:

“In every life there are times of failure and frustration, disappointment and sorrow. Sometimes we can take them in our stride. But there are times when our woes seem too many or too grievous, so that they threaten to overwhelm us, and our own resources are insufficient to sustain us. Then we need consolation.

We turn to family, to neighbours, to friends; or they perceive our need and turn to us.

To offer consolation to those who need it is one of our highest obligations. To accept it, though more difficult, is also right. For it is a privilege of our common humanity that we are able to support, and lean on, one another.”

The wisdom of Solomon was to go out from the palace and be with the People, enabling him to return having been a true human being — giving and receiving. May we always have the wisdom to offer support, and the humility to seek it within community.

As well as seeking comfort from those around us, there have also been moments when we have reached out for God. Just before the Torah portion Rabbi Andrea read today, Moses asks to see God. To reassure Moses, God allows him the tiniest glimpse, whilst at the same time protecting him from seeing any more — which would bring about Moses’s demise.

It is that loving protection that Moses seeks, so that he in turn can reassure the People of God’s presence and attributes, famously proclaimed by God and recited in synagogues every Yom Kippur:

“The Eternal! The Eternal God is compassionate and gracious, endlessly patient, loving and true, showing mercy to the thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and granting pardon.”
(Exodus 34:6–7)

It is God’s presence in the life of Moses and the Israelites that is sought:

“If I have gained Your favour, O my Sovereign, pray let my Sovereign go in our midst, even though this is a stiff-necked people. Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your own!”
(Exodus 34:9)

So too do we seek God when we are at our weakest. As Rabbi Israel Mattuck suggests, there are times when human help is insufficient.

“There are sorrows whose roots the sympathy of best friends cannot reach. There are burdens so heavy that no human being can help to lift or bear them. There are some whose wounds are too raw even for a friendly touch. What must it mean to such people to know and to feel that One greater than any human being is there with a sympathy silent, but how tender; with a balm unseen, but how healing. One to whom a heart can pour out its torrents of bitterness without words — a Friend with the tenderness of a mother, and with an understanding that is infinite.”

At the conclusion of our Torah portion, Moses comes back to the People and his skin is radiant. This morning, tired and bruised, my skin is anything but.

May we soon be restored to life, and may the strength we receive from community and from God bring light into our faces — giving us the strength once more to give and to receive.

Eternal God, help us feel Your presence even when dark shadows fall upon us. When our own weakness and the storms of life hide You from our sight, help us to know that You have not deserted us. Uphold us with the comfort of Your love, and with the love we receive and offer to one another.

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