Yom Kippur - Atonement, Justice and Peace for All
I want to wish my Jewish family a safe and peaceful Yom Kippur. I know that it already hasn’t been for those in Ontario, Canada who were attacked by gunfire yesterday. I pray for the speedy recovery of the police officer along with them. It also isn’t for those who celebrate the holiest day of the year under armed guards to ensure their safety and security.
I didn’t realize that one of my neighbors was Jewish until I saw his yarmulke yesterday and shouted Shalom. He returned with Salam Alaykum. In that one moment on the cusp of Yom Kippur we said what we all cry out for no matter our faith, peace. We shouted it during the Holocaust. We shouted it on 9/11. We the people are constantly shouting for peace as those with wealth, power and control shout hate and war which is echoed by far too many.
On this day of atonement, I pray that we can all reflect on not just our own personal atonement but our communal atonement as well. I pray that we can act locally while thinking globally to help spread that peace, understanding, compassion and love that is born from atonement.
In that simplest of exchanges between Muslim and Jew in the lobby of our HUD apartment building, we both proved that we understand. The Christians and others who exchanged greetings with us prove that they understand as well.
This November, I hope that we all remember these prayers for peace born from such devastation and vote accordingly. I pray that those elected remember these prayers and act accordingly. I pray that we all remember that to truly know peace, we must know justice first.
Justice isn’t just for the victims or society. It is for the perpetrators as well. They deserve to be stopped and rehabilitated, if possible. I fought for this for those I have deeply loved. I saw how much they suffered for not being stopped along with the victims left in their wake. It is why I say and truly mean that
Every life matters, especially yours.
God bless Nebraska and especially Her people.
