Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Here is an excerpt of a sermon I wrote for this Rosh Hashanah. Download the whole sermon.

Hospitality, true hospitality takes those who are vulnerable and raises them up, supporting them in such a way that they are more likely to meet the unexpected with strength and dignity to fight on. They see themselves as having worth and value and that they have something to offer to the world.

And who of us does not think of ourselves as vulnerable at different points in our daily lives – starting new schools, new jobs, being put into new situations where we feel isolated and may begin to question the value of our perspective, our knowledge, our self-worth? Don’t think that it is just the visibly weak or feeble who are vulnerable. It is all of us. And we need to recognize it in ourselves and in others and begin to welcome each other into our lives in a way that builds self-worth and doesn’t perpetuate our isolation.