
On January 20, the United States will observe Inauguration Day, a day when the President officially begins their new term by taking the oath of office. In honor of this day, and respecting that there are many different feelings about this day this year, Moving Traditions has created a new special edition curriculum for educators. We offer this excerpt as a resource for parents to help teens explore some different ways that Jewish tradition relates to government.
We invite you to use this resource with your teen as you sit down to dinner or anytime you have a moment to reflect together. This resource is not about any one politician or personal political views. The goal is to have a broader conversation about how you relate to the government as a modern Jew, and create your own prayer or kavannah for the country that you can use to express your hopes and values on this day and beyond.
Two Voices from Tradition
SAY:
How to relate to the government is a question that Jews have dealt with since the very beginning. One of our earliest ancestors, Joseph, held a high position in the Egyptian government. Using governmental power, he saved both the Jewish and Egyptian people from starvation during a famine. Joseph himself understood this to be God’s will for him and the Jewish people. Generations later, however, Moses would break several Egyptian laws to free the Jewish people from slavery.
We offer you these two text studies to use with your family.
Text 1: Pirkei Avot 3:2
פרקי אבות ג:ב
רַבִּי חֲנִינָא סְגַן הַכֹּהֲנִים אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתְפַּלֵּל בִּשְׁלוֹמָהּ שֶׁל מַלְכוּת, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא מוֹרָאָהּ, אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ חַיִּים בְּלָעוֹ.
Rabbi Hanina, the Deputy High Priest said: pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, everyone would swallow their neighbor alive.
ASK:
- What do you think Rabbi Hanina means by “everyone would swallow their neighbor alive”?
- How is Rabbi Hanina’s idea similar to or different from what our group believed would happen if government disappeared?
- Do you agree that fear of the government makes people behave better?
- Do you ever pray or hope for the American government’s welfare? Why or why not?
Text 2: Pirkei Avot 2:3
פרקי אבות ב:ג
הֱווּ זְהִירִין בָּרָשׁוּת, שֶׁאֵין מְקָרְבִין לוֹ לָאָדָם אֶלָּא לְצֹרֶךְ עַצְמָן. נִרְאִין כְּאוֹהֲבִין בִּשְׁעַת הֲנָאָתָן, וְאֵין עוֹמְדִין לוֹ לָאָדָם בִּשְׁעַת דָּחְקוֹ:
Be careful around the governing authorities; for they do not befriend a person except for their own needs; they seem like friends when it is to their own interest, but they do not stand by someone in a time of distress.
Questions:
- How is Text 2 different from Text 1?
- Do you think the two texts disagree with each other, or can someone live by both pieces of advice? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that politicians behave this way? Why or why not?
Prayers for the Government
SAY:
Regardless of how Jews relate to government, there is a centuries old tradition in many communities to recite a prayer for the government and its leaders. We are going to look at two examples of such prayers before writing our own.
As we read this together, please jot down at least one sentence or phrase that you agree is an important thing to hope or pray for. Also write down one sentence or phrase that you personally don’t find important to pray for.
Prayer for Our Country
Our God and God of our ancestors, bless this country and all who dwell within it.
Help us to experience the blessings of our lives and circumstances
To be vigilant, compassionate, and brave
Strengthen us when we are afraid
Help us to channel our anger
So that it motivates us to action
Help us to feel our fear
So that we do not become numb
Help us to be generous with others
So that we raise each other up
Help us to be humble in our fear, knowing that as vulnerable as we feel there are those at greater risk,
And that it is our holy work to stand with them
Help us to taste the sweetness of liberty
To not take for granted the freedoms won in generations past or in recent days
To heal and nourish our democracy, that it may be like a tree planted by the water whose roots reach down to the stream
It need not fear drought when it comes, its leaves are always greenSource of all Life,
Guide our leaders with righteousness
Strengthen their hearts but keep them from hardening
That they may use their influence and authority to speak truth and act for justice
May all who dwell in this country share in its bounty, enjoy its freedoms and be protected by its laws
May this nation use its power and wealth to be a voice for justice, peace and equality for all who dwell on earth
May we be strong and have courage
To be bold in our action and deep in our compassion
To discern when we must listen and when we must act
To uproot bigotry, intolerance, misogyny, racism, discrimination
and violence in all its forms
To celebrate the many faces of God reflected in the wondrous diversity of humanity
To welcome the stranger and the immigrant and to honor the gifts of those who seek refuge and possibility here,
As they have since before this nation was born
Let justice well up like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.“Prayer for Our Country” by Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, 2018
ASK:
- What did you agree with and why?
- What did you question and why?
SAY:
We’re going to take some time to write our own prayers for the government. The goal is to express your own values and hopes for your community, whether or not you support any particular government or politician. You can re-use some of the phrases that you noted if you want or write your own completely original words.
You may want to print out or review this worksheet with a more detailed prompt.
ASK:
- What was it like to write your own prayer for the government?
- How did you decide what to focus on?
- Can you imagine using this prayer in your own life in the coming years? If so, in what situations?
As a closing, you may choose to stand and read the prayers your family wrote, answering “Amen” after each one.