Preaching Goes Viral

Reflect, Repair and solve: Taking responsibility for our very lives (Erev Rosh HaShanah)

M2: Membership and audience attachment to a social group (not just to God, faith, or religious practices)

When I was young, television’s most popular show was called Happy Days.  Its protagonist was the indomitable Arthur Fonzerelli, the Fonz.  He was a mensch who happily cloaked himself in 1950s cool: leather jackets, motorcycles, and hair product, lots of hair product. The Fonz did everything right except he could not admit when he was wrong.  When he tried to say the word, he would get stuck.  He’d go “I was wwrrr 6!”  It was funny, and utterly human.  The Fonz knew when he had erred, but his repair skills were pathetic.  I’m sure we know people with the same problem.  Perhaps we are that person? Thankfully, even in our perfection-obsessed society, there are individuals who have been able to make amends after their mistakes.  A million years ago, or what feels like that, on March 9th, NBA star Rudy Gobert downplayed reporters’ questions about the coronavirus.  Then he playfully touched every microphone that surrounded him.  Two days later, Mr. Gobert was the first NBA player to be diagnosed with COVID-19 and the NBA suspended the season. 

2022-12-13

Maurice A. Salth

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