Mending our Cracked Vessels and Healing our Broken Selves

Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin, Rosh Hashanah 5780
Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale, Arizona

I hope that many of you have had the chance to visit the celebrated Israel museum in Jerusalem. Home to famous works of art, like Robert Indiana’s Ahavah sculpture, a scale model of the temple in Jerusalem, as well as important artifacts like the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls: The collection at the museum is priceless. It represents the complicated and intriguing history of the land and people of Israel, and the promise of its future.

A few years ago a toddler visiting the museum with her family pressed her little hands and face against a display case to admire the beautiful colors and intricate design of the 2,000 year old vase inside. Picture her smushy little nose pushed against the glass, and hear her delighted squeals of joy as she takes in the sight. It’s adorable, a small child so taken with the beauty of the ancient world! Until.. the case begin to shake — the case tilts… it topples… it cracks. And so does the vase.[1]

Reading the story, I immediately imagined being those parents. The disapproving glances that read ‘why can’t you control your daughter!?’ I imagined being ushered out by museum security, and wondered: Were they angry, or understanding? Did the parents discipline the child, or did they blame the staff who poorly secured the vase? Did they avert their eyes from the other patrons, hanging their heads as they left the museum? Or did…