Friday, October 30, 2020
Dear members of the Temple Sinai community:
In just a few days, our country will pass through a gateway, making critical choices to determine who we want to be as a nation. The choices before us are stark, and the stakes of the election are high. Many in our community approach the days leading up to Election Day on November 3 with uncertainty, unease, and even fear. Personally, we share many of those feelings! But we are reminded that, fundamentally, elections are about hope -- hope that we can be better as a country, and hope that together we can realize the human dream, expressed in Jewish teachings and shared by all faiths, of recognizing the basic dignity of each person, of repairing brokenness in our society, and of ensuring that each person's life can rise to its fullest potential through common cause.
In this anxious election week, through it all, we are a community. Temple Sinai offers many different pathways for supporting one another in community as we approach Election Day, and in the days and weeks ahead. A central message of Judaism is that you are not alone. Please note these ways to take action, find in spiritual strength, and join with our community during this important time for us all:
1) Vote! Jewish tradition teaches that participating in the upbuilding of our society is an obligation (see Jeremiah 29:7), and voting is a mitzvah. If you have not already cast your vote, please make sure to do so. If you need assistance in voting, with transportation or any other need, please contact Rabbi Vogel or Rabbi Stein. Make sure your voice is heard!
2) Join Election Night Torah study, Tuesday, November 3, at 8:00-11:00pm. Final results will almost certainly not be available on Tuesday evening, November 3, and it may take days or weeks for the outcome of the election to be known. Instead of gluing yourself to the TV on election night, come study Torah and join in community and conversation with others about Judaism and justice, with music, insights, and more, with a Tikkun Leil Election study session held by T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, a national rabbinic organization that supports justice work, on Election Night, Tuesday, November 3, from 8:00-11:00pm EST. Register here.
3) Post-Election Prayer & Meditation Hour, led by Rabbi Vogel & Rabbi Stein, Wednesday, November 4 at 5:00pm. We may not know the results of the election within the first 24 hours after Election Day. Please join us for a brief Temple Sinai prayer and meditation gathering with song and prayers from Jewish tradition on Zoom. A link will be sent out by email and available on the temple website in the days ahead for this gathering.
4) GBIO Interfaith Gathering, Thursday night, Nov. 5, at 7:00pm. Join Temple Sinai members in a gathering of Boston-area houses of worship with our partners in the GBIO (Greater Boston Interfaith Organization) on Thursday, November 5, from 7:00-8:00pm, on Zoom, an opportunity to be together in relationship with GBIO members across faith and neighborhoods, to affirm the deep and enduring truths that are drawn from all our traditions - that democracy is sacred, and that every one of us is a child of God who deserves a society that upholds justice and dignity. This gathering will include reflections from diverse faith traditions and small group conversations. Register here for the GBIO Zoom gathering. (Our own Board of Trustees meeting has been moved to 8:00 p.m. to allow everyone to attend the GBIO gathering.)
5) Our community will respond, whatever happens. Whatever the election's outcomes, Temple Sinai will provide support and opportunities for action and prayer in the days ahead. Please watch for information about how to join with others. Should public demonstrations be scheduled for the sake of expressing public desires for justice and accurate representation, we will share information about such public gatherings with you. We pray that civil unrest will be kept to a minimum, and advise all Temple Sinai members to be aware of potentially dangerous situations, should they arise. Stay tuned for additional announcements.
6) Utilize Jewish spiritual resources in these days ahead. Jewish prayer and Jewish practice can provide helpful tools to our souls as we face the challenges in the days and weeks ahead. They can also provide us with meaningful expressions of our yearnings and hopes as we cast our votes. We offer our community these Jewish resources for the days ahead, for casting our votes, for expressing our hopes and concerns for justice to the One God, and for dealing with uncertainty in our lives. We encourage the Temple Sinai community to download and utilize these Jewish insights and resources:
from the Institute for Jewish Spirituality (IJS): https://www.jewishspirituality.org/spiritual-resources-for-the-election-season/
from the Reform Judaism blog: https://reformjudaism.org/blog/prayer-wisdom-during-us-presidential-election
from the Religious Action Center: https://rac.org/blog/year-bring-torah-voting-booth
from the Jewish Community Relations Council: https://www.jcrcboston.org/election-preparedness-strategies-guide-for-houses-of-worship
7) Turn to your rabbis for support. Rabbi Vogel and Rabbi Stein are both available for personal conversations and pastoral support during this time of uncertainty and anxiety. Please do not hesitate to call or email us for a private conversation, if you would like to speak with one of your rabbis. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you.
8) Make sure every vote counts. Our country has held successful elections through good times and bad, and this November is no different. Individual voters, the media, candidates, and the political parties have a duty to be patient while local election officials count every ballot cast in accordance with applicable laws. Pledge to use your voice and do your part to ensure a fair and accurate vote count with the National Council on Election Integrity, by clicking here.
We pray that the path forward for our country will be one of justice, peace and integrity, and that we will find clarity about that path in the days ahead. May we all be blessed with strength.
B'shalom, and Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Andy Vogel
Rabbi Talia Stein
