That All May Breathe: Interfaith Solidarity in a Time of Pain and Uncertainty
I was asked to present a reflection on behalf of the Konar Center for a Nazareth College interfaith gathering - to speak both from my religious tradition and from the heart. This reflection expresses my deepest concerns about the murder of George Floyd in the hands of power, and also leaves you with my heartfelt hopes.
But first I’d like to share a few thoughts based on observations of and questions from friends, family and colleagues during this incredibly trying time. One does not need to be a ‘perfect ally’ to speak up – to say something from the heart on the topics of racism and protecting black lives. Move past the hurdle of concern for making an uncomfortable or awkward comment, or of potentially eliciting someone else’s anger or discomfort with your words. If it comes out somehow wrong, you will learn and become an even stronger ally the next time you speak out. And for those we are trying to ally and for the younger allies, the language around race has changed dramatically since many of us were young people in our twenties – but we can still learn.
In Judaism, body and soul are inextricably intertwined in life. We are taught that the body is a tool through which the soul works to do G-d’s work in the world – to make the world a better place. With this in mind, we are commanded to give care, respect and concern to our bodies – to give them the highest chance of being instruments for positive change.
In the Jewish creation story of Genesis, G-d blows a ‘breath of life into the man of earth and dust’. Breath and soul are also inextricably linked – like body and soul; in creation, breath is the vehicle which animates the body – gives it life – puts the soul to work.
Likewise, we are taught that the end of the soul’s time with a body, or death, comes when the last breath leaves the body. And that the soul lives on, to be united at another time with another body. The Jewish prayer, Modeh Ani, is recited by some every morning. It is a prayer giving thanks for one’s soul and body being reunited with the breath of a new day, allowing us to continue our holy work on earth.
When Officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd - by literally cutting his breath away from his body - he and the other officers who looked on without disruption, caused his death. They caused the unholy, unnatural and vindictive separation of Mr. Floyd’s soul from his body.
This hurts our hearts – my heart – because it is unholy on so many levels. It is the taking of life – the taking of violent action which caused the separation of Mr. Floyd from his body for all time. It is also unholy because it is the devaluing of a life, and of a body and of a soul – in this case a black body – all too often chosen by those in power for disrespect and disregard. In its truest form, this act manifested the unholy perpetuation of racism carried out to its worst end – the end of sacred human life.
Further, it is unholy because it means a human police officer given special powers and privileges to wear a badge, to carry a gun, to uphold the honor of service and protection for the people, dishonored George Floyd and his family most of all – but also dishonored himself, his family, his colleagues, his community and Americans everywhere who stand for the values of equity, fairness, love.
It is also unholy because of the bystanders – the police officer bystanders – who diminished their roles as protectors and who diminished themselves by not doing anything in the moments – the minutes upon minutes – in which they could have interceded. These officers also took Mr. Floyd’s life – they separated him from his breath – they broke what is supposed to be inextricably linked. And now they have left our hearts very heavy indeed.
So it is with a heavy heart, I look to my Jewish tradition for hope. Without hope and the ability to change hearts and minds, our purpose is so very limited.
We are living in a time of modernity. It is a period of brilliant material development, with technology and abundance in so many places. What does it mean about our responsibilities and duties when we are living in a time of awareness, invention, advance, power?
Time and again, like in the death of George Floyd, we are shown that the bigger we become – the more we are apt to lose sight of our grounding – to remember what is important – to consider others as non-other. My hope is that there are enough people of good will and grounding – as shown in the outpouring of peaceful demonstrations around the country and comments on social media – who will use this time now to reflect, to become more self-aware, and to show more love.
Further, Jewish tradition teaches that we are healers of the earth – it is our job not necessarily to complete the work of healing – but most certainly to engage in doing the work. I am hopeful that in the wake of the most recent tragedy of George Floyd, our reflecting, our protesting, our speaking out, and our coming together…will lead to action – to assessing, to developing and to implementing the right policies and procedures.
And that it will also lead to strengthening hearts and minds to knowing - that lifting up our black community is nothing more than healing the world and making it a better, more just place for all.
This type of action meets the holy intention for the work of our hands – our hands which are given direction through our breath – our hands through which justice can be thwarted, but also through which justice can flourish.
But first I’d like to share a few thoughts based on observations of and questions from friends, family and colleagues during this incredibly trying time. One does not need to be a ‘perfect ally’ to speak up – to say something from the heart on the topics of racism and protecting black lives. Move past the hurdle of concern for making an uncomfortable or awkward comment, or of potentially eliciting someone else’s anger or discomfort with your words. If it comes out somehow wrong, you will learn and become an even stronger ally the next time you speak out. And for those we are trying to ally and for the younger allies, the language around race has changed dramatically since many of us were young people in our twenties – but we can still learn.
In Judaism, body and soul are inextricably intertwined in life. We are taught that the body is a tool through which the soul works to do G-d’s work in the world – to make the world a better place. With this in mind, we are commanded to give care, respect and concern to our bodies – to give them the highest chance of being instruments for positive change.
In the Jewish creation story of Genesis, G-d blows a ‘breath of life into the man of earth and dust’. Breath and soul are also inextricably linked – like body and soul; in creation, breath is the vehicle which animates the body – gives it life – puts the soul to work.
Likewise, we are taught that the end of the soul’s time with a body, or death, comes when the last breath leaves the body. And that the soul lives on, to be united at another time with another body. The Jewish prayer, Modeh Ani, is recited by some every morning. It is a prayer giving thanks for one’s soul and body being reunited with the breath of a new day, allowing us to continue our holy work on earth.
When Officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd - by literally cutting his breath away from his body - he and the other officers who looked on without disruption, caused his death. They caused the unholy, unnatural and vindictive separation of Mr. Floyd’s soul from his body.
This hurts our hearts – my heart – because it is unholy on so many levels. It is the taking of life – the taking of violent action which caused the separation of Mr. Floyd from his body for all time. It is also unholy because it is the devaluing of a life, and of a body and of a soul – in this case a black body – all too often chosen by those in power for disrespect and disregard. In its truest form, this act manifested the unholy perpetuation of racism carried out to its worst end – the end of sacred human life.
Further, it is unholy because it means a human police officer given special powers and privileges to wear a badge, to carry a gun, to uphold the honor of service and protection for the people, dishonored George Floyd and his family most of all – but also dishonored himself, his family, his colleagues, his community and Americans everywhere who stand for the values of equity, fairness, love.
It is also unholy because of the bystanders – the police officer bystanders – who diminished their roles as protectors and who diminished themselves by not doing anything in the moments – the minutes upon minutes – in which they could have interceded. These officers also took Mr. Floyd’s life – they separated him from his breath – they broke what is supposed to be inextricably linked. And now they have left our hearts very heavy indeed.
So it is with a heavy heart, I look to my Jewish tradition for hope. Without hope and the ability to change hearts and minds, our purpose is so very limited.
We are living in a time of modernity. It is a period of brilliant material development, with technology and abundance in so many places. What does it mean about our responsibilities and duties when we are living in a time of awareness, invention, advance, power?
Time and again, like in the death of George Floyd, we are shown that the bigger we become – the more we are apt to lose sight of our grounding – to remember what is important – to consider others as non-other. My hope is that there are enough people of good will and grounding – as shown in the outpouring of peaceful demonstrations around the country and comments on social media – who will use this time now to reflect, to become more self-aware, and to show more love.
Further, Jewish tradition teaches that we are healers of the earth – it is our job not necessarily to complete the work of healing – but most certainly to engage in doing the work. I am hopeful that in the wake of the most recent tragedy of George Floyd, our reflecting, our protesting, our speaking out, and our coming together…will lead to action – to assessing, to developing and to implementing the right policies and procedures.
And that it will also lead to strengthening hearts and minds to knowing - that lifting up our black community is nothing more than healing the world and making it a better, more just place for all.
This type of action meets the holy intention for the work of our hands – our hands which are given direction through our breath – our hands through which justice can be thwarted, but also through which justice can flourish.