Eternal God,
We remember.
We recall when our ancestors made pilgrimage to a beautiful Temple to worship You together
While knowing also that they could sense Your presence accompanying them along every step of their journey.
We have learned that the Temple was destroyed not only because of the totalitarian dominion of Rome, but because of the baseless hatred that divided the Jewish community two millennia ago, when mutual acceptance and respect was overtaken by fear and arrogance, leading to a loss of harmony and trust.
We know that You are with us in every generation as we attempt to successfully undertake a spiritual and moral trek back to Your vision for human community.
We read in the Torah portion for this Shabbat of the guidance that Moses communicated to the people:
“I charged your magistrates at that time as follows, "Hear out your fellow Israelites, and decide justly between anyone and a fellow Israelite or a stranger. You shall not be partial in judgment: hear out low and high alike. Fear no one, for judgment is God's. And any matter that is too difficult for you, you shall bring to me and I will hear it."
Eternal God, in challenging times, we bring matters to You through prayer and through studying Torah to gain insight and wisdom.
We seek Your help now
To respect and listen to our fellow human beings
To decide between them without partiality
To approach people based on the equality inherent in the belief that we are all created in Your image.
To move beyond the bigotry and trepidation that marginalizes people in policy, attitude and law.
To understand how we, every day, can reach the part of You that is in every person
Which might direct us all towards greater unity and peace.
May You, our Creator and Sustainer, continue to be our wellspring of love and hope.
Amen.
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