Rabbi’s Message – January 12, 2023
Rabbi Tina Sobo
This weekend is known in the Reform Movement as “Shabbat Tzedek” or the Shabbat of Justice, which is marked annually on the Shabbat preceding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On January 3, the RAC (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism) sent a letter to the members of the 118th Congress that were sworn in. In it, Jonah Pesner stated, “Our vision is of a world overflowing with wholeness, justice, compassion, joy, and equity. To realize this vision, we are dedicated to working across lines of difference to organize and advocate for social change that alienates systemic injustices, especially those that primarily impact marginalized communities. The words of the prophet Micah inspire us ‘to justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.’ (Micah 6:8)”
Reading his letter is inspiring to dedicate ourselves as well to bring more wholeness, justice, compassion, joy, and equity to the world – in whatever ways we can. It also reminded me of when I brought our teens to the RAC (a long, long time ago in a pre-pandemic world). For some of our teens, the work the RAC does more closely aligns with their own political opinions, others find the RAC’s positions a little more challenging. However, I think the vision that the RAC holds, even if we sometimes disagree about the best methods of achieving it, is something that we can share.
Some of the overarching topics that our Movement is choosing to focus on this year include addressing:
- Antisemitism and Hate Crimes
- Criminal Justice and Racial Justice
- Economic Justice and Labor
- Environment and Climate Change
- Foreign Policy and International Religious Freedom
- Gun Violence Prevention
- Health Care
- Immigration and Refugees
- Israel
- LGBTQ+ Equality
- Reproductive Rights and Gender Equity
- Separation of Church and State
- Voting Rights and Democracy Reform
It is unlikely that our movement will entirely solve even one of the issues challenging justice and wholeness in our country (and abroad). And I imagine reading that list, there are some that each of us feel are more urgent, compelling, attainable, or similar. I encourage you to take some time this week, this weekend, to reflect on the list and where you are willing and able to make a difference: It is not up to us to complete the work, but we are not free to neglect it either (Avot 2:16).
We also hope you will join us this weekend for our annual pulpit exchange with Omega Baptist Church. On Friday, January 13 at 6:30PM we will be at Temple and on Sunday, January 15 at 11:00AM at Omega (1821 Emerson Ave).