The White House High Holiday Call
Dear Friends,
This afternoon, the White House held what has become a yearly tradition – the President High Holiday call with the country’s rabbis. The “Call” began with the Obama presidency as a chance for the president to connect with the Jewish community and talk about issues felt to be of priority. The “Call” lost favor during the Trump presidency, as a form of protest over Trump's comments after Charlottesville. President Biden revived the tradition with his presidency.
Today’s call presented a unique opportunity. After President Biden made his remarks, emphasizing his support of Israel, he introduced Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt – the first Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Rabbis representing a diverse array of movements, albeit not Jewish humanism, asked Ambassador Lipstadt their questions on the current state of global antisemitism and hatred. I found her points both inspiring and thought-provoking. I’d like to summarize them here to give some “food for thought” as we enter Shabbat. At a later date, I’d like to delve into them a little more deeply because I felt she had a lot to say and there’s much to unpack.
She began by emphasizing the connection between antisemitism and other forms of hatred and bigotry. “Antisemitism is ubiquitous. We often focus on one hatred and fail to recognize its interconnectedness,” she said.
She talked about the Hebrew word for responsibility “achrayut” and its root being “the other.” Responsibility in Judaism is relational. We take care of one another – within and outside the Jewish community – because it is our “achrayut.”
She spoke about her concern about the increasing antisemitic rhetoric that she’s hearing globally. She cautioned against considering it “just words.” I may be paraphrasing but she said, “The Holocaust began with words, it didn’t begin with concentration camps…. Nothing is solved with silence, we need to speak up.”
She talked about Jewish life always existing between two poles “joy” and “oy.” She talked about never forgetting the “joy” in Judaism. She said that Judaism should thrive despite antisemitism – in other words, Judaism’s identity can’t come solely from combating hatred. Again, perhaps paraphrasing, she said, “We should never let the Jewish community feel that antisemitism gives it strength.” We need to celebrate Judaism for its joy, its guidance and its purpose – not solely because others belittle it.
I truly appreciated that President Biden and Ambassador Lipstadt made the time and effort to speak with the rabbis today, with the intention of us sharing the message with the greater community. Often our community feels fractioned. It was reaffirming to join with rabbis of a wide swath of backgrounds to listen to messages of insight and hope.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Debbie Cohen
