This week, Jews throughout the world read from parashat Emor. One of the few weekly Torah readings from the Book of Leviticus that contains narrative elements, Emor concludes with the tale of a man with an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father who curses using the name of God. When Moses seeks counsel, God seizes the opportunity to remind Moses that the Israelites should, “…have one standard for stranger and citizen alike, for I, Adonai, am your God (Leviticus 24:22).” Thus, the blasphemer is condemned to death by stoning.
As we continue to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, we discover that, throughout its history, the American Jewish community has left an indelible imprint upon the United States through its relentless efforts to help our country live up to the lofty standard set forth in Emor, both in our efforts to advance the rights and opportunities available in America to the Jewish community and to Jewish immigration, as well as our efforts to advance the rights and opportunities available in America to all peoples, regardless of their heritage, race, ethnicity, or origin.
In many ways, American Jewry has helped define the meaning of liberty by working tirelessly to champion an America where everyone – no matter what we look like or what we sound like, no matter where we come from or where we’re going, no matter Whom we worship or whom we love – can drink from the chalice of freedom and opportunity.
As long as that struggle persists, so must our efforts, to ensure that America remains free for Jews and free for all.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel