A Rabbi at the UN: A Prayer to Remember and Prevent Genocide

Friends, 

I am barely able to register where I stand, what words of mine were just recited by the Multi Faith Advisory Council to the United Nations Interagency Task Force on Religion and Development. And as part of International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime... How can a Jew be unaware of the enormity of what faces us? 

These are the words from my heart that we recited: 

A Prayer to Remember and Prevent Genocide 

© Rabbi Menachem Creditor 

Most Sacred Source,

We stand before You, united in heart and prayer.

We see You in each other’s eyes, and in the eyes of every human being.

It is for that purpose that we gather today, to commemorate our promise, learned through harsh histories and unfathomable loss.

We know that we have yet to truly learn. 

We know that Genocide remains a threat in our fragile world.

We know that when we hurt each other, we sin against You.

And so, today, we leaders of many faiths, reaffirm the covenant our nations made in 1948 to protect each other.

We will call to account those who perpetuate the sin of Genocide.

We will love each other.

We will protect each other.

We will do more than pray in our particular ways.

We, Your children, will stand united in defense of each other.

Bless us to succeed in this holy service.

Amen

Auschwitz Ornaments: A Blasphemous Christmas Tale (Times of Israel - December 1, 2019)

Auschwitz Ornaments:

A Blasphemous Christmas Tale

Rabbi Menachem Creditor | Times of Israel | December 1, 2019

In 2004, Major League Baseball decided to allow a Spider-Man movie to advertise on bases on the playing field, but were forced to rescind their decision due to angry reactions by the fans. That ads are making their ways onto batting helmets and selected team uniforms again is a cautionary tale of the patient and seemingly inexorable march of capitalism and a seemingly weak long-term societal memory.

So is it simply capitalism doing its thing when Christmas ornaments with images from the Auschwitz death camp are for sale [update: the item has been taken down due to the public outcry, though this Birkenau Jewish Death Mousepad is still available] on the world’s largest online retailer? Who’s idea was that anyway? Is it a personalized item, generated online by a Neo-Nazi in Des Moines? Perhaps it was the teenagers in London who beat a rabbi this past Friday night while screaming “Kill Jews” and “F$$k Jews.” The blasphemy of using Christian symbols to amplify Anti-Semitism has a complicated history. So too does the online peddling of hate, well-articulated (and dressed-down) by Sacha Baron Cohen just last week. [to continue reading, click here]

A new Bigger on the Inside​ post: #Hook - "There You Are"

A new Bigger on the Inside​ post: #Hook - "There You Are"

"There you are, Peter!" Over time, our eyes can become dim. I can even forget the me I once was, the solemn promises the child within me made. And, in so forgetting, it is also possible that my simple smile can fade. But then, there are moments when it all comes back. The touch of a child's hand on my face, simple closeness with others, soft songs and sweet smells. It is in these moments that suddenly I am the grownup who is also the child, an internal time traveler who has seen enough adulthood to know that we're not ever truly done being children with childish dreams, the joy of having and the fear of not having friends, a wish for guidance and the need for love. Eyes and hearts are made for opening and reopening. Sometimes we are strong enough to recognize that we still are that beautiful child. Sometimes being reminded by a friend helps, too. There you are. You're so very beautiful. I'm so happy to see you. #Hook #BiggerOnTheInside