June 3, 2020
Dear Friends:
As we enter our 11th week at home, we are acutely aware of what it means to count time. We just finished counting the weeks from Pesach to Shavuot, and last week arrived spiritually to stand at Mount Sinai, to once again accept the basic human laws found in the Ten Commandments, laws which lay the foundation for the protection of human life and dignity.
Last week, our sense of time shifted, and we moved from focusing on the passing of weeks, to the passing of minutes. Over and over we witnessed the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that killed George Floyd as he was pinned under the knee of a police officer who held him down, even after he became unresponsive. These 8 minutes and 46 seconds killed George Floyd (z”l) and threw our nation into turmoil as protestors took to the streets demanding safety and equality for Black people throughout our country.
It would be easy to discount these protests, shake our heads, and cluck our tongues at the destruction we see, but that will only serve to distract us. Looting and destruction are wrong, but we must not allow it to divert us from the work that needs to be done, and the injustice that needs to be fixed. Now is the time to watch and listen with openness and curiosity, not judgment. This is a time to try to really hear what it is like to be Black in America, and what it means to be afraid when you drive to work, or go for a run, or fall asleep at night in your bed.
There is a lot of pain in our community and we want to come together to create a safe space to share our thoughts and feelings, and to find ways to become allies for those who seek justice and equality. We will be offering a few opportunities to gather on Zoom:
Community in Conversation: Living in a Broken World on Thursday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m.
An opportunity to discuss what we are experiencing, talk about how we can move forward as a nation, and to pray for healing for humanity with Rabbi Panken and Cantor Wally.
Click here to join us
Meeting ID: 818 5256 2736
Password: Equality
Dial in: 646 558 8656
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A Conversation for Young Adults On Race in America on Wednesday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m.
An opportunity for 17-25 year olds to gather and reflect on what they are seeing, how they are feeling, and what they can do to make a difference.
Click here to join us
Meeting ID: 818 5256 2736
Password: Equality
Dial in: 646 558 8656
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Parenting In Times of Turmoil on Wednesday, June 10th at 8:00 p.m.
Learn how you can help your children to understand and make sense of this tumultuous time, and how you can support them using conversation and listening.
Click here to join this session
Meeting ID: 791 110 2020
Password: Shalom
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Book Discussion:
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo on Wednesday, June 24th at 7:00 p.m.
Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life. "Oluo gives us--both white people and people of color--that language to engage in clear, constructive, and confident dialogue with each other about how to deal with racial prejudices and biases."--National Book Review
To join this discussion
Meeting ID: 889 8005 0541
Password: Shalom18
To Dial in:
646 558 8656
Meeting ID: 889 8005 0541
Password: 776874
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Here are links to some helpful resources:
URJ Statement on the Death of George Floyd (z”l)
NAACP Campaign: We Are Done Dying
RAC (Religious Action Center): Ways Our Congregations Can Help
National Geographic: Discussing Race With Your Children
The Black Jews are Tired
We will be discussing community action and what we can do to support our Black neighbors and become their allies in word and action. If you would like to participate in this effort please e-mail Rabbipanken@cs.com and we will arrange a meeting to determine next steps.
In this time of brokenness, we cannot become overwhelmed. There is work that needs to be done, justice to pursue, and we must do it together. We can pray for healing, but our prayers will only make a difference if they lead us to act for healing.
As always, if you are struggling or need support, please let us know. We are here to help.
May our eyes be open to seeing, may our ears be open to hearing, and may our legs carry us forward in the pursuit of justice.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Melinda Panken
