Other items in today’s column include
*Political bytes
*A Prayer for Healing
*Recommended reading
SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El offered this reflection in the aftermath of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd:
“My hope is that we will not let this moment fade into obscurity and apathy as we move on to other pieces of news, of suffering, of tweets. My hope is that we will take this moment of brokenness and build in the cracks a garden seeded with our hope, our commitment to our neighbors and our community, and that we will reach out to everyone who is afraid right now for themselves, their children, and our world, and offer each other our comfort and our love.
“My hope is that we will ground this moment in a willingness to deepen our relationship with ‘others,’ become friends and witnesses, and perhaps most important, to cultivate the courage to look within to challenge our own assumptions and narratives when we find ourselves responding to the suffering we see with frustration, anger, indifference, or apathy. Truly changing our world begins with changing our own hearts. This is why when God calls on Abraham to go forward into a new world, the call beings with Lech L’chah – To go forth, to go to yourself. ”
Daniel Sokatch, chief executive officer of the New Israel Fund, had these recommendations:
“On the individual level, this means educating ourselves about how to do our part to dismantle racism and white supremacy in our society, in our communities, and in our institutions. It means joining those critical efforts already underway. It means following and amplifying the voices of people of color. And it can mean knowing when to mute ourselves and make space for others.
“It also means supporting the work of organizations and community-led coalitions like the Minnesota Freedom Fund and other community bail and bond funds around the country that are securing the release of protesters during this crisis. And initiatives like the National Police Accountability Project and Campaign Zero. The Obama Foundation has put together a resource page where you can find out how you can get informed, take action and get engaged.
“In our own community, doing the work means stepping up to support groups like Jewish Community Action in Minneapolis and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice in New York City, and other groups in so many other cities, who are on the frontlines of racial solidarity work. It means recognizing that our Jewish community is a multi-racial community and working to support Jews of color-led organizations like the Jewish Multiracial Network – and elevating the voices of leaders of color from within our community. It means supporting groups like Bend the Arc, who are mobilizing in solidarity with communities of color to demand a fundamental shift to address racial disparities.”
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Rabbi Shai Held of New York City in an op-ed published by CNN suggested “There are concrete steps we could take right away. We could insist that all police departments be trained in how to deescalate conflict and help officers learn to confront their own biases, whether explicit and implicit. We could acknowledge that voter suppression is a form of dehumanization and refuse to tolerate it. We could insist that underfunded, under-resourced public schools are an abomination — and a stain upon what ought to be our national ideals. And we could proclaim that bigots and racists have no place in public life, let alone public office.”
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Timothy Snyder, faculty advisor for the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies at Yale University, drew some parallels to history: “We know what happens when societies are falsely divided by race, when language is used as a weapon, when lies replace truth. We know what happens when some citizens are treated as second class, when police break their oaths, when high officials endorse lawlessness. We know what happens when no one offers a helping hand, no one raises a voice, no one takes a risk. The call to remember includes remembering that Hitler admired American racism. The call to remember includes remembering that our soldiers defeated Nazi Germany fighting in apartheid units and then returned to a racist country … The call to remember means little if we forget our own possibilities for evil and our own responsibility for good. We support those who demonstrate for justice, and we condemn racist murder with utter and absolute abhorrence. It was the Nazis who called upon police and soldiers to be racial warriors. Never again.”
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A Prayer for Healing⠀
El Na Refa Na La, in Hebrew, is a prayer meaning “Let Us Be Healed” and during the time of the coronavirus pandemic and domestic disturbances in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, Hadassah has released the video above featuring singers Yair Levi and Shai Sol at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, home of the famous Chagall windows. Rhoda Smolow, national president of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Oranization of America, commented: “Hadassah Hospital is a microcosm of the world that needs healing. El Na Refa Na La is the first prayer for healing in the Bible. It’s the prayer Moses delivers for the healing of his sister, Miriam. We decided to adopt this moving prayer as an anthem to give us strength, particularly at this time and especially for the patients and for the medical staff who stand by them 24/7.”
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Political bytes
*Sara Jacobs, a candidate in the 53rd congressional district from which U.S. Rep. Susan Davis is retiring, is critical of the decision by Sheriff Bill Gore to call in the National Guard to quell disturbances. She messaged: “San Diego is a proud military community, and we know just how important it is to only send our troops where they are absolutely needed. Calling in the National Guard to San Diego County is an unnecessary escalation of tensions. The protests throughout San Diego County, just like protests all across the country, have been overwhelmingly peaceful. President Trump’s draconian policies have no place in our community and are a threat to our fundamental rights and to our democracy. I call on Sheriff Gore to send these troops home and let the people of this county exercise their First Amendment right to peaceful protest.”
*In a parallel statement, San Diego City Council President Georgette Gomez, who is opposing Jacobs in the November election, stated: “Calling out the National Guard is not the answer. Military uniforms patrolling our streets sends the wrong message. As most jurisdictions work day and night to reduce tensions and maintain calm, the Sheriff’s Department risks increasing tensions by bringing the National Guard into our city. While the California National Guard often plays a crucial role in responding to disasters, we are not facing a disaster today in San Diego County. We are facing a situation where thousands of our residents are understandably angry and speaking out and a small minority are choosing violence. Responding to the violence requires a targeted law enforcement response, not the deployment of the military in San Diego streets.”
*Terra Lawson-Remer, challenger for the 3rd County Supervisor’s seat now held by Kristin Gaspar, paddled out with surfers on Wednesday night in a tribute to George Floyd. Her advice: “As people across San Diego County struggle to address the racial injustices that have plagued our nation for centuries, at this difficult moment I am even more motivated to fight for concrete reforms in our own community, in order to make real progress towards an America that embodies the values we share. We need strong civilian oversight of our police and sheriffs departments; training programs for law enforcement that emphasize de-escalation rather than use of force; demilitarization of policing and more equipment like tasers that give officers the ability to respond without deadly force; and legal accountability for officers who violate the law and kill, rape, or brutalize the people who they are supposed to protect. As your next Supervisor, I will fight for equal justice and due process for all.”
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Recommended reading
*Dr. Ken Druck discusses prejudice against Jews and Blacks in a soul-searching column on Thrive/ Global recommended to us by Rabbi Ralph Dalin, the community chaplain.
*Blogger Daniel Greenfield says the organized Jewish community has been quick to add its voice to protests over the death of George Floyd but has said little or nothing about rioters desecrating and destroying Jewish neighborhoods in what can be compared to a modern day pogrom. Our thanks to H. Applebaum for alerting us to his commentary
*In an op-ed for The Jerusalem Post, Adam Milstein writes that Jewish communities must engage in self-defense against the Jew-haters.
*Jeff Jacoby of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington D.C. tells of indecent cops and indecent rioters.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com He happily takes this occasion to wish his wife of 52 years and co-publisher, Nancy Harrison, a very happy birthday!