Text of the Invocation (pdf)
Surrounded by many top level state government officials together with the legislators from the House and Senate, Rabbi Pesner spoke truth to power with this invocation. Reminding those gathered that although we are made up of different people, we are one commonwealth.
Each one unique
Reflecting the very image
Of the divine
Each one from a common source
A single, sacred family.
During the campaign, when Kerry Healey was asked to name one positive thing about Deval Patrick she said that he could give a good speech, but that it was only words. Deval reminded us of the words of FDR, MLK and the Kennedys and how those words, spoken with conviction could be a call to action. You can’t help but be inspired as you read the words of Rabbi Pesner.
Hide so many secrets.
Private, painful secrets of suffering.
If only we would find your Wisdom O God
Revealing all the secrets,
The pained suffering
Of parents who watch helpless
As their children are plagued
By guns, drugs and gangs
The private pain
Of children struggling to care for their parents
As they age and grow frail,
The secret suffering of immigrants
Who like us came to this place
To seek a better life
And labor hidden and underpaid in jobs
Upon which the rest of us depend,
But wont do ourselves
Of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters
Who daily confront blatant discrimination,
Inequality and humiliation
Of those who sleep in the streets,
Those who are overworked and underpaid
Those who are abused in their own homes
Those who are left behind
By their disabilities
So many secrets,
Private sufferings.
We have so many challenges ahead of us. We are all passionate about our causes and sometimes that passion spills over. Please do not let that passion separate us. We have so much work to do. We will accomplish so much more if we work together.
The secrets
And the stories
God grant us your wisdom
That we may never forget that
Democracy happens out here-
Face to face-
Among the people
As we join together
In one spirit
And write one shared story:
The story of a commonwealth
That acts like a commonweath
Where secrets of private suffering
Where tales of lonely languish
Are joined
Through the power of the people
Rising up
Together
Encountering one another
Face to face
And writing a new story
One story
I stood with my son in the crowd listening to Rabbi Pesner. Some people nodded their heads. Some had tears in their eyes (I know I did). Some said, “uh, huh” or “that’s right” along with the invocation. It was a very powerful moment and I was so grateful to have been there.
You can see the video at alexwill’s user post It’s video #4
Were you at the swearing in? What was your favorite moment?
I’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner for providing the text of the invocation and permission to quote it here.
I too was moved by Rabbi Pesner’s invocation. What a wonderful way to start off Gov. Patrick’s term.
It’s not uncommon to find a comment here about how conservatives view the government as evil or somehow incapable of doing good.
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This invocation might lead some to believe that liberals think the world is evil and that individuals are incapable of doing good.
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People aren’t as helpless as the good rabbi would like us to believe. It is almost as if misfortune happens by accident and that somewhere there is a cloistered segment of the population free from grief simply because they are holding 4-leaf clovers.
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You’d be correct to say that I don’t know how it is to live in a violent neighborhood. I wouldn’t choose to put myself in that situation. But some people do. Why is that?
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At one point in my life I thought it was because people didn’t have a choice. But then I travelled a bit and saw a bit more outside of the 128 corridor. There are options of affordable, safe places to live, within commutable access to the city, even more if you are willing to live further. So what stops people from making decisions that will better their lives? Is it a victim mindset that keeps people there? Or is it something else?
its something else.
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Still, I don’t think you deserved the 4 you got.
seems about right to me.
but the post is well constructed, not heavy handed, and asks a legitimate question, complete with an alternative hypothesis. He’s not trolling nor flaming.
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If he’s wrong, say so. Better yet (ie better than me), explain why.
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But, enough of this silliness. Threads about rating of particular posts are pretty silly.
Despair isn’t going to change your situation.
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If you think you’re underpaid, ask for a raise. If you can’t get one, consider a different job. If you can’t get one, develop your skills, etc.. I don’t have stats to back me up, but my belief is that if you talked to folks who have pulled themselves up, you’d find they followed a similar process.
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Hope isn’t going to help either.
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You need to make choices, have a plan, and take action. I think it’s better for the individual to do that than the state. If the state does it, the state controls or at least limits, your choices.
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I recognize that there are people who, through no choice or fault of their own, are to varying degrees dependent upon the state/charity/family/community for assistance. I also recognize that there are people who will trade their own freedom for the confines of a subsidized existence.
