Disappointing turnout from community

Since 1999 the Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI) has planted trees in the St. Louis Metro area, based on the vision of Alfred Kahn (z’l’), with the goal of planting 60,000 trees-the number Jews living in St. Louis at the time.  At least two tree-planting events are held every year.

In attendance at last week’s tree planting event at the Jewish Community Center, which was scheduled on the Community Calendar months ago, were a class of 7th graders from Central Reform Congregation, led by Rabbi Randy Fleisher, four individuals from BSKI, an individual representing Hadassah and maybe three to four others.

The weather was beautiful, 80 degrees, the Cardinals Game 6 hours off, so where was everyone?  

Evidence of the benefits of tree planting has never been stronger. Scientists are united in their understanding of how tree growth helps stop global warming by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. From a Jewish point of view, our tradition is overrun with concerns for the environment in general and trees, from Torah, the Psalms, Talmud and through Anne Frank.

To have an event with less than 20 individuals in the year 2011 shows a depressing lack of understanding and enthusiasm for issues important to this generation, and our children’s and grandchildren’s future.  

What does it take to wake up the St. Louis Jewish community?  

On a wonderful fall day like today, we should expect 200-not 20-participants.

Richard Gavatin

Town & Country

Response to letters on Torah commentary

Regarding the two letters (Oct. 12, 2011) criticizing my comments on the Torah Portion, Ki Tavo, please note that in my opinion, each criticism was misplaced. The first labeled my discussion as a personal attack against Rabbi James Stone Goodman. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rabbi Goodman saved the life of someone I knew personally, who was suffering from an addiction. And for every one good thing we hear he has done, I know that he has done another 10 that we will never hear about. Rabbi Goodman is truly one of our community’s shining lights.

The second letter mistook my comments to be a condemnation of the use of poetry in relation to Judaism. Again, this criticism is misplaced. Our Torah is full of poetry, from the song that Moses sang at the Red Sea’s water’s edge, to V’Zot HaBracha, the final poem that concludes our annual reading. On the Sabbath, we sing Zemirot, poems in the glorification of our G-d. Of course, we recently read Kohelet (“To everything there is a season…”), which along with Shir HaShirim is one of the greatest poems ever written. Poetry is central to our religious traditions and rituals. And I’d like to see more of it. That’s why I suggested that the Light create space to highlight the works of our great local writers of poetry and prose.

What I meant to convey in my discussion of Ki Tavo, was that there was more to be said there, than was addressed by Rabbi Goodman’s prose on that occasion. And one of the things I believed needed to be said, was that those who believe that Judaism is only about strict rules and negativity are mistaken. In Moses’ final charge to the Jewish People, he reminds us that a central principal of Judaism is to see all the miracles that surround us every day, to be grateful to G-d for all the gifts that have been given to us, and to as a result, serve G-d with Joy and Gladness. Hopefully, most were able to get that important message despite my apparently inelegant first sentences.

Thank you for allowing me to clarify my earlier comments. Shana Tova to all!

David A. Rubin

University City