I considered another news-fast, like the one I mentioned early in August. But recent issues have become far too disturbing. Sadly, no longer is the school-yard style taunting of North Korea the most disturbing event.
Last week's events in Charlottesville, and the reactions to them, speak volumes. The pictures are disturbing; racism and anti-Semitism masquerading as free speech. We have leaders who claim they need time to think before condemning bigotry. Since when is devotion to public media and "protecting the base" a reason not to speak out forcefully against blinding hatred? Does a leader really need 48 hours of sending out test-balloons to say "there is no place for neo-Nazis, white supremacists and the hate they spew."
This definitive statement is one I am comfortable in making: No Jew should wonder what our faith expects of us. Judaism brooks neither covert behaviors of hate nor subornation of such hatred.
At Shabbat morning services we read A Prayer for our Country, written by Dr. Louis Ginzburg during turbulent times in the 20thcentury but based on an admonition from the Mishnah. The prayer says, in part, "May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry .and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of our country. May this land under Your Providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom and helping them to fulfill the vision of Your prophet: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war any more."
We must work to make that prayer a reality. Each of us should reach out to our elected officials to ask them to state, clearly and unequivocally, that they will not tolerate hatred in our country and they will actively work to rid our country of this evil.
And let us say: Amen.
