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
