Nov 1st 2008, 00:00

Putting politics aside, no one can deny that Tuesday’s election of Barack Obama was a turning point in American history and a very special and significant moment for our nation. Clearly, the overwhelming majority of voters wanted to go in a different direction – evident by the fact that even Senator McCain co-opted the “change” message, running away from the current administration. No matter the President-elect’s policies and appointments, the very fact of his election is change in-itself.

Senator Obama’s election to the highest office in our land did not happen in a vacuum. It was the result of a very long and arduous journey that in many ways began centuries ago when the first African slaves were brought to these shores. It was the result of the Emancipation Proclamation signed into law by President Lincoln, whose 200^th anniversary of birth we will celebrate next year. It was the result of a journey by his African-born father, who fell in love with his Kansas-born mother. It was the result of all the struggles, the highs and lows, of the 1960s in which Jews played a major role, some even paying the ultimate price in the name of equal rights and freedom for all.

I would even argue that it all began in this week’s Torah portion, Lech L’cha, when Avram (whose life and name is later transformed) is told by God to “go forth.” That first journey by the first Jew set the course of history for the Jewish people and for what is today the Western world and the ideas of freedom and democracy. We are the ones who have always taught that every human being is created in the image of God. It is our story of Exodus, our journey from slavery to Sinai, that inspired those whites and blacks, Jews and gentiles, northerners and southerners, to march arm-in-arm in protest of the status quo and to demand change. Together they sang, “We shall overcome,” and in many ways, finally, finally, we can say, “We have overcome.”

Will bigotry disappear? Of course not. Will anti-Semitism and racism vanish? No. Does our nation continue to face enormous challenges and hurdles? Yes. But in the same way the horrible events of September 11, 2001 changed us and the world, the inspiring and historic events of November 4, 2008 have and will continue to change us as well as we continue Abraham’s journey.

After every election, I am always curious and fascinated by what the pundits call the “Jewish vote.” We are a mere 2% of the population of the United States, and yet they speak of our voting block as though it were as powerful as the Catholic vote, the Evangelical vote, or the Black vote, groups that all outnumber us by some 5-20 times. In case you are interested Senator Obama received 78% of the Jewish vote and Senator McCain 22%. There are now 13 Jewish senators (and there will be regardless of who wins the recount in Minnesota as both Norm Coleman and Al Franken are Jewish), and 31 Jewish Members of Congress. Now not all Jews who ran for Congressional office won, including a Latina Jew, a Chinese Jew, and a blind rabbi (yes, it’s true!). However, the new representative from the Denver area is not only Jewish but the first ever openly gay man to be elected to Congress. So, despite our small numbers, we are well represented in our government, something which we can be very proud of, honored, and humbled by.

Tonight at Temple we will have our Family Shabbat Service at 7:00 PM including birthday and anniversary blessings for November. Tomorrow, religious school, Torah Study, and our Shabbat morning services as usual. Afterwards, join me for our monthly “Lunch With The Rabbi.” The topic will be “Shabbat.” Please bring your own lunch (dessert will be provided). Have a very pleasant weekend.