An acrostic, the Ashamnu is translated
in various ways. One translator,
choosing to create an acrostic in English that parallels the Hebrew, if not
literally translating it, has us confess as a community to xenophobia—fear of
or antipathy toward the stranger, the “other.”
I often wonder as I chant, “We are xenophobic,” if it really applies to
me. After all, I am, at heart, a lover
of diversity and of all kinds of people.
So maybe I don’t have a xenophobic approach to
the world in attitude. However, I
propose to you that I am guilty—perhaps most of us are—of not doing
enough to secure the civil rights of others, be they children, women, gay,
lesbian, or transgender, people of color, immigrants, or people of low
socioeconomic status—at least some of whom, by the way, are other Jews.
Our tradition teaches us:
V’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha. Love your neighbor as
yourself. –Hillel
Kol yisrael arevim ze ba’zeh. All Israel is responsible
one for another. (And this can be
expanded to include all people.)
–Tradition
Tzedek, tzedek tirdof. Justice, justice you shall
pursue. –Deut. 16:20
Like it or not, whatever our attitude,
if our actions are not pursuing justice (first for ourselves: one
“tzedek,” then for others: the second “tzedek”) then perhaps we are
guilty as a community, and as individuals, of xenophobia.
I wish all those
observing Yom Kippur an easy and meaningful fast. G'mar chatimah
tovah. May you finish [the fast] sealed [in the Book of Life] for a
good year.
