Some of us started crying. Some of us wanted to shout. And for anyone watching the verdict being announced in the murder of George Floyd, the most appropriate and widespread reaction on Tuesday was—to breathe. Breathe a sigh of relief. A breath of fresh air. Breathe the breath of life that was extinguished in George Floyd and do not take it for granted. For a brief moment, we were able to see a glimmer of change.
And in the aftermath, what lessons can we, as bearers of an ancient heritage that calls us to pursue justice, take away from the resounding verdict of Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.
This week’s double Torah portion, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, offers remarkable guidance, beginning with the first words of Acharei Mot:
“After the death of the two sons of Aaron…tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come at will into the Shrine behind the curtain, in front of the cover upon the ark, lest he die.” (Lev. 16:1)
Just as we have learned in the eleven months since George Floyd was murdered, death and grief have the power to transform us. Following the tragic death of his two adult sons, Aaron is reminded that following his loss he must be even more mindful of the weight of his responsibilities. Aaron cannot let his grief and anger overpower him; neither can he ignore what he has seen as if nothing has changed. Just as Aaron weighs the responsibility for bringing atonement to the community, so each of us must face accountability and make reparations for the ongoing murder of Black and Brown people by police every day.
A guilty verdict is one form of accountability, but it is not justice. To achieve justice, guilt must bring atonement, which is action.
The second portion of the week is Kedoshim, the doctrine of holiness. We might think that Aaron and the priests are holy and that the Tabernacle and Temple are holy. But in this portion at the heart of Torah, we learn that holiness is not found in a specific place or saintly person. Holiness is what we become. Kedoshim tiheyu—you will become holy when you do not stand idly by your bleeding neighbor. You will become holy when you create a system of justice that respects each individual whether they are rich or poor. You will become holy when you establish truth and honesty as your bottom line. You will become holy when you uproot hate from your heart, refrain from vengeance, and learn to see your neighbor, whether friend or stranger, as another beloved soul created in the divine image. Holiness establishes a structure for a society whose foundation is empathy.
Last summer’s massive peaceful protests brought world-wide attention to America’s shameful and ongoing white supremacy, even as the backlash during and after the election reminded us of the urgency of change. We must remain undeterred in our action and advocacy, as we seek to uproot hate, dismantle inequity, and rebuild our society according to the moral framework that we glean from Torah’s wisdom.
Rabbi Barbara Penzner