Today’s Scripture Reading (August 31,
2015): Leviticus 16
Mayim Bialik
(Amy on “The Big Bang Theory) recently admitted that the entertainment industry
does not – and most likely never will – honor those who are religious. The T.V.
star said that she has received numerous negative comments just because she
went to Israel over the summer break. She also admitted that she shuts down her
social media involvement on the Sabbath and spends time studying the Jewish
texts. Her faith is important to her – too important not to practice. Bialik
also commented that "Being a scientist and a person of faith, people want
to know how that is. It leads to a lot of interesting conversations that I
welcome but a lot of people want to open up a conversation just to tell you,
you're wrong."
While Bialik
struggles with the way that we, as fans, respond to her faith, she actually
brings up an even harder question, not about her and her beliefs, but rather
about the beliefs of the rest of us. What is it that we believe so strongly
that it effects our behavior and shapes the way that we spend our time? And
what scares me is that I think the list of these things for most people is
getting shorter and shorter. I actually applaud Bialik for shutting down her social
media on the Sabbath, it is a practice that I wish more Christians were willing
to follow. (I do put out info onto social media on the Christian Sabbath or The
Lord’s Day, but it is always prepared before the Sabbath and then scheduled for
release – my compromise on the issue.) But what are the things that we are
willing to say “no” to for no other reason than we find it important to what we
profess to believe. Maybe a better way to ask the question is simply this –
what are the things that keep us out of church or synagogue on our Holy Days.
Because if you can’t sacrifice the time for these things, it is highly unlikely
that you will make any sacrifices because of your faith or your spirituality.
And a spirituality that does not demand anything from you is useless.
As August
closes, we are on the doorstep of Yom Kipper (this year the holiday will
celebrated from sundown on Tuesday. September 22 until sundown on Wednesday,
September 23). This is the Day of Atonement, one of the few Holy Days that has
been celebrated for over 3000 (and maybe over 3500) years. The Day of Atonement
occurs once every year, and for the Jewish Faith this Day of Atonement (Yom
Kipper) is the holiest day of the year. And why wouldn’t it be. Within the
temple era it was the only day that the High Priest would enter into the Holy
of Holies to make a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all of the people of Israel.
Today, Yom
Kipper is celebrated by many people as a day of fasting and a day of giving up
normal activities. In the past, people like baseball stars Sandy Koufax (he
refused to pitch in the First game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on
Yom Kipper) and Hank Greenberg (he refused to play a game on Yom Kipper in
1934, despite the fact that his Detroit Tigers were in the middle of a Pennant
race at the time) made sacrifices because their faith meant something to them. But
I am afraid that the Sandy Koufax’s, Hank Greenberg’s and Mayim Bialiks are
becoming harder to find.
As a
Christian, I would hope that we could support our Jewish friends as they
celebrate this Holy Day of Atonement – maybe even celebrate with them by
joining the fast. But we also have our own Yom Kipper – our most holy day of
atonement. And I often surprise people by revealing that the holiest day on the
Christian calendar is not Christmas Day and it is not Easter Sunday. Our Most
Holy Day is Good Friday – the day that Jesus died on a cross to make atonement
for all of our sins – every single sin of every single person.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:
Leviticus 17
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