Our Democracy
November 9, 2016
If we live with a sense of historical consciousness, both as Jews and Americans, we understand that these are indescribable, invaluable blessings which are based upon the belief that each individual should be treated with dignity regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual preference, and physical disability.
Our sacred texts exalt not only God but as God’s messengers and creations, all of us. We believe this world was made for each of our sakes alone. It is our call as God’s messengers to work with the gifts we each are uniquely endowed with to unify people, thereby making the world a better place. Tikkun Olam, healing our world, is not just a convenient mantra. It is both our vision and our mission. This is what drives us. We should always be mindful of this in each and everything we do all the days of our lives. The Book of Proverbs, (29:18), reminds us that living without vision will only lead to our demise.
So much of our history as Jews has been filled with living as unwelcome guests, existing often precariously at the overbearing authoritarian behest of numerous unelected leaders. As history’s pariahs, our response regardless of our age-old trials and tribulations has always been to embrace and embody the vision of returning to our Promised Land, which has kept the Jewish people alive. And as American citizens we also understand that America is its own kind of Zion, endowing each of us with the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These blessings are fundamentally the ethical foundations of Torah and upon which America is based.
Our call as Jews, as Americans and as human beings is to be active participants in our societies. America, with all its flaws, with the messiness of our democracy, continues to work because we engage in it actively. Receiving blessings passively has never been our way. Instead, we exercise our blessings and our inalienable rights giving them life. We hold our elected officials accountable as we hold ourselves accountable.
Our sacred texts exalt not only God but as God’s messengers and creations, all of us. We believe this world was made for each of our sakes alone. It is our call as God’s messengers to work with the gifts we each are uniquely endowed with to unify people, thereby making the world a better place. Tikkun Olam, healing our world, is not just a convenient mantra. It is both our vision and our mission. This is what drives us. We should always be mindful of this in each and everything we do all the days of our lives. The Book of Proverbs, (29:18), reminds us that living without vision will only lead to our demise.
So much of our history as Jews has been filled with living as unwelcome guests, existing often precariously at the overbearing authoritarian behest of numerous unelected leaders. As history’s pariahs, our response regardless of our age-old trials and tribulations has always been to embrace and embody the vision of returning to our Promised Land, which has kept the Jewish people alive. And as American citizens we also understand that America is its own kind of Zion, endowing each of us with the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These blessings are fundamentally the ethical foundations of Torah and upon which America is based.
Our call as Jews, as Americans and as human beings is to be active participants in our societies. America, with all its flaws, with the messiness of our democracy, continues to work because we engage in it actively. Receiving blessings passively has never been our way. Instead, we exercise our blessings and our inalienable rights giving them life. We hold our elected officials accountable as we hold ourselves accountable.
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In our prayers “we pray (to God) for all who hold positions of leadership and responsibility in our national life. Let Your blessing, (O God), rest upon them, and make them responsive to Your will, so that our nation may be to the world an example of justice and compassion….Make us to see that the well-being of our nation is in the hands of all its citizens; imbue us with zeal for the cause of liberty” (Gates of Prayer, p.186).
It is a privilege to be Americans. It is our blessing. We congratulate President-Elect Trump and remain ever grateful for Secretary Clinton’s tireless years of public service. This land was made for you and me. We are Americans. May we ever be mindful of the awesome blessing and sacred responsibility that is. |
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Keyn Yehi Ratzon.
So may it be God’s will. So may it be our will. Amen. Warmly, Rabbi Debra Nesselson |
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