To my Beth Am family,
I am angry. I am frustrated. I am absolutely outraged. Watching the footage of the murderous attack on George Floyd, makes me want to cry out, “Enough!” Enough because we felt this way after Breonna Taylor. Enough because we felt this way after Ahmaud Arbery. Enough because we felt this way after Eric Garner.
And yet, many of us hear those resonances of “enough,” because we marched after Amidu Dioallo was shot 41 times. We hear the call of “enough” because we marched after Rodney King was savagely beaten. We hear the echoes of “enough” because for centuries we have been living with the systemic racism that begs us to stop the rails of racism.
But the reality we live in is not the only thing that cries out to us to change the current racist system. Torah teaches (no, it commands) in her most powerful and explicit terms:
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deut. 16:20)
The doubling of the word “justice” is not my editing, it is God’s. The Torah literally doubles the word to charge each of us – Seek Justice! Seek justice for blacks. Seek justice for whites. Seek justice for browns. Seek justice for the LGBTQ+ community. Seek justice for the Jewish community. Seek justice for all. It is just that simple. Seeking justice is not arbitrary. Seeking justice is not subjective. Seeking justice is not reserved for the people that follow my religion or have my skin color. It is incumbent upon all of us to seek justice for George Floyd and all of those innocent souls battered and/or murdered because of systemic racism.
So What Can We Do?
Last fall, the interfaith community of Yorktown gathered with the help of Race Amity of Northern Westchester for the purpose of engaging in conversations about Race and Faith. We all came away with a clear understanding of the following principles:
1) Racism has been baked into the cake for centuries,
2) Our religions condemn racism and bigotry in a myriad of ways, and
3) We must not be blind to our privilege.
It is this last principle that I want to comment on now. While I can be angered, and I can shout “enough,” and I can demand justice, these feelings and outcries are nothing compared to what my brothers and sisters of color must be feeling and wanting to say. I enable the atrocities if I don’t recognize that I can go for a bike ride anywhere after dark, and not get a glance. I can drive in any neighborhood, and not be pulled over. I can be however I want to be, without any societal limitations. It is on me to have my eyes open to my privilege.
One step forward is for all of us in our upper Westchester Jewish community to recognize our own privilege. When we engage in conversations (or even arguments) we cannot forget that, by the nature of the system, we are different. That does not mean we cannot help. It just means we need to be self-aware. With this awareness, we can become better allies.
Another step can be moving toward understanding. Race Amity of Northern Westchester is joining with similar groups across New York State and with the National Center for Race Amity to celebrate with a symposium sponsored by the Race Unity Circle. Consider joining the virtual gathering on June 13th and 14th, 2020, for this two-day virtual conference which will feature films, speakers, discussions, story tellers, and emotional and spiritual centering. If you have any questions, please reach out to Judyth Stavans at bethamadultevents@gmail.com. The conference is FREE, but please make a reservation here: https://raceamitysymposium2020.bpt.me/
Lastly, there are many peaceful rallies and protests taking place across the area. First of all, it is a personal choice whether you go to these gatherings. If you choose to attend, I urge each of you to remain vigilant in your following social distancing protocols. If you choose not to attend, consider lending your voice through social media or other non-physical ways of standing with our brothers and sisters of color. We must send the message to all people of color that you are not alone.
Enough is enough. Tzedek Tzedek tirdof, Justice Justice shall you pursue. Now is the time for us to make changes to undo the systemic racism. Now is the time. If not now, when?
B’shalom,
Rabbi Robert Weiner
P.S. Please consider joining us this evening for Shabbat services at 7 PM. The service will include readings, songs, and pieces of wisdom about Jewish activism.
