CARLSBAD, California — This week has been very tough. I saw THE video. I couldn’t believe my eyes; a man sworn to protect and serve kneeling nonchalantly upon another man’s neck. An officer of the law casually draining the life from another human being while the human being begged for breath. The perpetrator’s apparent boredom is at the same time chilling and boils the blood!
Police have always been my heroes, and will continue to be. They are the ones who run towards the danger when the rest of us are running away, or sheltering in place. The police are supposed to be the good guys. The ones who protect us from the bad guys. Police are not supposed to squeeze the life out of a subdued subject! It is pure evil perpetuated by someone who needed to be modeling a higher standard of behavior than the average citizen. I just can’t shake the vision from my head. I desperately want to do something to stop this gross injustice, but alas, rewinding the tape won’t bring back George Floyd.
And then there is the story of Black people in this country.
This particular incident may or may not be fueled by racism, as no one knows what was in the perpetrator’s heart. That fact notwithstanding, the history of the Black people has been a story of hideous racism, where a race of people has been victimized, and who have had everything conceivable stolen from them due to the color of their skin! Honestly speaking, I cannot tolerate anyone who cannot bring him/herself to feel compassion and empathy for our Black brothers and sisters. Racism has the ability to murder the human soul.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. The Black community deserves our empathy and we must do better in standing up for their rights. At the very least we must understand that their rights are our rights, and injustices against them are injustices against all Americans.
With all of the above being said is America a racist country? Absolutely not! Are there racists in America (including some wearing the uniform of the police)? Absolutely yes! Can we afford to tolerate racism? We should have a zero tolerance for racism.
Many in the Jewish community are justifiably fearful of the anger being vented. Somehow the Jews are being targeted by some of the fringe elements. Synagogues, Jewish owned homes and businesses have been disproportionately targeted by some of the looters who are hiding behind legitimate protesters. Just as the Black people have a legitimate right to be concerned about their safety so do the Jewish people. Certain institutions that claim to advance the interest of the Black community have taken on a clear-cut anti-Semitic position on numerous issues. We Jews simply cannot support institutions that undermine the existence of Israel. We must seek out those forces who promote Black security and are supportive of Jewish security as well. It is not an either/or proposition.
I think most of us know the challenge, but I have not heard any viable solutions. Disbanding or defunding the police is not the answer. A super majority of police are incredible people. Lumping them together with this bad egg is not only a disservice to the police it is endangering all of us! It is downright un-American and un-Jewish to judge all of the police based upon the bad behavior of an individual officer. Putting everyone at risk is never a good idea. Putting the National Guard on every corner is likewise not a viable solution. We are America! We don’t want a police state to evolve.
So what is the answer?!
BIAS ALERT – DISCLAIMER!
I am a Rabbi and so I have a certain way of thinking. G-d is the Center of the universe and thusly the center of my consciousness. And that is precisely the type of thinking it is my job to inspire in others. Ergo my solution (which is really not mine at all)…
Every one of us must remain cognizant of the fact that, “There is an Eye that sees and an Ear that hears, and everything is recorded in (‘G-d’s) book!”
If the officer had only realized that G-d was watching him as he snuffed out the life of Mr. Floyd, he wouldn’t have done it! Frankly, I am appalled and shocked that he continued to do it when he saw the crowd watching him!
Similarly, if only the looters realized that everything they steal or wantonly destroy as they callously ruin other people’s lives will one day testify against them, they would restrain themselves.
That’s right. When the officer’s time in this world is over there will be a further reckoning of what he did. G-d, the True Judge, knows what was in his heart. In my view, if he was indeed motivated by racism, the consequences will be even harsher. Can you imagine murdering someone based upon the color of his skin?! It is sickening! His victim’s soul will bear witness and he will be judged accordingly. So too with the looters and destroyers, if their looting was based upon the color of the skin of their victims; they will be judged even more harshly. I hope that every faith would agree with those sentiments.
As human beings we have been charged with bringing justice into this world and not just leaving things for the hereafter. Obviously we are not there yet. Let us make sure we are on the right side of history in this instance. Let us demand justice. True justice! Equal protection under the law and enforcement of the law for everyone!
Wishing everyone an uplifting, joyous, and HEALTHY Shabbos!
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Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is Director of Coastal Chabads and Chabad at La Costa. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers’ comments and questions and may be reached at RabbiE@ChabadatLaCosta.com.