Dear Friends,
I vividly remember election night in 1980. I was living at the time on the Cambridge-Somerville line. Just a few weeks before, I had met a young woman, and the relationship was looking promising. I called her up (as people commonly communicated in those days) and invited her to join me and my roommates and some friends to watch the election returns at my apartment.
She came by after work, and we started putting out some snacks. We discovered very quickly that no one had purchased any liquid refreshments, so we volunteered to head out to the local liquor store to buy some wine.
It was only a few blocks away, but I recall us taking our time, walking and talking the entire way. I don’t remember exactly what we talked about -- I certainly don’t remember what wine we bought -- but I do remember how sweet that leisurely walk to and from the store was. (The store, by the way, was "Savenor's," a landmark in those days -- owned and operated then by our own Linda Savenor and her late husband, Joseph.)
We returned to my apartment to be greeted by the startling news that the incumbent President, Jimmy Carter, who was running for re-election, had just conceded to his Republican rival, Ronald Reagan. And this was more than an hour before the polls would close in California!!!
We were shocked. We stared at the TV for a few minutes, but then everyone quickly lost interest. After a few minutes, we turned off the TV, and people began to disappear. I remember wondering who was going to drink the wine we had purchased.
Hours earlier than I had anticipated, my friend left for her home, as our date came prematurely to an end. But I can’t complain: within 14 months, we were married, and we’ve spent lots of time together since then.
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Election night 2020, of course, promises to be very different from that one -- in so many ways.
For one thing, no one expects either candidate for the presidency to concede on the evening of November 3rd.
There are other reasons. Our nation is more bitterly divided today than it was in 1980. The level of disagreement is high -- and the level of suspicion, disrespect, and even contempt for one’s political opponents is even higher. (For those who don’t remember those days, both Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter -- and the third party candidate, John Anderson -- criticized one another effectively, but I can’t ever recall any of them being rude, much less demeaning or mendacious.)
There’s more: today there is a lack of faith in the core institutions of a democratic society that would otherwise, ideally, have the power to unite and support us at times of stress. For example:
The Courts. Who can have confidence that the courts will be impartial in resolving the numerous disputes over election rules? There have been 300 law suits challenging election procedures filed already; see here. I personally was inspired by the ideal expressed by Justice Roberts that “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.” But how can we believe that that ideal describes the present state of affairs? After all, we have just witnessed a judge elevated to the Supreme Court at lightning speed precisely so that she could help resolve the election results should a dispute come before the Court. (See here.) That does not engender confidence that the Court will resolve election disputes based on principle rather than politics.
The Executive. Whether it’s a lack of trust in the current administration in Washington or conspiracy theories regarding a mythic, malevolent “Deep State” working to undermine legitimate governance, the lack of confidence in the executive branch is deep and wide. See the article published in the New Yorker this week by David Rohde, the author of the recently published, In Deep: The F.B.I., the C.I.A., and the Truth about America's 'Deep State' here.
The Legislature. It’s no surprise: respect for Congress is very low: only 19% of the public approve of the job Congress is doing. (It was 25% in 1980 -- which, though that too seems low, was 30% higher than it is today.) (See here.)
The Media. Can we say that, as a nation, we have confidence in the media? It depends on which media one is talking about. Second, there is much misinformation and disinformation circulating in our society, particularly in cyberspace -- some of it pumped in from foreign countries eager to undermine our confidence. (See here.) False, misleading and scurrilous accusations abound; outrageous antisemitic and racist assertions coexist with truthful, responsibly verified information. Much of this is widely available on social media. And yet the tech leaders who run the gigantic platforms on which such information circulates -- such as Facebook, Twitter, and other on-line platforms -- have been slow to respond in some cases and inconsistent in others. Third, it has now become de rigueur in certain circles to deride the so-called “Fake News” produced by the Fourth Estate. Of course, when the press is accused of being “fake,” that term is generally employed deliberately and dismissively to cast doubt on inconvenient or embarrassing reporting which might be entirely accurate. The constant disparagement of the media, however unsubstantiated and irresponsible, has had a particularly destructive impact on our confidence in the press.
The Integrity of our Elections. We weren't worried in 1980 about widespread voter fraud. We weren't concerned that our votes were not going to be counted. Today, it's a different story.
One more big difference: in 1980, there was no pandemic gripping the nation. We weren't afraid then that by casting a vote we might contract a deadly virus. Today, in addition to everything else, we have an underlying source of deep anxiety that touches all of us, as we contemplate the destruction that the coronavirus has wrought.
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My message is a simple one: during this highly anxious time, notwithstanding all of those reasons to worry, our congregation can be a source of stability, support, inspiration and hope.
Here’s how:
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Join us on Shabbat morning. (Our full Shabbat schedule can be accessed here.) Joey Baron, a long-time member, will be our guest speaker. He’ll be celebrating the anniversary of his bar mitzvah. (What a wonderful occasion to focus on during this time.) Joey was a co-founder and artistic director of the Jewish Arts Collaborative. He is currently a freelance creative consultant.
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Join us on Shabbat morning after services (i.e., at 11:30 am) for Pirkei Avot. We will be reflecting on what it means to head off into the unknown. All are welcome.
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Join us on Monday morning for a special session of Daf Yomi (Talmud study). I have chosen a text specifically for the day before Election Day, which focuses on how the Talmud suggests we should handle principled disagreement.
- On Tuesday, November 3rd, Election Day, PLEASE VOTE -- if you haven’t done so already.
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On Tuesday, November 3rd, after the polls close, from 8 to 11 pm, consider joining a nation-wide Jewish Election Eve Vigil ("Tikkun Leil Election") sponsored by T’ruah (the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights) and other organizations. It will feature musical performances and a host of artistic and other presentations. Click here for details.
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Finally, it is unfortunately possible that we will witness efforts on Election Day to intimidate voters or efforts that day or thereafter to refrain from counting legitimately cast votes. To reflect the will of the people, elections must be free and fair. This is a bedrock principle of democracy. All those who are legally permitted to vote should be allowed to do so safely, and all legitimately cast votes should be counted. It is in the interest of democracy -- and in the interest of every political party in our country -- that all elections -- not just this one, but the next, and the ones after that -- be free and fair. (Click here for "A Jewish Statement on Elections and Democratic Principles" published by the Jewish Council on Public Affairs.) If election irregularities arise, we will apprise our members of steps being recommended by the Boston Jewish communal leadership.
* * * * *
To conclude: 2020 ≠ 1980.
Nonetheless, we can hope that 2020 will turn out to be better than expected. Hopefully, we will come together as a nation to confront the immense problems that we are facing.
Let's hope that 2020 will usher in a time when:
Unity will triumph over division;
Generosity and magnanimity will triumph over selfishness;
“We’re all in this together” will triumph over
a “zero sum game” mentality;
Working together with others
will triumph over acrimony and bitterness;
Civility will triumph over demeaning speech; and
Hope will triumph over fear.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Carl M. Perkins
