Yearning to breathe free
A protestor marches in the aftermath of widespread unrest following the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020 in Philadelphia. Image by Mark Makela / Stringer
By Michael Strassfeld June 1, 2020
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 01: A protestor marches in the aftermath of widespread unrest following the death of George Floyd. Image by Mark Makela / Stringer
At first, the world seems little changed—the virus is still present, the future still unclear. In fact, the coronavirus is a consistent reminder of how much we do not know. When will there be a second wave? Do antibodies provide immunity? When will there be a vaccine? Feeling equal measures of fear and constriction, we don masks of anger.
And then suddenly another plague strikes and we watched horrified over and over as George Floyd lies on the ground pleading for breath as he slowly dies. Yet this plague is not sudden; it comes not from China or anywhere else. It is Made in America. It is not even hiding in plain sight — it is part of sight itself. For too many, it is how they see the world — a form of color blindness that “allows” us to pass over the injustice of our society.
Isaiah 57-58 speaks of prophets false and true, and of how to rebuild a nation that has lost its way. Our America today is not so different from the Israel of which Isaiah despairs. Let’s imagine how the prophet would charge us today:
And the false prophets proclaim: Let injustice flow like leaded water in Flint, let those yearning to breathe free be forever denied.
And a still small voice responds: Is this the America I wanted? These perfunctory expressions of sorrow?
Say no more: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you!”
Is that the service I desire? Is it to pay attention only to the colors of white, red and blue? Are not all the colors of the rainbow My colors with which I painted creation? Is not all humankind my children?
What do I seek from you?
Neither the incense of burning garbage nor laws to prevent felons from voting? Neither looting nor shooting! Neither instigation nor demonization!
This I say: Prepare, prepare the road—take away the stumbling blocks and barricades from the people’s way!
As for the downtrodden and destitute, I shall revive the spirit of the lowly, and the hearts of the crushed restore…. I shall create the breath of life.
Cry from the throat, do not relent — tell my people of their transgression.
Let them yearn for knowledge of my way.
Behold your workers you continue to oppress! You engage in strife and quarreling. You strike with a mean fist and knee. Is this the way of righteousness?
Rather this I desire — the unlocking of the chains of wickedness, the loosening of exploitation, The freeing of all those oppressed, the breaking of the heavy yoke of the past.
Is it not the sharing of bread with those who starve, to give those without shelter a home or restoring a sense of worth to those who feel the shame of their nakedness? Most of all it is to stop hiding from your fellow humans so as to pretend you don’t see their needs.
Then shall America’s light burst forth like the dawn of a new age, and waters of healing flourish. If you banish oppression from your midst, the menacing threats, the tainted tweets.
If you give of yourself to others, then your darkness shall be like the noon day sun. Lady Liberty’s torch will once again welcome all who yearn to breathe free. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters do not fail. You will rebuild the ancient ruins caused by failed promises. Instead the foundations of the founding fathers long dormant you will finally fix and restore.
You shall be called the repairer of bridges connecting people too long separated and segregated, you will be the restorer of the roads to carry us forward together into the future. And let us say not amen, but rather: let us begin!
Rabbi Michael Strassfeld is the rabbi emeritus of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism and writes a weekly newsletter which can be found at MichaelStrassfeld.com.
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