Letter 50

Aaron Panken

President
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

March 10, 2017

Dear President Trump, Vice President Pence, Members of the Trump Administration and 115^th Congress,

The advent of each new administration calls for the broad re-creation of our country every four to eight years. Such moments of re-creation offer an opportunity to learn from the biblical creation story itself.

Genesis 1 narrates the well-known creation myth that culminates on the sixth day with the fashioning of the first human being. An early Jewish interpretation highlights two essential aspects of this tale: “A single human being was created to teach you that anyone who destroys a single life, it is as if they have destroyed an entire world; and anyone who sustains a single life, it is as if they have sustained an entire world. [Also, only a single human was created to teach] that no one may claim ancestry that is greater than anyone else’s” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

This gets to the core of what it means to govern a nation in which all citizens are created equal. In the decisions you make, you must take into account each and every human being affected by your words and actions. This ancient text reminds us of the manifold ways that people in power and the policies they create can destroy the lives of others: by denying them health care, tearing apart their families through wanton deportation and travel bans, polluting their environment, negating their humanity, or downgrading their education. Each of these acts is tantamount to the destruction of the whole world.

But also inherent in your leadership is the sacred possibility of sustaining the entire world: by rising above prejudice, polarization, and hatred, by working for unity and coherence, and by constructively imagining how each constituent’s life might be improved through collaborative, respectful, intentional endeavors.

The mishnah concludes by reminding us that no one’s ancestry—and thus no one’s humanity—is greater than anyone else’s. No American deserves to suffer the disgrace of discrimination, whether due to gender, race, religion, sexuality, economic status, or any other facet of their individuality.

Our government has always been a global beacon of pluralism and respect for others. I pray that will continue in your administration. We are counting on you.

Respectfully,

Aaron Panken

Rabbi Aaron Panken, Ph.D.
President
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion