An Invitation and a couple thoughts

Rabbi Philip Weintraub
Congregation Agudas Israel
January 5, 2013
Parshat Shmot

The Mayors Against Gun Violence have asked clergy across the country to name this Shabbat the Sabbath Against Gun Violence.  They ask clergy to discuss facts like 34 Americans are killed every single day by guns.  The American Academy of Pediatrics, while arguing that they are not anti-gun, has advocated regularly for stricter gun controls, noting that the very presence of a gun in a home is dangerous, as children and adolescents are curious, allowing for deadly consequences to innocent investigations into improperly secured weapons. While I support the Sabbath Against Gun Violence, I invite you to our memorial/healing service for the victims of Sandy Hook, right here on January 14 at 7PM.  I am inviting local clergy and politicians to discuss violence and the tragedy of Sandy Hook, as well as how we might prevent future violence in this community.

Gun control conversations:
http://faithsagainstgunviolence.org/
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/resources-ideas/source-sheets/gun-control-source-sheet.pdf
http://511441582932298592.weebly.com/sermon-resources.html

Synagogues and Churches have declared this weekend to be the 'Sabbath to stop gun violence' by an organization of which the Rabbinical Assembly is a member: Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. Joining with 800 mayors and almost a million Americans, they are asking us to sign on to a petition calling on the President and the Congress, to promote three simple and modest changes in our legislation to address gun violence. They are:

1. Require a criminal background check for every gun sold in America
2. Ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines
3. Make gun trafficking a federal crime, with real penalties.

In Newburgh, I will then transition
On a different note, I want to discuss what I did on my summer vacation, err, winter camp.  As many of you know, I was not here last Shabbat, but was instead in sunny south Florida.  There I learned several interesting points that I would like to share with you today.
1) You can make friends anywhere and discuss Torah in any context.
2) The Christian Bible is a fascinating historical document/library.
3) People are members of our community (and Jewish communities) for very varied and interesting reasons.
4) Newburgh is a very special place.
5) Family is very important.
6) Times can change very rapidly.