Rabbi Blog

Dear QJC Family,

No matter where we stand on the political spectrum, we all want peace and justice in our society. As Americans, we all affirm the importance of the success of our Constitution to uphold our institutions of democracy.

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (3:2) tells us:
  רַבִּי חֲנִינָא סְגַן הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתְפַּלֵּל בִּשְׁלוֹמָהּ שֶׁל מַלְכוּת, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא מוֹרָאָהּ, אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ חַיִּים בְּלָעוֹ. 
Rabbi Chanina Sgan HaKohanim says, pray for the welfare of the government, for if not for fear it inspires, man would swallow his fellow alive. 

In the book of Jeremiah, we find:
וְדִרְשׁוּ אֶת שְׁלוֹם הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר הִגְלֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה וְהִתְפַּלְלוּ בַעֲדָהּ אֶל יְקֹוָק כִּי בִשְׁלוֹמָהּ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם שָׁלוֹם:
And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to the LORD in its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper. 

Every week, specifically as residents in the Diaspora, we pray for the welfare of our government because we are all safer and more secure under its leadership. Today, the leaders of both political parties for whom we pray were under threat of attack, as was the building itself from which they govern on our behalf, a beloved symbol of our nation.

If there is a responsibility we have right now, it is to pray for the welfare of our government and our elected officials, and we should drown out the voices of those who incite violence.

The prayer that I say from the bimah every Shabbos I think is particularly apt for what our country needs right now. You are welcome to add this into Shema Koleinu before "ki ata shomeia."

אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׂמִים - עֲזֹר וּבֵרֵךְ אֶת אַרְצֵנוּ אַרְצוֹת הַבְּרִית בְּאָמֵרִיקָא. שִׂים אַהֲבָה וְאַחְוָה בֵּין כָּל תּוֹשָׁבֵי אַרְצֵנוּ. בָּרֵךְ אֶת כָּל מַנְהִיגֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת הָאֵלּוּ. וְתֵן בְּלִבָּם רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה לַקַּיֵּם שְׁלוֹם הָאָרֶץ וְחֵרוּתָהּ.

"Our father in Heaven, assist and bless our land, the United States of America. Place love and brotherhood among all of the residents of our land. Bless the leaders of these tates. And place in their hearts the spirit of wisdom and understanding to uphold the peace of the land and its liberty."

May we share in positive tidings going forward.

Kol tuv,

Judah Kerbel
Rabbi, Queens Jewish Center