Letter to Law Enforcement

Dear Friends in our Local Law Enforcement Community,

I wanted to write a simple message to express my gratitude.

We are living in polarizing times that often put us in comfortable binaries, forced to choose between “us” and “them.” Like all people of good conscience, I am sure you were troubled by the videos that emerged from Minneapolis, Atlanta, Louisville and other places. And yet, I can also appreciate that you, better than anyone, understand the difficult position in which these police officers found themselves – forced to make split second decisions in an environment that was not nearly as cut-and-dry as what appears on tape. We’ve all seen the inequities in our society (which are by no means limited to policing), and yet we know (or should know) that the solution is not simply to vilify police.

I feel a similar tension. We want to establish relationships with members of the African American community. We want to understand the fear and pain they are experiencing right now, and we want to support them in their fight. And at the same time, I look at a police car and I don’t see what they see. I look at a police car and I think of October 27, 2018, when we heard about a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh and you all jumped into action to secure our building and make our worshippers feel safe. I think of the aftermath of 9/11, when Jews were scared to come to synagogues and the only way we could make them comfortable again was to engage security to stand in front of us and protect us. Our synagogue’s success is due in large measure to the services you provide every day.

I say all this to you because I want to make clear that any expressions we make about the need to change or pursue justice and equity in a different way should not be misconstrued as an attack on our police departments, the services they provide, or the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day. Our mission as a synagogue is to bring people together … not drive them apart.

Saying “thank you” seems like a good start. I also want to offer that if you ever want to chat about the tensions we are all experiencing now in regard to policing or anything else, I am available and happy to talk. Maybe at some point, we can even use our positive connection with you as a model to foster dialogue in a larger community that so badly needs it.

Rabbi Mickey Safra