Diluted Wine – An Unfortunate Inheritance
(Published in The Outreach, March 2004)
The Outreach is the newsletter of Valley Outreach Synagogue, Reseda, California
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There is that famous story of the villagers who each put their share into the celebratory vat of wine; their own part being water rather than
wine. The prevailing rationale is that everyone else will be adding wine. What difference will just a little water make?
This simple parable has an obvious messages for us; that of personal responsibility. Everyone of us is responsible for the choices that we
make and collectively, for one another. Closer to home, our synagogue relies on our donation of wine and not water. It is unreasonable to
expect that others will continuously sustain it for us.
I relate the wine story to another issue of Jewish life that grasps my attention and concern. On most days, I meet with Bar Mitzvah families
and wedding couples, many of whom are in interfaith relationships. I bring to their attention the fact that typically, the Judaism that we in
our generation will hand as an inheritance to our parents’ grandchildren will be a diluted version of the one given to us. While we may feel
strongly “Jewish” without feeling a great need for Jewish observance, our children will be one generation farther away from our Jewish roots.
Like Yiddish, Judaism itself can become a nostalgic recollection for our children and grandchildren. In another generation or two, what was
once rich wine may become slightly pink water.
Our heritage and values are among the most precious gifts that we can bestow upon our children. To my knowledge, matzo-ball soup never elevated
anyone’s ethics. No did jokes about Moishe or Yankele. They are not substitutes for the real thing.
Please bring your children and grandchildren in costume to our Purim celebration on March 5th, at 7:30.
Let’s show them the joy of Yiddishkeit!
With my best wishes,
Cantor Ron Li-Paz
