Dear Members and Friends,
As I’m traveling through Europe, I witness how strongly the events in America still reverberate throughout the world. Most newspapers are showing President-elect Trump or President Obama on his trip in Europe endorsing our democracy.
As many of you, I was awake most of Tuesday night, Nov. 8, following the intricate American election system. Some of us are content with the results, and some of us are not. But after a long period of debates, it’s time to engage in discussions. During this long period of the presidential election process, it was too convenient and even entertaining to make every difference of opinion into a debate, too often in a vitriolic manner. Two days before the election, the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force organized a Vigil of Respect and Civility. A few days after the election, this vigil proved to have been necessary.
Rabbi Gadi Capela addresses attendees at the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force vigil. He speaks of the importance of discussion verses debate.
Recently, we read the story of Noah. How God flooded the world — His precious creation, because people couldn’t be peaceful and respectful to each other. But before He did, He gave Noah a chance to build an ark. Noah spent the next 40 days and 40 nights in the ark with his family and the family of animals, then a few more months inside until the water subsided, forcing them to find that common language, a common word. In fact, the word “ark” in Hebrew — Teivah — means “word.”
The Talmud says that just as people’s faces are different, their opinions are different. So disagreeing is a given, but it is up to us to find a peaceful way to disagree. In the words of Ferenc David, a Unitarian preacher (16th century, Transylvania): “We don’t have to think alike to love alike.” We should respect the results of the election. The real protest was made in the ballot box. The time for a debate is over. Now it is time for a discussion. Voting was the easy part. Time now to do the hard work. Many times during this campaign, the answer to questions about alleged inappropriate actions of the candidates was: “But let’s focus on the real issues.” Well, these are the real issues. Before we promise to improve big things like national security or the economy, we need to improve something small in ourselves.
One of the great disappointments I had during this campaign occurred toward the end, at the Al Smith Annual Dinner in New York, a Catholic charity fundraising night for children. What can be a greater cause and a better way to bring everybody together? After the speeches of the two candidates, it was Cardinal Dollan’s turn to speak. As the host of the evening, he sat between the candidates and now was his turn to offer a few words of comfort and peace. However, as he was walking toward the microphone, the network I was watching silenced his remarks and, instead, rushed to hear the commentators remark on the quasi-fourth debate.
How can it be? Why would they cut his speech? I don’t know if I was one of the few looking forward to hearing the Cardinal, but I was deeply disappointed when I searched for another network to hear his words, and I couldn’t find one. All of them seemed to focus on the entertainment, discarding the precious opportunity for a few words to bridge peace.
Anti-Bias Task Force Co-chair, and Tifereth Israel member, Sonia Spar, son Noam, NF Reform Synagogue member Rabbi Barbara Sheryl, Tifereth Israel member Elaine Goldman at the vigil.
Later, I found the Cardinal’s remarks on YouTube. It was merely 4 minutes — four minutes of a few words of hope and a peaceful prayer. The voice in the middle was silenced. When we eliminate the word of God, we are bound to make any discussion into a debate. I found it disrespectful for the host of the event, and a manifestation of how we can be disrespectful to our ultimate host in heaven. It was a missed opportunity.
So let’s come together into Noah’s Ark – Noah’s word. Four minutes of coming together can save us 40 days of flood. It may never be possible to avoid harsh discussions, but it’s imperative to find the opportunity to come together. It is important to remember that God will work it out. It is important to give time for peaceful words in the midst. It is important to say we are proud and love our country and pray for it as we do every Shabbat:
“Our God and God of our ancestors: We ask Your blessings for our country — for its government, for its leaders and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful authority. Teach them insights of Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst. 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 ideals and free institutions that are the pride and glory of our country. May this land, under Your Providence, be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting all people in peace and freedom and helping them to fulfill the vision of Your prophet:
‘Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they experience war any more.’” (Isaiah 2:4) (Sim Shalom Prayer book)
God bless the United States of America.
—Rabbi Gadi Capela
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