Dear Friends,
‘You Shall Not Stand Idly By While Your Neighbor Bleeds.’ Lev. 19:16
Abraham Joshua Heschel said: “The opposite of good is not evil; the opposite of good is indifference. In a free society where terrible wrongs exist, some are guilty, but all are responsible.”
As part of the Jewish people that has known deep suffering because of prejudice, we join with all people of faith who condemn the tragic and inexcusable death of George Floyd and renew our commitment to ending racism in all forms. Many of us are in a comfortable position where we simply do not experience the systemic racism which is endured by the black community. None of this is new, it’s just being filmed in full colour now. We cannot hide our face from this truth. It is staring right at us. In the words of Bernice King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, this week, “Racism is not a difference of opinion”
If we woke up this morning feeling pain because of racial injustice, welcome it. It will fuel our reactions. Righteous anger, when channelled for good, can be a powerful tool. If we read the news and feel guilty, and wonder if we are doing enough to dismantle racism and lack of kavod (honour) for others, let’s use the guilt to reflect on our role in allowing prejudice to play such a large role in our society.
We are in the middle of a pandemic and are exhausted from isolation but we all have reserves of strength to be part of the groundswell of change that must happen. Over the last several weeks, we have reached out to old friends and neighbors to check on their safety. This week, reach out to African American friends, co-workers, or those who work in your neighbourhood and check on them, and offer your support. Our tradition, our prophets, and our history calls out to us to help correct injustice.
With thanks to Rabbi Malcolm Cohen for his thoughts as we navigate through this difficult time together.
In hope and strength,
Rabbi Marcia Plumb
I invite you to read the statement about George Floyd’s death by the USJC here: https://uscj.org/press/conservative-masorti-rabbis-respond-to-the-murder-of-george-floyd-pattern-of-racism-police-brutality-against-black-americans
For those who wish to take action, here are some links:
NAACP’s urgent #WeAreDoneDying campaign
This Friday at 3pm ET, The Religious Action Center will hold a conversation for young adults and students in this virtual space for conversation, which will open the door to future gatherings, learning opportunities, trainings, and activism for students and young adults.
Register now
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival ,
For those who wish to learn more about the experience of African Americans today, here are some suggestions:
https://www.jta.org/2020/05/31/united-states/believe-us-black-jews-respond-to-the-george-floyd-protests-in-their-own-words?fbclid=IwAR27CDGDKLruGhUOTs1N6szfnyLJfumlNmA8JY8yClMRw9HfF0NcYwG9WD 8
"Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups,"by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun
We will be offering opportunities to learn and act for racial justice over the summer. Please reach out if you are interested in being part of this learning endeavour.
