It has been hard to focus on anything since the news from Washington, D.C. pierced through our Zoom bubbles.
Our country was founded by idealists, people who hoped to create a nation where individual opinions mattered and collectives could safely raise their voices in protest. But the events in the Capitol yesterday did not pick up the mantle of those early leaders. Instead of marching in pursuit of justice, those responsible assaulted a peaceful transition of power, the cornerstone of our nation’s democracy. Instead of promoting democratic ideals, their actions further frayed the fabric that was already damaged by divisive language and misinformation.
Watching our nation’s representatives hide beneath their seats was not what our founders hoped for us. And it shouldn’t be what we hope for either.
In the siddur Lev Shalem, the prayer for our country opens, “Our God and God of our ancestors, with mercy accept our prayer on behalf of our country and its government. Pour out Your blessing upon this land…”
In the midst of pain, fear, and uncertainty, we hope and we pray that God will continue to pour blessing on this land.
We also know that we must actively take responsibility to build a society in which we accept the legitimacy of viewpoints that are morally defensible even when we disagree with them, while marginalizing those who traffic in hatred, lies, and discord.
Even as we work to nurture our democracy, we also have to continue to take care of ourselves and each other during these difficult times. We are here for you-- please let us know how we can support you.
