My “Uncle” Sid worked for John F Kennedy and LBJ. In 1963, when the march on Washington happened, he took his son Richard to hear MLK speak. It was not until later that Richard understood why his father made him go, but he is always glad that they stood there on the Mall, hearing those historic words and voices. I suspect that even at the time, as a small boy, he was not terribly excited to be standing and listening to a bunch of people talking.

There is a lot of standing and talking in this week’s Torah portion. We start with:
אַתֶּ֨ם נִצָּבִ֤ים הַיּוֹם֙ כֻּלְּכֶ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם
“You stand this day, all of you, before the ETERNAL your God. Who was standing there that day -your tribal heads, your elders, and your officials—the entire body of Israel—your children, your wives, even the stranger within your camp, from woodchopper to waterdrawer.” (Deut 29:9-10) Every member of the people Israel was there, from the most respected and accomplished, to the most humble and simple. And they were all there to enter into the covenant with God.

A bit later in the parasha, we come across something that might sound familiar: “Gather the people—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to revere the ETERNAL your God and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching.” (Deut 31:12) This gathering includes the strangers in the city – non-Israelites who are to hear it so that they will be inspired by the wisdom of Torah and wish to join the community.

If that was not enough, our tradition also teaches that every Jew, past, present, and future was at Sinai. So no member of our community can say to anyone who chooses to become Jewish that they have superior lineage. This is a big gathering (eat your heart our Burning Man).

There is a midrash about this torah portion. It goes like this: Once, Rabbi Yehoshua’s disciples spent a Sabbath in Yavneh without him. When they returned to him he asked them: “What great lesson did you hear in Yavneh?” They answered: “After learning from you, what could anyone else teach us?” R. Yehoshua was skeptical and asked who else was there. The students told him “R. Elazar b. Azaryah.” R. Yehoshua: “Is it possible that R. Elazar b. Azaryah spent the Sabbath there without telling you something novel?” They: He expounded this principle (Devarim 31:12) “Gather the people — the men, the women, and the children.”

Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah wondered what good it did to have little kids there? Sure, some of them are old enough to listen and understand, but what about the even younger ones? Rabbi Elazar suggests that the benefit is not to the little ones but to the parents who bring them. Upon hearing , Rabbi Yehoshua said to them: “What can be more novel than this? I am seventy years old, and I never merited hearing such a thing until this day! Happy are you, father Abraham, from whose loins Elazar b. Azaryah emerged! The generation is not an orphan in whose midst R. Elazar b. Azaryah resides!” (Mekhilta D. Yishmael, Tractate Pischa 16:9) Taking the kids to Sinai was not for their sake, but their parents’.

Now, anyone who has small children and who has tried to take them anywhere might wonder about this whole thing. Taking kids for your sake and not theirs? In fact, the commentator Kli Yakar likens bringing children to this event to lugging stones or a lump of wood.

But if we think a little harder about the times when we dragged our kids to an event, or accompanied a friend or loved one to something WE were not so excited about, we might realize there was something to it. Maybe it meant an unexpected but memorable experience. Maybe it was the beginning of a passion or interest. Or maybe we just enjoyed being together for something special.

That possibility was at the heart of the story about Rabbi Yehoshua. He knew that if his students were with Rabbi Elazar that they would learn something incredible. And that is why he pushed his students when they responded so unenthusiastically. How about us? Are there moments of great learning or joy that we did not acknowledge? Are there opportunities we missed to include people in our lives and in our experiences?

I know that services are not for everyone, and that most of you have found a reason to join us tonight, if not many nights, so I may be speaking to the wrong audience. Still, I want to acknowledge that you are doing something that is certainly a benefit to you, but can also benefit those in your life, or those who you drag here. “Behold, a good doctrine has been given to you, My Torah. Do not forsake it.” (Proverbs 4:2) It is where that wisdom goes next that resonates this Shabbat: “It is a tree of life to those who hold it fast and all who cling to happiness, all its ways are pleasantness and all its paths are peace.” A tree. That towering presence, rooted in the ground, firm and sure. That is the image of our Judaism, of Torah.

There is a lot of good in what we do. There are rituals full of meaning, wisdom, and comfort. We have a community that can offer guidance and support. We have text upon text that helps us navigate our world with morality, perspective, and insight. Every time we come here or turn to those traditions, we benefit. And every person we include can benefit too, if not right away. Even if they do not, we benefit from bringing them with us. We benefit from sharing our excitement and passion. Perhaps that is what they will see as well.

Before she tortured students with her book Ethan Frome, the writer Edith Wharton wrote, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” “Vesalius in Zante,” 1902.
Behold this good doctrine and spread its light – for your sake and for the sake of those around you.