Excerpted from Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove’s sermon for Parashat Mishpatim/Shabbat Shekalim  

February 9, 2013

Micah, affectionately referred to as Abba Micah, oversaw the modern day exodus in 1991 of over 14,000 Jews in Operation Solomon. Micah shared story after story with us. The fall of the government, the approaching rebels, the secret money transfers, the life-saving work of the Mossad, the overflowing C-130s taking off and landing, one of them actually landing with one more passenger than when it took off – a baby born in flight. Micah described the complex process by which they would identify and keep track of the thousands of would-be new olim, each one given a plastic ID card. My favorite story from Micah described the momentous scene as the final Israel-bound plane of Ethiopian Jews took off. Micah told of the hugs and cheers of relief shared among the IDF soldiers and Mossad Agents as they began to board the final staff plane home. At exactly that moment two taxis screeched onto the tarmac, carrying multiple generations of a single family. They explained that for whatever reason they had missed the other planes but were desperate to leave. Micah examined their plastic cards only to discover that not all of them were complete or correct. Do they come or do they not? Does one split up the family? How do you choose? The plane was leaving and the tumult was growing. The IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak approached Micah to find out what was the cause of the delay and commotion. Micah explained that these latecomers didn’t have the proper plastic ID cards. To which General Shahak barked out, “Plastic, shmastic – get them on the plane.”

The story of Ethiopian Jewry is one of the great dramas of our people’s history. It is a complex narrative that doesn’t tie up neatly in a bow and that leaves us with many questions. And the story is still going on. It will have a happy ending if and only if Ethiopian Jewry successfully integrates into Israel in the years to come. But even with these questions, concerns and maybe even some cynicism, it really all boils down to two words, two critical words: “plastic shmastic.” When Jewish lives are at stake, we dare not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

What an incredible honor it is to live in a time when one Jew can participate in securing the safety, security and wellbeing of another. In times of crisis, in times of joy, again and again the Jewish people have proven that the whole is greater than the sum of our parts.


haggadah Section: Hallel
Source: Excerpted from Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove’s sermon for Parashat Mishpatim/Shabbat Shekalim February 9, 2013