`By Laura Seymour
Dear Families,
By the time you read this, many (most) will have voted and that is wonderful! If that is the case, save this for the next election as people are usually more motivated to vote when it is a presidential year and we need to always vote — in fact it is a mitzvah. Here are a few thoughts from a variety of places to get you ready to vote and/or thankful that you have already voted:
• Rabbi Ed Stafman and Rabbi Mark Hurvitz wrote: As Judaism evolved, the people gained more and more of a say in who would rule them. After the Exodus from Egypt, Moses declared: “(B)e sure to place over yourselves the king that God elects for you” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15). God chose the first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:16-17), but God’s choice for the second king, David, was confirmed by “all of Israel’s elders” (2 Samuel 5:3). And the third king, Solomon, ruled in David’s bloodline but “all the people” together ratified his accession (1 Kings 1:39).
• A recent article by Rabbi Dara Lithwick shared this story from Rabbi David Russo: A man came before the Chazon Ish (a Russian-born Orthodox rabbi who spent his later years in Palestine/Israel, 1878-1953) to explain that he didn’t have enough money to pay his taxes; therefore, he would not be allowed to vote in an upcoming election. Hearing the man’s dilemma, the Chazon Ish responded: “You should sell your tefillin and pay the taxes … tefillin, you can borrow from another, but the right to vote you cannot get from someone else.”
• From Rabbi Laura Novak Winer, Reform Jewish educator: When you step into the voting booth — or before you seal the envelope on that vote-by-mail ballot — consider sanctifying the moment with this blessing: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, she-me’tzapeh me’itanu l’asok b’avodat ezrachut ha’medina. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who expects us to engage as citizens in our country. Treat the obligation with reverence — say a blessing!
• An election day blessing written by Camp JRF (Reconstructionist) campers, summer 2015, from the ritualwell blog: Blessed are You, oh Lord our G-d, who gives us freedom, justice and the power to choose our leaders. We pray that those who cannot vote can still be represented fairly in our democracy. We pray that those around the world who do not have the same freedoms will one day be able to share our freedom to vote.
• Rabbi David Seidenberg shares these thoughts: If you can’t pray in a voting booth, where can you pray? And where would you need more to pray? This prayer is not about casting a winning vote or supporting a particular party. It’s a prayer that peace may come through whoever is elected, on behalf of the whole planet. It’s also more than that: you, the pray-er (the one who prays), are invited to add your own pledge that embodies the ideals you are praying for and voting for, to live your prayer.
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism recognizes our diverse Jewish community in many ways, including politically. Our tradition respects different opinions with Talmudic arguments that we study today. The hope is always that we share these opinions respectfully. From Pirke Avot 5:17 it is called “a disagreement for the sake of heaven.” And in Deuteronomy 16:20 we read the often-quoted “Justice, justice, you shall pursue.” Discussion and argument AND choosing/voting is part of who we are. Let us continue to always participate in our right to vote.
Laura Seymour is Jewish experiential learning director and camp director emeritus at the Aaron Family JCC.