Beneath the Mountain in 2020: in memory of George Floyd and all victims of racism in our country

I just posted an original poem which drew on the traditional rabbinic midrash/commentary that the Israelites accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai sight unseen, at least in part, because God had lifted the mountain over their heads. The people were told that they had the freedom to accept or reject the Torah. However, if they were to reject the Torah then this place would be their grave.  This midrash makes it clear that, in the ancient rabbinic mind, God knew that the people needed some persuasion, perhaps because they were reluctant to give up any of their freedoms after having been slaves for so long. But with liberty comes rules and responsibility. And responsibility for the greater good of the nation and the world often means relinquishing some of your personal freedoms. Or at least our privileges.

I wrote about this in last week’s Torah commentary in response to those who were protesting about giving up some of their privileges, such as being able to go wherever they want and not wear a mask, in order to keep everyone safe.

This week, as we celebrate the festival of Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai (according to rabbinic tradition) once again I am looking at this image of the mountain hanging over our heads. However, this week the image is that of our country beneath the mountain. We live in a land where so many of the privileged don’t realize or believe that the mountain is hanging over their heads, while the poor, people of color, and others marginalized people are all too aware of the present danger. For our entire country is indeed beneath the mountain and I truly fear that it may be dropped on us at any moment.

The size and the weight of the mountain continues to increase as the strength to hold it up continues to weaken. Yet, how can that be if it is God that is supposedly holding the mountain? Isn’t God all powerful? Not in my theology. For I believe that the power that makes for goodness, which I choose to call God, is only able to bring goodness, healing, and salvation into the world if we choose to use it. 

The analogy that I have used for years is that of an electric lamp and a household electrical circuit. The electricity which runs through the house is what allows the lamp to light. However, if we don’t plug the lamp in and turn the switch it’s just a pretty piece of furniture and the electrical current, which is always running, serves no purpose.

God is the eternal power source, but we have to make the choice every day to “plug in.” If we don’t, then the power holding up the mountain and which can then return it gently to earth loses its strength. This means that eventually the mountain will come crashing down on us.

Currently, 0ur world is in a state of crisis because of Covid-19. Our country is especially in crisis because of the lack of leadership and adequate response to this virus. And this crisis is even worse for those who are marginalized or disenfranchised by our society because of systemic racism, classism, etc.. But that is only one way in which there is a mountain over our head.

This week we have witnessed the death of another man of color, George Floyd, at the hands, or should I say beneath the knee, of a Minneapolis police officer while being witnessed by other police officers. This follows only weeks after we learned of the murder of Auhmad Arbery in Georgia, and at the same time as Christian Cooper, anAfrican-American birder, was threatened by a white woman in Central Park. Even though that incident did not end in his death, there was a reason why she told 911 that there was an African American man “threatening”her in Central Park. And I have no doubt that, if they were still in the park when the police arrived, there was a good chance the encounter could have taken a turn for the worse for Mr. Cooper. Of course, we can add so many names to this list going back not only to Trayvon Martin in this last decade, but to Emmett Till and beyond, who was murdered because of the false accusation of a white woman.

I see the reaction of the the African American community of Minneapolis, as well as other people of color and their supporters, in response to the death of Mr. Floyd and it reminds me of the reactions to the death of so many people of color in our country, including Philando Castile in Minneapolis just four years ago. It would be easy as someone who is seen as white to criticize those who are protesting violently. And certainly I don’t believe in violence. But we must all ask ourselves what it would take for any of us to cross that line of no return? At what point do otherwise peaceful people simply say “enough is enough” and turn to violence because it seems the only thing that might get the attention of those in power and the only way to truly express the rage which they rightfully feel. 

And yet, some of the responses to the protests and riots have me even more concerned about the state of our country. The fact that Twitter had to flag a post from the President of the United States because it violated their policy against inciting or encouraging violence is horrifying. The president’s decision to enact an executive order to curb the free speech of the internet because Twitter and others have finally to label his speech exactly what it is is infuriating. And the fact that the Minnesota State Police arrested CNN reporters who were covering the violence in Minneapolis makes me afraid for our country as well and that they lied about the reason, just as the police first lied about the circumstances of Mr. Floyd’s death made it even worse. After all, a free press (even if it is flawed) is essential to maintaining democracy and fighting tyranny. And now, the military is being called in. This only a few weeks after the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shooting. Didn’t that teach us enough of a lesson?

Today Jews around the world continue celebrating the festival of the receiving of the Torah, the laws and rules meant to help create a civil society, and also celebrating Shabbat (the Sabbath). Shabbat calls on us to remember that the original creation of the world was not in our hands. God was the creator, whether one believes that literally or metaphorically. However, Judaism reminds us that we are partners with God in maintaining and creating the world each and every day. Yet, refraining from creative acts on Shabbat reminds us of the fact that we are ultimately not in control. In this day and age it also reminds us that we have an even greater responsibility to use our creative forces for good, which is the godliness within us, to make the world a better place. If we choose to be apathetic and not do our part, take action, and make our voices heard, we are participating in the destruction of the world rather than continuing the work of creation.

And so, here we are as a nation with the mountain over our heads. Our actions will determine if God has the strength to hold it there and gently lower it where it belongs or if it will come crashing down and destroy us.

Those of us who consider ourselves to be white, as TaNehisi Coates call us, must hold those in power accountable for their actions that are damaging and destructive to human lives and to our country as a whole. We must take responsibility for our role in allowing things to get to the point where they are now, whether by direct action, inaction, or apathy. As the late Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “in a free society, some of us are guilty, but all of us are responsible.” Let’s remember that any time we are prone to respond “I’m not guilty” or “it’s not me,” etc.

Let us take this day of celebration and day of rest, and every day that follows, to take stock of ourselves. Let us remember that we have the ability to create and destroy through our actions and our words. Then let us do what we can to move the mountain so that it is no longer hanging over our heads. Let us work together to lower it to the ground so that we can then help each other begin the difficult work of climbing to the top. The journey is difficult. The terrain is steep and dangerous. But if we make the climb together we can eventually reach the top and change our country and our world.