In this week’s parasha, Shemot, we read of the Hebrew midwives Shifrah and Puah who defy the Egyptian king and save life. When the Egyptian king tells Shifrah and Puah to kill the newborn boys they do not obey. They let the boys live and G-d deals kindly with them in return.
To read this portion in the context of this week here in the US feels poignant and pertinent. I think of Renee Good, killed by ICE in Minneapolis, while being a legal observer and bearing witness to an ICE raid. Renee is the ninth person to be shot by ICE since September of last year. So many of you in our community have borne witness and taken action just like Renee. You have been midwives shepherding lives.
And my goodness is this a time to be a part of protecting and saving life. This week the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention warned that the United States may be in the early stages of genocide against transgender people. How are we being midwives to our trans kin?
Our Kadima community is special in that we are made up of so many people who have been marginalized by society and disenfranchised by our leaders. Among us are disabled, trans, queer, and working class people. In our community we have people who are immigrants. We are caretakers, parents, educators, and activists. Kadima is woven together by an incredible array of people from many different backgrounds. Our diversity is our strength. We must be midwives to each other in our community and beyond, looking after each other, caring for each other, and protecting the lives of each other.
May we continue to disobey the kings that be and may we be like Shifrah and Puah, being midwives, protecting and saving lives. As we have been reciting as our Aleinu during Kabbalat Shabbat services, the words of Assata Shakur:
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom
It is our duty to win
We must love and support each other
We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi May
To read this portion in the context of this week here in the US feels poignant and pertinent. I think of Renee Good, killed by ICE in Minneapolis, while being a legal observer and bearing witness to an ICE raid. Renee is the ninth person to be shot by ICE since September of last year. So many of you in our community have borne witness and taken action just like Renee. You have been midwives shepherding lives.
And my goodness is this a time to be a part of protecting and saving life. This week the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention warned that the United States may be in the early stages of genocide against transgender people. How are we being midwives to our trans kin?
Our Kadima community is special in that we are made up of so many people who have been marginalized by society and disenfranchised by our leaders. Among us are disabled, trans, queer, and working class people. In our community we have people who are immigrants. We are caretakers, parents, educators, and activists. Kadima is woven together by an incredible array of people from many different backgrounds. Our diversity is our strength. We must be midwives to each other in our community and beyond, looking after each other, caring for each other, and protecting the lives of each other.
May we continue to disobey the kings that be and may we be like Shifrah and Puah, being midwives, protecting and saving lives. As we have been reciting as our Aleinu during Kabbalat Shabbat services, the words of Assata Shakur:
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom
It is our duty to win
We must love and support each other
We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi May
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