“There are no atheists in foxholes.” Whether this is true or not, I cannot say. I can’t even tell you, for sure, the origin of it. Many people try to take claim for it. It seems to come from somewhere during World War II.  

However, it seems to be an important thing to discuss when we look at this week’s portion. Jacob is fleeing home, running away from Esau who has threatened to murder him. He pauses to rest for the night. Puts a stone for a pillow under his head and he falls asleep. Then he has a dream.  

Machalim are ascending and descending a stairway or a ladder. Malachim—angels or messengers.  

“Surely G-d is in this place and I knew it not.” 

Where do we find G-d? Where do we encounter G-d? One said in this very sanctuary. Others say at their parent’s grave or during a crisis. Some said while hiking in the mountains or walking by the ocean. Some say in a large group—praying together or at a large concert or even at a football game. Some would say in Israel. Maybe in Jerusalem. Others say anytime any place.  

Sometimes that encounter happens late at night or in the wee small hours of the morning. Others find G-d alone. 

And maybe, just maybe in a foxhole. Which would provide that sense of crisis. Fear can be a driver for finding G-d.  

This portion has a lot to say about G-d. Recently I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine. She remembered from her Hebrew School days that Abraham discovered that there is only one G-d. But she wasn’t sure why that is important. One of our members of blessed memory used to say that our whole purpose in life is to praise G-d. Our early part of the service supports this with quotes like, “that I might sing Your praise unceasingly” (Psalm 30),“Let every breath of life praise G-d, Halleluyah!” (Psalm 150) and “The beath of all that lives praises You, Adonai our G-d.” (Nishmat Kol Chai) 

So this is our objective. This is part of how we find meaning.  

One G-d might mean that no G-d is better than another, reducing competition. My G-d is better than your G-d. We see this answer We see that in Michamocha/Ain Kamocha. Who is Like, O G-d? No One is like You. Yet wars continue to be fought over our global understanding of the one true G-d. 

One answer I received from a former student, now teaching Hebrew School herself: “Hashem as one G-d remained and remains consistent and unchanging in terms of who created what, had what powers etc. In that sense it was an act of rebellion in maintaining communal/tribal identity in a turbulent, violent, imperialistic world. It’s part of what makes Ancient Israelites (and Jews throughout history) different.” 

Not only does Jacob have an encounter with the Divine but others do as well.  

Later, in the portion, in a bookend moment, Laban has an encounter with G-d in another dream sequence: 

“But God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Beware of attempting anything with Jacob, good or bad.” 

Sometimes, people don’t have faith. Sometimes those crisis moments or those moments of suffering push people the other direction. In fact, there is a whole organization called “Atheists in Foxholes.” According to Psychology Today, “Some estimates suggest that 7 percent of our enlisted men and women today are atheists….Some people in scary, dangerous, or threatening situations can and sometimes do lose their religious faith. For some people, the horrors they witness or the suffering they endure can render belief in an all-powerful, all-loving deity.” unsustainable.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/202106/are-there-atheists-in-foxholes  

One thing we have is  a sacred obligation, is to work with our veterans who have seen frequently unspeakable things, to make sure they are not suffering. We need to work to heal PTSD and to prevent the ongoing suicides of our military veterans. “The suicide rate among active duty service members in the US military increased by 41.4% in the five years from 2015 to 2020, according to data provided in the annual report from the Department of Defense on suicide in the military.” https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/30/politics/military-suicide-report/index.html  There is a little bit of good news. While the suicide rate of US Veterans is still higher than the general US adult population in 2019, the last year the numbers are available for, there was a drop in percentage. https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/94358/2021-national-veteran-suicide-prevention-annual-report-shows-decrease-in-veteran-suicides/ Nonetheless, the rate remains too high. In the same period, 17 veterans took their own lives each and every day. 30,000 US Veterans have taken their own lives since September 11, 2001, more than died in Afghanistan https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2021/09/28/veterans-suicide-prevention-afghanistan-anna-richardson-sarah-roxburgh .  

 In our portion, we need to ask about Rachel. Rachel isn’t quite convinced that G-d is going to protect her, so she steals her father’s idols to go on the journey with her. Laban, himself comes looking for them. She devises a unique way to protect them. 

Our portion ends with one more example of finding G-d.  

Jacob went on his way, and angels of God encountered him.  

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃ {פ}
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim. 

My hope is that this sanctuary, and our sanctuaries at home are G-d’s camp. This is G-d’s camp. Right here. Whether you are in the room or in the sanctuary of your home. It is a place we camp and we encounter G-d.  Ma Tovu Ohalecha Ya’akov. Mishkenotecha, Yisrael. How lovely are our tents,  our dwelling places O Israel, our sanctuaries O Israel.  

As we head into Chanukah, we learn that the world Chanukah so often translated as Dedication, can also be split into two words, Chanu, Coh, Thus they camped. Here we camp. Providing a space, a makom to encounter G-d. Our job is to continue to make this a place, a makom,  a safe place to encounter G-d  and to praise G-d’s holy name. 

After the Prayer for our Country 

A prayer for Veteran’s Day.  

God of compassion,
God of dignity and strength,
Watch over the veterans of the United States
In recognition of their loyal service to our nation.
Bless them with wholeness and love.
Shelter them.
Heal their wounds,
Comfort their hearts.
Grant them peace.
God of justice and truth,
Rock of our lives,
Bless our veterans,
These men and women of courage and valor,
With a deep and abiding understanding
Of our profound gratitude.
Protect them and their families from loneliness and want.
Grant them lives of joy and bounty.
May their dedication and honor
Be remembered as a blessing
From generation to generation.
Blessed are You,
Protector and Redeemer,
Our Shield and our Stronghold. 

(Alden Solovy) 

Before Kaddish: 

THE YOUNG DEAD SOLDIERS DO NOT SPEAK
Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them?
They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say, We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say, We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say, We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say, Our deaths are not ours: they are yours: they will mean what you make them.
They say, Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say: it is you who must say this.
They say, We leave you our deaths: give them their meaning: give them an end to the war and a true peace: give them a victory that ends the war and a peace afterwards: give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us. 

Archibald MacLeish