On Monday around noon, I began driving to Nashville to be the “Minister of the Day” at the Tennessee State Senate. Invited by Senator Brian Kelsey (you can see his Facebook post here), as the Minister of the Day, my job was to give the opening invocation of Monday’s session. It felt appropriate to be there on the first of day of Chol HaMoed Pesach, a holiday that asks us to look at the world critically and see what we can do to change it. Of course, it’s our hope that this is what drives our politicians to make lasting change, and I was honored to be a part of their process.
As we go into the end of Pesach and Shabbat, I wanted to share the prayer that I offered on Monday.
Our God and God of our ancestors, God of Moses and God of the Israelites and the God who took them out of oppression in Egypt, on this third day of the Passover holiday, remind us all of the role we have in bringing our world closer to Redemption. As we eat the bread of affliction we are reminded that the Bible tells us more frequently than any other ethical injunction to love the stranger because we were once strangers in Egypt. It will be this love that brings us closer to your ultimate redemption.
In our Passover story, God, as you endowed in midwives Shifra and Puah the courage to act against oppression, so may you grant us courage. As you endowed in Moses an ability to fight against evil forces in his world, so may you grant us this fortitude. As you ensured that Pharaoh’s daughter thought deeply and acted accordingly about what was right and wrong in her world, so may you grant us this critical thinking.
God of Justice and Mercy, as you dwell amongst this Senate body today, ensure that we all act in the best interest of all those we represent, from the poor to the wealthy, the disadvantaged to the privileged, the hungry to the full, the safe to the endangered. Instill within us the ability to bring everyone in this state of Tennessee, from the east to the west, to greater understanding of true, lived, justice. So may it be your will, Amen.
Wishing you all a Good Yuntif and Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Sarit
Davening Announcements:
With apologies for an error in the weekly newsletter, services tomorrow, Friday April 26th (7th day Pesach) will be at 8AM.
Shabbat davening includes Yizkor, and will begin, as usual, at 9:15.
