Facebook Post by Rabbi Perlin in the Time of Coronavirus (4/21/2020)
Tuesday Post 4.21.20: Democracy Dies in Darkness
by Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.
Not a word. I read the entire #Washington Post, cover to cover as I do every morning, and there was not ONE WORD that today is Holocaust Remembrance Day/Yom HaShoah. Yes, there is a pandemic, a failure of presidential leadership in our country, problems with the allocation of funds to small businesses, crazies who are protesting and risking lives, and hunger across America that has no adequate federal response, BUT today is the commemoration of the greatest genocide humanity has ever seen and there was NOT ONE WORD.
The Kids Post page highlighted Earth Day tomorrow, but not one lesson for children on why demonizing the other, racism, anti-Semitism, denying the refugee asylum is unacceptable in a civil society. I was glad to see that there will be accommodations for Covid victims and health care workers during Ramadan, and particularly liked the praise of the handling of the crisis by women leaders around. But, can anyone explain why there wasn’t even one inch to indicate that Jews around the world are in mourning for the scourge on the soul of humanity that irreparably changed the face of our people and our survival?
I had planned on writing about celebrating the meaningful 15-minute service our TBS community shared last night, as we all lit our Yom HaShoah candles together on Zoom. It occurred to me at that moment, that we should always do it this way. What a phenomenal use of technology. What a wonderful, new way to create community! How else could we gather over 50 people on a weeknight at sundown to share in a sacred moment, when we all live so very far from one another (some an hour away – and others another state away)?
But, yesterday’s anger just continues today, as there is just one more reminder that “democracy dies in darkness.” (See the picture- it is the line under every Post masthead.) You failed me today, Washington Post. You failed the Jews and all the good people of the world who still believe that journalism is a force for good.
I suppose that my anger will give way to sadness. But, for the sake of those whose lives were lost and those who survived, I will not dwell on either of those emotions. Today of all days, I will focus on the sacred Jewish value of remembering. Now more than ever, someone has to remember.
