Shelly Lewis: Armistice Day - 2004

This reflection by Rabbi Shelly Lewis, Vietnam veteran and Rabbi of Congregation Kol Emeth, was delivered in Memorial Church, Stanford on November 11th, 2004 as part of the Envisioning an End to War interfaith service.

ARMISTICE DAY-2004 STANFORD MEMORIAL CHURCH

The Armistice that ended the incalculable savagery and butchery of World War I was encircled by hope that war would no longer be used to solve conflict. The price of armed battle was too much to bear. Of course it was not to be. Scroll forward. My Father-in-law married his wife in 1943, and within hours he was shipped out to Europe for the duration of World War II. In 1970, my wife and I were married, and I was sent to Vietnam as a chaplain 30 days later.

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Craig Wiesner: The Luxury of Choice

This reflection by Craig Wiesner, a Jewish-American air force veteran, was delivered in Memorial Church, Stanford on November 11th, 2004 as part of the Envisioning an End to War interfaith service.

THE LUXURY OF CHOICE

Good evening. My name is Craig Wiesner. I'm fortunate that during my Air Force days, the only time I fired a weapon was during Basic Training. Given my performance, I believe the entire world is quite fortunate that the Air Force never allowed a weapon to find its way into my hands again.
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Eric Sabelman: Benediction for the peoples of the Earth

This benediction by Eric Sabelman, Quaker representative to Stanford Associated Religions, was delivered in Memorial Church, Stanford on November 11th, 2004 as part of the Envisioning an End to War interfaith service.

BENEDICTION FOR THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH

We live in an age when we can look at the planet Earth floating like a blue pearl in an ocean of space. We have all seen such an image of Earth - an image sent back from orbit or from a spacecraft on its way to another planet, printed on a flag, a tee-shirt, an advertisement. I invite you to close your eyes and recall that image.
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