Our Clergy's Thoughts

Monday, November 4, 2019 / 6 Cheshvan 5780

Friends,

Tomorrow is Election Day. The citizens of our local towns will be electing candidates for a variety of positions: mayors, selectmen, members of commissions and town councils. 

While voting is an American privilege, it is also an essential Jewish value. Although Rabbi Hillel taught “Do not separate yourself from the community” (Pirkei Avot 2:5), that’s not enough. We Jews are taught to take an active role in choosing our leaders. Rabbi Yitzhak taught that, “A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot 55a). 

Because this is considered a general year for elections with mostly local offices being voted on, some people think they don’t have to get to the polls. We are urging you to go out and vote. Everything that most of us care about is affected by local elections: taxes, school programs, roads, local infrastructure, playgrounds, communities’ financial stability, and much more.

American Jews have a long history of fighting for universal voting rights. So it is not just a responsibility to vote, it is even an obligation. Democracy is an awesome experiment that we cannot afford to take for granted. 

Please vote.

Rabbi Stefan Tiwy
Cantor Penny Kessler

For information on voting in Connecticut, click here.
For information on voting in New York State, click here.