By Andrew Coen
In introducing Murphy to the congregation, Temple Israel Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum addressed the importance of people of the Jewish faith reaching out to other faiths like Catholicism. [Bishop Murphy] is a man who knows the meaning of reaching out to others and being there, said Rosenbaum. After all is said and done, that is the job of the spiritual leader, being there for people in need, and to me [that is] his message this evening.
While we have to address the issue of anti-Semitism, it is also necessary to address the prejudice that we have in our hearts as Jews, the rabbi added. It is necessary for us to reach out to our brothers and sisters of other faiths, and especially in the Catholic Church, with love and respect, with a spirit of togetherness and cooperation.
Murphy began his sermon by pointing out that Dec. 31 will mark the 10th anniversary of the mutual recognition of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Holy See. This is a cause for all of us to be grateful to God and to be thankful for those who brought that good initiative, he said.
This is first bimah on Long Island on which I have spoken to address the congregation, so I'm deeply grateful to you guys for making that possible, Murphy said.
He pointed out how more than 50 years ago, when he attended a synagogue in Brookline, Mass., with one of his Jewish friends, it spearheaded his interest in the Jewish religion. That began a journey, a journey in my own life of deep, deep love of the Jewish tradition, Murphy said. As the years have gone by, I have had the opportunity to be able to very formally begin to delve into the Talmud. It has given me a deeper and deeper realization of the sacred connectivness between Jew and Christian.
Murphy was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston at Vatican City in 1964.
In the theme of the Jewish High Holy Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah on Friday evening, Sept. 26, Murphy spoke about sins and how they are not being taken as seriously in this country. He also cited passages from the New Testament and noted how they are similar to the beliefs of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, and how the similarities can provide a spiritual connection between Jews and Christians.
Murphy closed his sermon with thanks to the congregation for allowing him to speak. This night here in this congregation, the oldest congregation on Long Island, I wish to thank you for the honor that has been bestowed on me by letting me stand here, and I promise you that the journey that the Almighty one called us to undertake together, in that journey you will always find me a partner and a faithful friend, he said.
After Murphy's sermon, the crowd of roughly 175 people applauded. I thought it was wonderful, Rosenbaum said of the sermon. The congregation was very moved when he said that he was there for us and that he acknowledged that the prayers of the Jewish people were his prayers.
Last year, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo delivered the sermon kicking off the High Holy Days at the temple. I invite speakers because they set a theme for the High Holidays, said Rosenbaum. It generates excitement and brings more people.
Rosenbaum is not concerned about a possible backlash from some religious Jews and Catholics who might be upset about a Bishop delivering a High Holiday sermon at a synagogue. Dialogue of the issues presents an opportunity to educate, said Rosenbaum. We have to address prejudice in our own community, whether it's a person who attends a different kind of synagogue or a person of a different faith.
This Sunday, on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the community is invited to come to Temple Israel of Lawrence for a free family and children's service from 11 a.m. to noon, with a Kiddish to follow. I believe no Jew should be spiritually homeless on the High Holidays, said Rosenbaum of his reason for offering the free service on Sunday.
It will be just the second time in Temple Israel's 95-year history that a service will be held on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
