The Message, Volume 18, Number 8, December 1991 Page: 3 of 6
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The following sermon was delivered by Rabbi Jack Segal from the Congregation Beth Yeshurun pulpit on the first evening of Rosh Hashonah, Sunday evening, Sept. 8, 1991 (5752)
My friends, I recently read a story quoted by Rabbi Sidney
Greenberg of Philadelphia. It was about a letter of appreciation
that had been received by a man living in Herkimer, New York.
The letter writer was a woman.
The letter stated: “[This letter is being written nine years
after we met. It was the evening of February 1,1945. You were
returning home from the Pacific theater of war where you had
flown 60 missions in a B-25.]”
“[I had just received a telegram from the government stating
that my husband had been killed in action. Our meeting was by
chance. It was aboard a train going east. You were going to a
different car and I was standing in the area between the two
cars. I was about to commit suicide. My world had ended
abruptly and I had nothing, any longer, for which to live. I was
going to jump off the train.]”
“[Then, you walked up and told me how happy you were and
how you had once thought you would never come home. You
stated that when you were flying against the Japanese, in thick
anti-aircraft fire, you had almost given up all hope. But you told
me how wrong you had be.en. Now, you stated, you were very
happy that you were returning to your fiancee.]”
“[You spoke and spoke and spoke, and, unconsciously you
talked me out of my planned suicide. I said: ‘Maybe there still is
hope for the future.’]”
“[Now I am writing to you nine years latter, 1954, to says:
‘Thanks.’]”
“[lam now married to a fine young man, I have two children
and a lovely home. God must have sent you to another car that
dark night in February, 1945.]”
Tonight, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite pro-
phets and about a major event that occurred in his life. In fact, it
was a turning point in his life. The prophet’s name was Elijah.
Elijah had just come from a victory. He had opposed 850
false prophets on Mount Carmel. He had waged a spiritual bat-
tle against 450 prophets of the idol Baal and 400 prophets of the
idol Asherah.
He had challenged them to a contest. He had said to them:
“You build an altar and I will build an altar and we shall see
whose sacrifice will be consumed.” He then pointed his finger
toward the 850 prophets and he said to them “I will give you the
first chance to get your gods to consume your sacrifices.
Hcwever, if you are unsuccessful, I will turn to my God and ask
Him to consume my sacrifice.”
The 850 prophets accepted his challenge and labored for
hours and hours to achieve their goal; however, their prayers
and their entreaties were to no avail. Nothing happened.
Elijah then turned to God and cried out (I Kings 18:37),
“A-nay-nee Adonai a-nay-nee,” “God, it’s n’ee-alah time. It’s
the ninth inning, God. There are two outs and it’s the last game
of the season. We’re a half game out of first place and it’s full
count, 3 and 2. We’ve got one man on and we are one run
k behind. It’s now or never.”
Suddenly, lightning came out of the heavens and consumed
Elijah’s sacrifice. It was obvious that Elijah was victorious. The
spectators who were watching the contest became estatic and
they immediately attacked the 850 false prophets.
Queen Jezabel and King Ahab were distressed. Jezebel, with
anger written all over her face, cried out (I Kings 19:2) “Kee ka-
et machar asim et naf-she-cha k’nefesh achad may-hem, ” “I’m
going to kill you. I’m going to destroy you.” Tomorrow, you’ll
be dead, Elijah.”
So, Elijah ran away and he cried out to God (I Kings 19:4)
“Koch nof-shee, ” “Take my life. Kill me. Destroy me. The day
is dark. There is no longer any hope. I give up.”
However, God said (I Kings 19:5), “No! Stop being a
pessimist. Stop being despondent. Stop being depressed and de-
ih jected. Kum echol. Get up and eat. I have three more jobs for
you to perform.”
The Bible then states that Elijah hesitated — but he eventual-
ly got up and cried out, “Where am I going to find the strength
to go on? I feel defeated. Where can I find you, O God?’’
The Bible then states that Elijah looked for God in the strong
wind — but God was not there. Elijah then looked for God in the
earthquake — but God was not there. Elijah then looked for God
in the fire — but God was not there either.
Then Elijah heard a koi d’ma-man dakah, a quiet and faint
voice (I Kings 19:12). It was from himself and it was saying:
“You can do it. You can do it. You can do it.”
Elijah heard that voice time and time again. He heard that
•- voice all afternoon.
Eventually Elijah arose and shouted, “I will not be defeated.
I will not be conquered,” and he went on to fulfill the three mis-
sions that had been assigned to him by God.
My friends, what a story that it. Elijah weeps: “I can’t go
on,” but he hears a faint voice within himself saying, “Yes, you
can.”
Elijah prays, “God, take away my life,” but once again he
hears a voice within himself replying, “Take your life and use it
in a positive manner. Never give in. Never give up.”
My friends, so many people give up and give in as soon as
dark clouds appear, but that is because they never hear that koi
d’ma-man dakah, that thin voice that Elijah heard in the desert:
“You can go on. There still is a future. Never give in. Never
give up.”
Unfortunately, they merely hear Shakespeare who wrote 390
years ago in Romeo and Juliet: “Past hope...Past cure...Past
help!”
However, Shakespeare was wrong, HE WAS NOT
JEWISH. Thank God we Jewish people were commanded to
listen to Elijah and not to Shakespeare.
Do you know who was the greatest “failure” in life? Let me
tell you. He failed in business in ’31. He was defeated running
for the legislature in ’32. He failed once again in business in ’34.
His sweetheart, his fiancee, died in ’35. He had a nervous
breakdown in ’36. He went back into politics and was defeated
in the election of ’38. He decided to run for Congress in ’43 —
and was defeated. He was again defeated running for Congress
in ’46. Again, he was defeated running for Congress in ’48. He
was defeated running for the Senate in ’55. He was defeated
running for the Vice Presidency in ’56. And again, he was
defeated running for the Senate in ’58.
I guess that fellow was bom with a black cloud over his head.
He was not only a shl’meel, but he was also a shlemazal. He just
did not know when to say, “I give in, I give up.” I guess he was a
glutton for punishment. He should have known when he was all
washed up.
Oh — by the way — do you know his name? His name was
ABRAHAM LINCOLN — and he went on to be elected the 16th
President of the United States in 1860 and he was elected a
“Shakespeare Was Wrong”
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Tex.). The Message, Volume 18, Number 8, December 1991, periodical, December 20, 1991; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1298710/m1/3/: accessed June 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.