This Shabbat we continue to pray for peace.
My friend and colleague, Cantor Jennifer Duretz Peled, shared this prayer, Ein Milim- There are no words, hoping that the hostages will come home so they would enjoy the peace we envision every Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom
This Shabbat, peace seems as elusive as ever.
We pray for peace for all seekers of peace and to bring the captives home.
Oseh Shalom bimromav Hu ya’aseh Shalom Aleinu v’al kol Yisrael v’al kol yoshvei teiveil, v’imru Amen.
Shabbat Shalom
Especially in times like these, we must embrace the hope of peace.
Bring them home
Shabbat Shalom
We acknowledge and mark Juneteenth, the 19th of June, to celebrate the day the United States fully recognized the Emancipation Proclamation.
This significant day, Juneteenth, was not the day of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the end of Slavery in the United States. Instead, it was the day when news of Lincoln’s historic decree reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas. Carried by 2,000 Union Troops, this news brought the long-awaited freedom to these individuals. Juneteenth stands as a pivotal moment in the journey towards realizing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, that “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.“ The journey towards freedom began on January 1, 1863, when Lincoln proclaimed that all enslaved people within the rebellious states were to be free. However, this news took two more years to reach Galveston, Texas, in 1865. The word of freedom has since spread across the nation, but the task of turning the dream encapsulated in those words into a reality is an ongoing one.
The New Golden Age, the convening of a Black-Jewish alliance sponsored by Culture Changing Christians and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is a testament to the enduring significance of Juneteenth. This occasion, which celebrates the date and renews our commitment to the American vision of freedom and equality for all, underscores the ongoing relevance of Juneteenth. It serves as a reminder that the work towards realizing this vision is not yet complete, but together, we strive to fulfill that dream.
This statement was drafted by Pastor Carl Day and Rabbi David Levin of the New Golden Age.
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The New Golden Age is a joint partnership between the Jewish and Black communities in Philadelphia focused on combating hate, enhancing security, and strengthening the local community’s social safety net. This initiative was started by The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Culture Changing Christians.
Jews are using the phrase “we are the canary in the coal mine” as a warning that
anti-Semitism signals growing hatred of all groups in our nation. This idea is profoundly flawed, ironically counterproductive, and requires immediate redress.
The phrase is a desperate appeal to others that they must fight anti-Semitism as it inevitably will lead to hatred against them—that tactic won’t work. People will stand against anti-Semitism because it is wrong. And if they can rationalize anti-Semitism, they won’t care about Jews, canaries, or anyone else. Besides, there is another group that already experiences an institutional brand of hatred: black people and others of color.
People of color have been experiencing hatred and systemic racism for as long as any of us have come to these shores. When we think of Jews as the ones on the front line, we negate the experience of the black community. That is egotistical and shameful and ironically belies the idea embodied in the Canary Phrase. We should be aware of this hatred and align with those others who experience it.
I am not a canary, and I am not in a coal mine. Despite the alarming sharp increase in public displays of anti-Semitism, we live well, thoroughly enjoying so many blessings of this place. We have the power and the means to defend ourselves. And we are. Others do not, and we must help them.
Let us stand against hatred in all its forms besides every one of goodwill. We denounce hatred of any group and work together to fight it on the streets, in the courts, and our hearts. So our country may live up to its aspirations.
We are not birds; we are American Jews standing tall for the values we believe in, and together, we will prevail.
Oseh Shalom is a prayer for peace, real peace. We pray to the One to bring peace down, in other words, to give us the strength and courage to make that happen. May it be so! Let Elana Jagoda’s beautiful rendition of Oseh Shalom bring this prayer into your heart.
Shabbat Shalom
Bring them Home!
Anti-Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is here. It is ugly and real. It never went away, even though we almost believed it did. This is not a time to cower; it is a time to act decisively and urgently.
Our strength lies in our unity and our shared values. We are not alone in this fight but bound together by a tradition of wisdom and insight rooted in humanity’s best values. With these as our guide, we will overcome.
Let’s shift from sorrow to action. In these challenging times, let our Judaism be our strength. Seek the light and community that fortify us. Stand firm in our beliefs; together, we will construct a world founded on love and kindness. Let’s stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow Jews, extend our blessings to those in need, and illuminate the world. Let’s also reach out to other allies, all people of goodwill, and unite for a common cause. Evil will not triumph. Together, we will flood the world with light, pushing back the darkness to where it belongs.
Arguably, the greatest group of all time was the Beatles.
John Lennon’s song, Revolution, has become yet again relevant. It’s a strange way to welcome Shabbat, perhaps, but after we’ve listened, let’s start singing songs of peace and work towards achieving that.
Shabbat Shalom