Temple Shalom teens trip to Washington, D.C.

Rabbi Adam F. Miller

Across the globe, one can find gaudily clad individuals waving wands, lifting capes and saying with a flourish, “Abracadabra!” This magical formula is believed to have its roots in the Hebrew phrase, “A’bara K’adabra” – “I will create as I have spoken.” An echo of the creation of the world, when God says, “Let there be light” and light appeared.

Although magicians today use the phrase more for effect, the Jewish people have long known the power of words. Abraham argues that God should have mercy on the innocents living in Sodom and Gomorrah, and his nephew’s life was spared. Moses pleads with God to heal Miriam, and his prayer that is granted. Esther shares the plight of her people with King Ahaseurus, and the Jews are redeemed from the hand of Haman. At each turn, words play a key role in creating a better outcome.

At the end of January, I traveled to Washington, D.C. with nine Temple Shalom teens to participate in the L’taken Seminar at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. A transformative experience, the weekend included a visit to the United States Holocaust Museum, Havdalah at the Jefferson Memorial, learning about contemporary issues through a Jewish lens and lobbying on Capitol Hill. Throughout the trip, the recurring theme centered around the power of our words and speech.

…our words have power to create a better world.

At the Holocaust Museum, students shared that even eight decades removed from the Shoah, Pastor Niemoller’s words still resonated with them:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist…

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.

In today’s age of digital and social media, teens witness firsthand what can happen when words are used to inflict pain. Online bullying afflicts their peers, often while others look on in silence. They understood Pastor Niemoller’s message that everyone has a responsibility to speak up against injustice because left unchecked, it will not be long before those attacks are aimed at us as well.

Saturday night, we held a havdallah service at the Jefferson Memorial. After a history that has included so many generations of oppression, it is remarkable the freedoms granted to the Jewish community of America. Freedoms created by Jefferson and the founding fathers of our country, when they emphasized the separation of church and state in the Constitution. Words that were then echoed by President George Washington in the historic letter he wrote to the Jewish community of Rhode Island expressing that the United States of America, “to bigotry gives no sanction.” Creating a feeling of belonging for Jews across the country.

On Sunday, students crafted their own words, which they would then deliver on Monday during our visit to Capitol Hill. They prepared speeches that emphasized our Jewish values, as well as their own personal connections to the topics they chose. When asked to reflect on their visits to the offices of our senators and congressmen, the teens shared that they understood that their words were not magic. Their messages would not instantly change someone’s mind or create action out of thin air. At the same time, they expressed a new sense of empowerment, as adults listened to their words, gave them consideration and engaged in thoughtful conversation around the subjects. These students recognized the power of their own words to shape the world around them.

Abracadabra – let us embrace the lesson learned by the students, that our words have power to create a better world. May we use our voices for justice, to speak for those oppressed. May we use our words to bring hope to those who are struggling. And let us express gratitude that we live in a land where we are indeed free.

Rabbi Adam Miller serves at Temple Shalom.