CyberTorah

Don't Forget To Breath

American democracy is essential to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. We have found the (second) most conducive home to the Jewish community here in the history of the diasporic world. Built into American democracy is a tolerance for otherness, a respect for religious difference, and a deep inherent philo-semitism unseen in other Western countries. Jews have been here from the very beginning and our community is an essential part of the American fabric.

By the same token, the United States is and remains a close ally of Israel because our democratic interests align. The Middle East is a complex place filled with authoritarian regimes and sponsors of world terror. Israel has one of the more stable and long lasting democracies in the world and functions as an incubator for U.S. tech firms. We are tied together in deep ways by philosophy, government, and economy.

There are forces at work in the United States that support anti-Semitism and anti-Israel views, anti Israel views being ones that challenges the legitimacy of Israel to exist. We must work hard to speak out and advocate against hate, anti-Semitism, and anti-Semitism masked as criticisms of Israel. At the same time, we must remember that we do this from a place of great national good will. We are blessed with many allies; we remain a powerful minority.

American democracy is the linchpin. I have never seen an election like this where so many people on both the left and the right are frightened that democracy itself, that the American system, will be broken. We are living through changing times and new ways of communicating and doing politics, and we don’t know yet what the new norms are going to be. It is scary, upsetting, and deeply concerning because we have such a wonderful legacy of freedom, democracy, and possibility in this country.

Social media is part of the new. These tools of communication have, over a short period of time, become omnipresent. Many nefarious actors are taking advantage of these platforms in destructive ways. Further, the nature of those platforms themselves amplify divisions and news bubbles. How they can be used productively, in support of democracy and communal connection, remains untested. Many KE members at Google, Youtube, Facebook and elsewhere are working hard to figure that out. Until we see that progress, it is part of what is frightening.

I believe that the Founders did a good job creating a system that could stand imperfection and that could survive and thrive amid dramatic global change. I believe the system is designed to lurch and meander and then have countervailing forces that bring us back to democracy and freedom for all. This is not our first crisis. This is just the first one in a while.

Nov 3rd is an important day and you should vote. The record high turnouts being projected are a sign of strength. People care and want to make their voices heard. I want you to vote with understanding. Vote your heart, your beliefs. And vote with empathy for people choosing otherwise, whether on local or national issues. I know people in our community with a variety of political views and every single one of them loves America and Israel.

I believe we will have a lot to do on November 4th. I know that we can do it. With less than a week to go, breathe. Think. Vote. And work on empathy for all in these wrenching, divisive, and frightening times.

Shabbat Shalom-
Rabbi David Booth