This past Shabbat I spent the morning with Rabbi Goldstein
and other members of our Shaare Emeth community working to register voters in
Ferguson and the surrounding towns. We went door to door, armed with lists of
unregistered voters, blank voter registration forms, a friendly smile and a desire
to help. In the month since Michael Brown’s death, many in our community and
around the nation have been seeking ways to pursue justice and support those
impacted by events in Ferguson. Voter registration and “get out the vote”
efforts are two important ways we can empower our neighbors to take ownership of
their community. I found my time in Ferguson to be a powerful antidote to the feelings
of powerlessness I have experienced in recent weeks.
As we prepare to begin a New Year, may we remain mindful of
the deep societal issues that have become center stage in the past month. The
challenges are daunting and the social issues are complex
but we know this moment has the potential to spark a turning point for both our
community and our country. This Elul, may our reflections include consideration
of what actions we will take in the year ahead to improve our community. Let us reflect on how we will work to improve
our community so that we can all enter the New Year empowered to build a more
just, compassionate and caring society.
Rabbi Jonah Zinn
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