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As a matter of policy, I would devote resources to the former and discourage the latter. As a volunteer, I find it fulfilling and inspiring to work with the former and disheartening to work with the latter. Why? Because resources, whether time or money, are always in short supply. In my opinion, they should serve where the needs and the impact are the greatest.
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Governemnt can do great things. But this invocation comes across to me as a rallying call to blame someone else rather than take personal responsibility, to blame fate rather than believe in yourself, and to finish up with a big group hug.
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Now, I’ll say this is tempered by something happening with someone I know who, for some reason, refuses to make the decisions that would improve their life. I’m sure many of us have had experiences like that, at one time or another. I’ve seen the decades long cycle of perceiving oneself entitled, pitying oneself when those entitlements are received, and then anger and despair. It always ends in anger in despair. That’s what I see in this speech.
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I was there for his speech, and what I felt was community. His speech reminded me that many of us have substantial problems and are quietly suffering — and that our problems won’t be solved unless we stop suffering silently, but instead use our voices and work together to help ourselves and each other.
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To me, it was a reminder that hey — we’ve all got problems, and there’s plenty of us with pretty substantial difficulties, rarely obvious. Instead of remaining blissfully ignorant or keeping blinders on, convinced our issue or problem is the biggest one out there, we should work to end some of this quiet suffering by joining together. If we shine some light on these quiet sufferings, we can then work to eliminate them.
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By shining a light on the extra financial, legal, and health burdens gay and lesbian couples have, by shining a light on the unnecessarily extra time disabled persons have to spend because a T stop or building isn’t accessible, by shining a light on the bankruptcies filed because un-or-underinsured people suffered unavoidable medical disasters, by shining a light on the abuse suffered by the vulnerable and inflicted by their loved ones, by shining a light on the quagmire of poverty and how there just isn’t enough time to work many hours for low wages and raise children and educate oneself — by shining the light, we are reminded that we are all one community, and we can work together to help free our brothers and sisters of their suffering.
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His speech reminded me that we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
My take away from this invocation was exactly as you said, stomv.
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If I saw someone lying on the ground, I wouldn’t tell them it was their own fault for tripping, I’d help them up. I certainly wouldn’t step over them.
That should say, “I’d give that comment a 12 if I could.”
Are there no workhouses?
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Jeez.
My question was not “is there something else in the speech”, it was “is there something else that causes people to repetedly make poor decisions for themselves.”
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But to your comment…
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Have you ever known someone who did not have any physical or intellectual impairment yet seemed, at least from observation, to be incapable of supporting themselves? I have.
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What I am saying is that perpetuating the belief that these people are victims is wrong. Furthermore, I believe it actually does more damage than good. Someone who buys into the victim mentality will not improve their situation. They will remain dependent on the state.
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I believe luck has very little to do with improving one’s situation in life. Surely we are all endowed with certain strengths and weaknesses, but a weakness does not mean someone is a victim or oppressed or stuck.
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For those individuals who are truly incapable of caring for themselves, what is wrong with caring for them? That is what I think you imply from your comment about workhouses.
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But, such care, especially when it comes from the state, must be given with caution because it comes at a high price. Not in dolllars but in liberty.
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I’m sorry that you don’t understand my position. But, I’m even sorrier that you didn’t even try.
You’re a lot of things Diane, but sorry? Nope. Not buying it.
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I posted the invocation because I was moved by it, and others were as well and hoped to see it again in print.
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I have never in this thread said that the people mentioned in the invocation were victims. That’s not what I got out of it at all. See my comments upthread.
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As someone who has benefitted from the benevolence of the state (in my case, California) I don’t need a lecture from anyone about the causes and effects of poverty, substance abuse, or how to rise above it. I’ve lived it.
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I have no intention of getting into a protracted debate over who considers themselves a victim and what responsiblity the state has, if any, to help them. That’s not what this user post is about, but you’ve done a fairly good job of hijacking this thread. By all means, feel free to continue to poke people with that s$#t covered stick you seem so determined to carry.
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Time to adjust my blinders. Sheesh.
Just because a person has the motivation to improve one’s situation does not necessarily mean that 1) all the causes and conditions are in place for them to do so, nor 2) all the causes and conditions are within their control.
i must say. i had that thought as i listed to it on the radio on jan. 4. i don’t think the litany of sorrows and struggles that the rabbi listed are so much secrets as they are suffering (yes, much of it lonely but not a secret). so many of these sufferings are seen, acknowledged, and largely ignored by many with the most power to affect major social change. we each can and should be agents of change and should take that charge seriously, but some people have more power than others in this area.
