Read on Twitter
1/14 As a rabbi, the moment something significant, if not historic occurs, there is pressure to weigh in, put out a statement or write a post. The luxury of time to process, think, study, consider and consult is gone. In the absence of commenting immediately people draw their own
2/14 conclusions and assumptions about what you believe. So while I wish I had time, here it goes:
3/14 What happened yesterday needs no nuance and should take no time to comment on. The attack on our Capitol and on our Democracy, both the symbolism of it and more importantly the physical attack, was horrific, reprehensible, indefensible and intolerable. It was categorically
4/14 different from other rioting and looting that has been happening and to compare or make equal is an insult to those who were threatened and to all who hold that building and space sacred. All those who participated must be brought to justice. Guilt and accountability lie not
1/14 As a rabbi, the moment something significant, if not historic occurs, there is pressure to weigh in, put out a statement or write a post. The luxury of time to process, think, study, consider and consult is gone. In the absence of commenting immediately people draw their own
2/14 conclusions and assumptions about what you believe. So while I wish I had time, here it goes:
3/14 What happened yesterday needs no nuance and should take no time to comment on. The attack on our Capitol and on our Democracy, both the symbolism of it and more importantly the physical attack, was horrific, reprehensible, indefensible and intolerable. It was categorically
4/14 different from other rioting and looting that has been happening and to compare or make equal is an insult to those who were threatened and to all who hold that building and space sacred. All those who participated must be brought to justice. Guilt and accountability lie not
5/14 only with those who physically attacked, but with those who incited them with their words, innuendo and careless and reckless speech, included and foremost among them, President Trump. Period. Hard Stop. End of Sentence.
6/14 Here is the part that I believe is more complicated and nuanced. I share it with the risk that some will think it takes away from the last paragraph but I nevertheless believe it not only to be true, but important to say. For too long, extremists and extremism, violence and
7/14 vitriol have been tolerated from all sides. Fear of the growing forces and voter “bases” in both parties have had too much influence on policies and polemic. The media has been complicit in allowing if not contributing to this phenomenon by both being selective in what they
8/14 feature and for focusing in on that which is most divisive and destructive.
9/14 If you ignore, excuse or don’t call out what happened yesterday including explicitly acknowledging President Trump’s role and blame (which doesn’t contradict remaining appreciative for what you believe he has done that is positive), you are not going to be part of a better
10/14 America. But if you exclusively focus on yesterday, lay the blame only with one person, one side and one set of voters without acknowledging broader trends from all sides and from both parties, you too will not be part of the solution, or of building a more united,
11/14 peaceful, and better country.
12/14 How we got to Jan 6, 2021 is much more complicated that those who got us here want us to recognize or think about. We must rise about them and their incendiary noise and think for ourselves. We must overcome the inclination to either gloat or defend, to react immediately
13/14 with either “told you so” or “but what about” and engage with nuance, perspective, honesty and humility. Only then can we make this a “rock bottom” for our country and while continuing to disagree about important policies, be that “One Nation Under God, Indivisible” that we
14/14 pledged to be.
