editorial
Pray with your feet during COVID-19 crisis in New York
BY LETITIA JAMES,
REVEREND JACQUES DEGRAFF,
RABBI PETER RUBINSTEIN AND
MICHAEL SCHMIDT
When Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel was asked upon his return
from the 1965 Selma to Montgomery
voting rights march with Dr. Martin
Luther King, “Did you find time
to pray?” he famously answered, “I
prayed with my feet.”
There has not been a prouder moment
of united advocacy for the Jewish
and Black communities than
during the civil rights movement.
However, since those historical
days, the binding ties between these
two communities has frayed and
the tension between the Jewish and
Black communities has escalated.
Therefore, with the hope of
mending wounds the Attorney General’s
Office, in partnership with
the American Jewish Committee,
formed the Black-Jewish Clergy
Roundtable last year. With a dedicated
group of Black Christian
Clergy and Jewish Rabbis dedicated
to strengthening Black-Jewish ties,
this diverse group, from across the
spectrum of both Jewish Rabbinic
and Black Christian Ministerial
life convened to promote a message
of tolerance, unity, civility and mutual
respect for each other’s communities.
Especially now at this precarious
time in our city and state these
religious leaders feel called to know
each other better or “to know the
pain in each other’s hearts” and to
turn faith into action through service,
unity and compassion.
Social distancing has compelled
each of us to alter the way we serve
our congregations and constituents.
In many communities, nerves are
on edge and there is a temptation towards
anger and finger pointing.
We acknowledge that communities
of color and the poor are suffering
in far greater numbers than
the general population, both as victims
of the disease and targets for
unequal enforcement of social distancing
rules. It is also true that antisemitism
has increased for many
reasons including extremists focusing
blame for the coronavirus pandemic
on the Jewish people.
Our Black-Jewish Clergy Roundtable
hears these concerns and calls
upon each and every individual to
repudiate every expression of hate,
anger, and division. Furthermore,
as faith leaders, we embrace the
understanding that life is precious
and a divine gift. It is painful that
we cannot meet together in person
with our congregations.
Nevertheless, we passionately
urge all faith communities to continue
to adhere to NY State’s social
distancing guidelines. We honor
the dedication and creativity that
has emerged from spiritual leaders
around the state. They have been
uplifting and validate our faith in
these leaders who are working 24/7
to provide the spiritual sustenance
needed to help guide us through the
pandemic.
Both the Jewish and Christian
Scriptures teach, “Thou shalt love
thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength.” And
both traditions mandate that we
“love thy neighbor as thyself.” The
common message is that love and
service should always guide our actions.
Faith leaders across the country
are steadfastly keeping these values
alive and are providing solace
and guidance to their constituents.
When people ask us what they
can do to cope with the stress we
are all feeling from the pandemic,
we say keep the faith and pray with
your feet. As a community of Jewish
and Black leaders that have been
affected heavily by this virus we believe
that regardless of which faith
one practices, or doesn’t for that
matter, we are all called to equally
respect the rule of law which is
singularly designed to protect the
health not only of ourselves, but
of all inhabitants of our city and
state.
We must treat each other with
love, recognize that we are all in
this together and remember to look
out for those who are the most vulnerable.
Extend a helping hand to
your neighbor, an elderly relative
or those who are sheltered-in-place
alone.
If we do, there is no doubt we will
meet this challenge and emerge
with a stronger appreciation of each
other and a recommitment to our
goal of strengthening the common
ties between the Black and Jewish
communities.
The New York State Office of the
Attorney General’s Black and Jewish
Clergy Roundtable, in partnership
with the American Jewish Committee
NY Office, is comprised of
Black ministers and Rabbi’s from
across New York City, Long Island,
and Westchester. It was created as
a space for diverse clergy to come
together, support one another and
speak out against antisemitism, racism,
and hate. The co-chairs of the
group are Rev. Jacques DeGraff and
Rabbi Peter Rubinstein.
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER,12 MAY 29-JUNE 4, 2020 BTR
A woman prays during a Roman Catholic
service held outside of a food bank at St.
Bartholomew Church, during the outbreak
of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the
Elmhurst section of Queens, New York City,
New York U.S., May 15, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan
McDermid
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