Dear chevrei (friends),
I awoke this morning after
a late night and woke up our girls to explain to them the results of the
election last night. They were upset, but mostly, they were
shocked. I feel shocked too. Not at the results per se, but at the
difference in the values that I voted for and the clear values statement many
voters made yesterday: "I'm angry at the government and its dysfunction;
I'm voting for the anti-government candidate." Sadly, I also truly
believe that there are those who voted against a woman president, against the
progressive gains made by women, people of color and people on the sexuality
spectrum over the last eight years.
Yesterday, I voted,
proudly, with Limor and our girls based on our Jewish values - for
inclusiveness, fairness, equality and tolerance. These are values steeped
in the Torah and in our experiences. It is those very experiences that
made the rhetoric of this campaign particularly painful to the Jewish community
as a whole: race-baiting, anti-Semitism and nationalism have all been used
against our people throughout our history. We have a keen sensitivity to
such words. Today is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of
Broken Glass, where in 1938, the Nazi's officially began their persecutions of
the Jews in Germany. There needn't be a link between that day and the
election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States. This
date, however, is a reminder that words and votes can lead to terrible
outcomes. If...
- If we turn our backs on our responsibility to be engaged
citizens, vigilant in making sure that the dangerous words of the campaign do
not become dangerous acts.
- If we turn our backs on our religious traditions of treating
everyone with the notion that each of us is created in the image of the Divine
and therefore should be treated with holiness.
- If we turn our backs on the concept of Tikkun Olam, that we are
obligated to work to make our world a better place.
- If we turn our backs on those Americans who feel such despair at
their lot in life that a protest vote feels like a last option.
- If we forget, for even
one moment, our obligation to teach our children right from wrong, that ends
justify the means and that divisiveness is a winning strategy in the long.
Zachor, "remember,"
the Torah implores us time and time again; remember injustices brought upon us
and work to make our world a place of justice. "Justice, justice,
shall you pursue!" Justice, we are taught, is not recrimination and
revenge, but a balancing of the scales. America is out of balance and we
need to do our part to restore the balance. That's what we Jews have done
with the gift of American liberties - we've improved out lot in life and used
that improved standing to make the lives of others, our country and the world
better.
I pray, with all sincerity
for the success of Donald Trump's presidency; not on policy grounds, but with
the hope that his election spurs in our nation a desire to heal wounds, to
right wrongs and to meet the needs of the citizenry. We all bear a role
in such a presidency, no matter whom we voted for.
My colleagues, Rabbi
Nichols and Cantor Schloss, and I, are here for you. Call, write, stop
by. In times of doubt, we need to be together as a beit knesset (synagogue),
literally "the house of gathering" is just such a place.
Friday night, we will have
our annual Shabbat service in commemoration of Kristallnacht and Veterans
Day. The two might seem incongruous, but they are not. We retell
the stories of our pain and suffering to remind ourselves of how bleak the
world can be, but we also gather to show that we are not powerless and that in
our moments of great distress, our nation is capable of unifying under the
sacred ideals upon which this country was founded. Join us, pray with us.
On Rosh Hashanah, my
sermon ended with our community singing God Bless America. We need God's
blessings, as we always have. And God needs us to do our part, to make
whole what is broken.
Indeed, God, please bless America, and all Americans,
Scott Weiner
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