Rabbi Schaefer.
“Faith Matters” is a column that features pieces written by local religious figures.
(Opinion) On Thursday night, local faith communities gathered for a vigil at Congregation Mishkan Israel to raise up our prayers for justice, compassion, and the protection of immigrant communities.
We were there to support the historic lawsuit filed on behalf of 27 Christian and Jewish religious denominations and associations to challenge the rescission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “sensitive locations” policy that had restricted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting immigration raids, arrests, and other enforcement actions at houses of worship.
We were honored to be joined by clergy from local churches and mosques as we prayed together in the language of our traditions. Today, I’d like to share my message with you.
In a little over a week, Jewish people around the world will celebrate Passover and retell the story of our redemption from slavery in Egypt. I specifically say our redemption and not our ancestors’ redemption.
At the Passover seder, we read about four types of children, each with their own perspective.
The rebellious child asks their parents a seemingly innocent question, “What does this ritual mean to you?” — and in doing so excludes themself from the community. To that child, we answer, “This is because of what the Eternal One did for me when I went out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:8)
Much of the power of the Passover seder is that it locates a powerful, transformational moment in our people’s history, not in the past alone, but in the present as well.
The Passover Hagaddah B’chol dor vador chayav adam lir’ot et atzmo k’ilu hu hatza mimitzrayim, “In every generation, it is the duty of a person to consider themself as if they had come forth from Egypt.”
As people who love America, who want to see our nation flourish for all its inhabitants, I pray that we also experience the powerful, transformational moments in our nation’s history as deeply personal and ongoing.
The Boston Tea Party is happening today. The Statue of Liberty is welcoming the tired and poor for us. The Seneca Falls Convention is ongoing. And we are still marching from Selma to Montgomery.
I pray that each of us may feel the awareness, patriotism, and deep gratitude that comes from realizing that this country declared its independence and overthrew a ruthless tyrant for our sake.
That our nation established a constitution for us, so that we could live in a nation of laws with a system of justice.
That those who fought Nazis and saved us from Fascism did it for us.
That each is able to exercise our right to vote because of the 13th amendment, the 14th amendment, and the 19th amendment.
We pray in this moment that the Guardian of Life and Liberty watches over us and strengthens us. May our leaders be endowed with wisdom and courage.
Creator of all flesh bless all the inhabitants of our country with Your spirit. May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideal and free institutions that are the pride and glory of our country.
And may this land be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom. And let us all say, Amen.
Rabbi Daniel Schaefer is the rabbi of Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden, CT.
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