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dweir, as with most things in life, the variables at play are multi-factoral and should not be oversimplified in what may be a sincere attempt to understand why certain tragic realities are what they are. don’t short-change yourself with the all too convenient conclusion of “blaming the victim”. many of the folks who live in severely troubled neighborhoods may be caught in a multi-generational cycle that severely impedes their ability to see a way out mush less to act on it. i don’t think that’s “victim mentality”, or maybe it just feels too close to blaming the victim which doesn’t lead to anything constructive. quality education is the lynchpin to breaking these cycles, i believe. since education does not occur in a vacuum it requires a holistic public policy approach to achieve maximum benefits and results.
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the books “savage inequalities” or “there are no children here” might be useful and of interest to you if you’re not familiar with them, especially with your commitment to education.
Thanks AnnEm. I’m familiar with Mr. Kozol’s work. While I would not think it his intent, I do think his writing (or at least similar thought) is given as an argument as to why things are the way they are in urban schools. When I was a teacher, I found that justifying results based on students’ circumstances was a poor excuse. They are what they are. The system is resistent to change. Question was — could I adapt?
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Many years ago, I heard a talk about resiliency. The speaker defined this trait as the ability to beat expectations and to bounce back. The study followed children who, given all other factors in their lives, had gone on to be well-adjusted adults.
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I truly believe this can be taught. Part of the strategy is to not wallow in despair. I think we do much harm to our youth, regardless of their economic/familial status, by having them dwell on their feelings.
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I understand that people can be stuck — whether from depression or some other impedement to seeing a way out. Therefore, I ask is it helpful to legitimize poor judgement by placing responsibility elsewhere? Doesn’t this result in a continuation of past behavior and dependency?
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and re: “Therefore, I ask is it helpful to legitimize poor judgement by placing responsibility elsewhere?”
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my answer is No, and also that i did not hear the rabbit saying that.
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and re: “Doesn’t this result in a continuation of past behavior and dependency?”
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my answer is Maybe. it depends on what the poor judgement, presumably leading to poor behavior, entailed and what sources, both inner and outward, the individual has to draw on to do better next time. brings to mind the signature/sign-off used by BMG poster amber paw: “when you know better, you do better”
At first I thought the invocation was inspiring but then it started to get way to political for an invocation at a bipartisan Inaugural event.
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I am a proud liberal, and I was a little taken aback by the tone.
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I began to wonder if a conservative preacher gave an invocation that included the right’s views on gay marriage and choice at an event such as that…it would not have been accepted well.
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For me the invocation was over the top!
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My favorite part of the Inauguration was the Governor and Lt. Governor greeting well wishers in the State House on a simple blue rug! Very understated and simple! (So unlike Romney imperial red rugs strewn through the building when he left!!!)
who accompanied me and my principal thought Rabbit Pesner was absolutely phenomenal. We all loved it; he was great. What a wonderful start to a wonderful day. The general concensus of those there, however, was that he rocked. And I agree.
on the Rabbi.
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Guess you can tell I’m an atheist. lol. Calling Dr. Freud….
Voila
L’Chiam
better.
first, I’d like to thank Susan for posting this and doing the research to find a copy of the invocation and post it. I’ve now added it to my electronic archive of this election, which includes statewide and regional primary and general election results, and now also speeches from inauguration day.
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Where I was standing on Thursday, a few people at the beginning of his talk said “that’s an invocation??” because it was so political. But by the end they were wowed. I personally resonate hugely with the Isaiah quote at the end. This explicit message about social justice is included as one of the scriptural readings on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.
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I was intrigued by Rabbi Pesner’s message and did some checking about him. He has recently been hired by the Union of Reform Judaism, which is the umbrella organization of Reform Jewish congregations, as senior staff in a new initiative called Just Congregations. It is a pilot program, with plans to expand, in Congregation Based Community Organizing (CBCO). Before that Rabbi Pesner was affiliated with Temple Israel in Boston, which has a highly sucessful and active CBCO brogram which is serving as a model for the national program. This kind of program is definitely not about blaming someone else for your problems and promoting dependency. It is all about on-the-ground organizing to bring people together to do something about them.
