New England States Punished “Stubborn Children” Under Laws Based On Deuteronomy, In Disregard Of Talmudic Commentary Abrogating Any Such Punishment

The Massachusetts Bay Colony enacted the following law in 1646:

If a man have a stubborn or rebellious son of sufficient years and understanding (namely, at least sixteen years of age) which will not obey the voice of his Father, or the voice of his Mother, and that when they have chastened him will not  harken unto them: then shall his Father and Mother being his natural parents, lay hold on him and bring him to the Magistrates assembled in Court and testify unto them, that their son is stubborn and rebellious and will not obey their voice and chastisement, but lives in sundry notorious crimes; such a son shall be put to death.

Connecticut adopted that same law in 1650. So did Rhode Island in 1668, and New Hampshire in 1679.

That law was known as the Stubborn Child Law. It remained on the statute books of Massachusetts for over three hundred years. The legislature eventually dropped the death penalty and broadened the law to include daughters. The law was not repealed until 1973. 

Having Difficult Conversations

I gave this sermon at Temple B'nai Shalom in Braintree on March 5, 2011, to help people turn difficult conversations into constructive conversations.

Purim is just around the corner. And then Pesach is coming. In about six weeks we will gather with family and friends around our Seder tables. We will read from the Haggadah, ask and answer questions, and enjoy the familiar food after we retell the ancient story.

Sometimes, though, that same Seder table can be the arena for some pretty sharp arguments. I remember one Pesach when this happened. We had just finished the gefilte fish. It was time for the next course. We had hired a teenager, who was not Jewish to help us. Alice had asked her to start clearing the dishes in order to bring in the soup.

Before that could happen, however, two of our guests, young women in their 20’s, got into an argument about Israel.

The Freedom Imperative

Here is my latest article in the Temple B'nai Shalom Bulletin.

This is the season of freedom opposing oppression. The season of heroes and villains. The season of democracy defeating tyranny.

Both in history and legend, in ancient times and modern, here and around the world.

Justice for Jonathan Pollard

I gave this sermon at Temple B'nai Shalom in Braintree, MA, on January 8, 2010.

Justice for Jonathan Pollard

by

Rabbi Van Lanckton

Temple B’nai Shalom, Braintree

January 8, 2011 – 3 Shevat 5771

Jonathan Pollard has been locked up in jail by our government for 25 years. He is serving a life sentence without parole.

He went to jail when he was 31 years old. Now he is 56.

Christmas and Converts

I gave this sermon at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA, on Saturday, December 25, 2010.

 44 years ago was the last time I celebrated Christmas.

I was 24 years old.

Four months later, I converted to Judaism.

Converting to Judaism is a journey that begins long before the day of the conversion ceremony. And that journey continues long after that day.

My journey began with losing faith in the Christian understanding of God. That happened at least eight years before I converted. I was looking for answers to deep questions about God and fairness. Christianity did not provide answers that satisfied me.