1 Rabbi’s Message I can still remember the first time that I voted in an election. I’m quite certain that most of you can, too. After years of tagging along with my parents to polling precincts, I finally got my own turn. And so in the fall of 1996, I sat on the couch in my apartment and filled out a paper absentee ballot from the State of Wisconsin. It was a lot less dramatic than I had imagined it. Then again, times were a lot less dramatic when I was a college student. The pattern that began when I was nineteen years old continued into adulthood. Each Presidential election, I would fill out an absentee ballot – because I lived in a state (or a country!) that was different from the one where I was registered to vote- and send it in ahead of election day. In fact, the first time that I voted in person was just a few years ago, when I moved to Homewood. Even though it wasn’t a Presidential election, it was a far more exciting experience than the one I first had, when I was in college. Going into the voting booth with a ballot in-hand, quite literally gave me goosebumps! And I’ve had the exact same experience every time that I’ve stepped into a voting booth since. It is remarkable that the simple act of punching holes in a piece of cardboard, or touching boxes on a computer screen can be so powerful and meaningful. I am certain that many of you have shared this excitement. What far from excites me, however, is the fact that individuals in our country are being denied their right to take part in the democratic process based solely upon factors such as race, socioeconomic status, etc. Just yesterday, my mother and I were discussing a news story about race and equal access to the polls, and I must tell you, I am absolutely beside myself! This is just the latest in a series of stories that have dominated the news in the past few weeks. Everyone should be able to share in the excitement of voting, to share his or her opinion by voting for the candidates of his or her choice, and to have an impact upon the democracy that is the United States of America. So how in 2018 America, have we become so blatantly xenophobic and racist?! How in 2018 America, do we explain calling the police on someone, simply because of the color of his or her skin?! How, in 2018 America, do we deny people their rights based solely on fear and on stereotypes?! I refuse to accept this America! And I hope that you will too. On November 6, 2018, our nation will hold its midterm elections. PLEASE make sure you exercise your right, and vote in this election. As Jews, who’ve been denied so many rights throughout history, we know, first-hand, how painful and devastating this experience can be. Let (Connued on page 2) Cheshvan—Kislev 5779 November 2018 shir-tikvah-homewood.org email: [email protected]1424 183rd Street, Homewood, IL 60430 708-799-4110, 708-249-6194 Shir Tikvah שיר תקווה
Transcript
1
Rabbi’s Message
I can still remember the
first time that I voted in an
election. I’m quite certain
that most of you can, too.
After years of tagging
along with my parents to
polling precincts, I finally
got my own turn. And so
in the fall of 1996, I sat on
the couch in my
apartment and filled out a paper absentee ballot
from the State of Wisconsin. It was a lot less
dramatic than I had imagined it. Then again, times
were a lot less dramatic when I was a college
student.
The pattern that began when I was nineteen years
old continued into adulthood. Each Presidential
election, I would fill out an absentee ballot –
because I lived in a state (or a country!) that was
different from the one where I was registered to
vote- and send it in ahead of election day. In fact,
the first time that I voted in person was just a few
years ago, when I moved to Homewood. Even
though it wasn’t a Presidential election, it was a far
more exciting experience than the one I first had,
when I was in college. Going into the voting booth
with a ballot in-hand, quite literally gave me
goosebumps! And I’ve had the exact same
experience every time that I’ve stepped into a
voting booth since. It is remarkable that the
simple act of punching holes in a piece of
cardboard, or touching boxes on a computer screen
can be so powerful and meaningful. I am certain
that many of you have shared this excitement.
What far from excites me, however, is the fact that
individuals in our country are being denied their
right to take part in the democratic process based
solely upon factors such as race, socioeconomic
status, etc. Just yesterday, my mother and I were
discussing a news story about race and equal
access to the polls, and I must tell you, I am
absolutely beside myself! This is just the latest in a
series of stories that have dominated the news in
the past few weeks. Everyone should be able to
share in the excitement of voting, to share his or
her opinion by voting for the candidates of his or
her choice, and to have an impact upon the
democracy that is the United States of America. So
how in 2018 America, have we become so blatantly
xenophobic and racist?! How in 2018 America, do
we explain calling the police on someone, simply
because of the color of his or her skin?! How, in
2018 America, do we deny people their rights based
solely on fear and on stereotypes?! I refuse to
accept this America! And I hope that you will too.
On November 6, 2018, our nation will hold its
midterm elections. PLEASE make sure you
exercise your right, and vote in this election. As
Jews, who’ve been denied so many rights
throughout history, we know, first-hand, how
painful and devastating this experience can be. Let