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About his references to secrets: I’ve been close to several rabbis, and (this is probably true for most clergy of any denomination) I know people whose lives appear to be fine on the surface come to them with the kind of stories Rabbi Pesner talked about. I think what he was saying, and urging us to do, is to bring this private suffering out of the shadows and organize to do something about it, as CBCO does. In Jewish tradition we see ourselves as God’s partners in setting the world right. Maybe this is a difference from how many people see the role of religion and prayer. It works for me.
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To Lightiris: I’m no atheist, but some of us with a sense of humor have been known to refer to our spiritual leaders as “rabbits” from time to time!
I wasn’t there, but am happy to be able to read the text after hearing all the appreciation for it from people who were.
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Speaking as a preacher’s kid, I think what Margot said in her “About his references to secrets” paragraph is likely right on target. His apparent viewpoint mirrors the viewpoint of the more caring protestant clergy I know.
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Speaking as an atheist, I will add another couplet to the Rabbi’s talk, if I may:
Of the atheist,
Who must endure the exclusionary practice of civic leaders acting like dieties are “our” co-sponsors.
I do most strenuously object to publicly invoking “God” or any mythical spirits at governmental functions. And using scriptural references that only some in the crowd will understand (Isiah, Margot?) actually sets up division right there in a speech all about ending divisiveness.
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My criticism of the painfully religious nature of the invocation aside, I appreciate his plea for unity over division. Seems sensible. Recent discussion here on BMG leaves us with no doubt that this will not be easy. But perhaps the key is the kindness and compassion that underpins this speech.
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I’m sorry if I seemed to be doing a divisive, insider thing. I thought the reference was clear in the invocation itself.
Sometimes I feel the mirror image of what you express above: that being an active participant in religious life isn’t welcome in left/progressive circles. It definitely made me nervous as I was preparing my previous comment. We need, I think, to spread the acceptance around in both directions.
I was criticizing the Rabbi for invoking God and using scriptural references at this major civic event. I’m quite happy that you let me and others ignorant of this reference in on it, and I have no problem with people being religious. My discomfort comes when God, etc. is publicly invoked in civil ceremonies and proceedings, where I feel it is completely unnecessary, often divisive, and certainly exclusionary. My criticism was for the Rabbi and the Governor, not at all you. Sorry for that confusion!
I hate all this religion-in-politics stuff. As an avid reader of Harris, Dawkins, Dennett, and Weinberg, I must say that I think we are saddled and sunk as a species and as a nation.
But not about the sunk part. I think we’ll probably do okay in a few million years. g
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Seriously though, I feel that this dialogue about religion and politics has been dominated and manipulated by conservatives long enough. There was a perception that liberals, progressives, or whatever they want to call us were not faithful people (note to Laurel: I am only talking about religious people right now) but some of us are. I think it’s important to contribute to that discussion, if anything just so people understand that we’re here too.
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With that said, I am not comfortable with politicians of any stripe using religion as part of their platforms.
I Googled Rabbi Pesner to try to find out where I could get a copy of the invocation. The kind folks at Temple Israel pointed me in the right direction. I wasn’t sure how the Rabbi would take being tracked down electronically, but he was very kind and told me he’d be honored to have his invocation posted here at BMG.
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That pilot program you mentioned sounds wonderful and I’m sure it will be very successful. I’m encouraged to see progressively-minded people of all faiths working together for social justice.
Instead of “progressively-minded people of all faiths”, can we think simply in terms of “progressively-minded people”, period? Because adding “of all faiths” is wonderfully inclusive of religious people, but patently excludes all others. Atheism is not a faith or religion.
The short answer to your comment is that I wasn’t talking about atheists.
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Here comes the longer answer:
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The context of my comment was directly related to what Margot wrote about Rabbi Pesner’s involvement with a faith-based grassroots community organization. I am glad to see such involvement because there are many organizations who do work for “the other side” (which is not exactly what I mean to say, but I can’t think of another word for it right now) and I’m very glad to see people of faith with a progressive mind-set stand up for social justice as well. The topic at hand was specifically faith-based organizations — not the myriad of people from every single background who work for social justice.
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I am well aware of the contributions non-faith-based organizations have made in the service of social justice. The larger point I think to be made here is that in terms of getting things accomplished, we don’t have a person to waste. We should work within the context that we feel comfortable in and understand that even though we might not have the same philosophical/metaphysical/religious outlook, we are allies on the same journey, although our path to reach our goals may be different. Different is good.
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I have more to say about this subject, but it’s outside the scope of this response.