From the Desk of Lynn Davis, Interim Executive Director
“The vote is precious. It is almost sacred.” Those words from the late Representative, Baptist minister, and civil rights icon John Lewis inspired the name for the Vote Is Sacred Tour, which spanned the country ahead of the November 3 election. On October 29, I had the honor of joining people of many faiths here in Tucson as part of the tour. It was a beautiful evening of reflection on how our values can guide the way we show up in civic life.
I invite you to read my remarks below:
We gather tonight as people of different faiths and traditions, united in our hope for a nation where every person is treated with dignity, every voice is heard, and every community has a place at the table.
We remember the teaching of the sage Hillel: “Al tifros min hatzibur” — “Do not separate yourself from the community” - reminding us that we do not live for ourselves alone. We are bound to one another, and the well-being of our neighbors is inseparable from our own. We ask for the courage to participate in the life of our communities, to choose our leaders thoughtfully, and to accept the responsibilities that accompany the blessings of citizenship.
We recall the teaching of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who reminded the Jewish community that gratitude for the freedoms of this country must find expression in action. The Jewish tradition calls this hakarat hatov — the recognition of goodness and the obligation to give thanks. May we understand gratitude not merely as a feeling in our hearts, but as a responsibility expressed through our deeds.
An immigrant who escaped Belorussia and came to the United States in 1937 at the age of 41, Rabbi Feinstein once penned a letter to reiterate the Jewish responsibility to vote. He wrote:
“On reaching the shores of the United States, Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety.
A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakarat hatov -- recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which guards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility of each individual is to register and to vote.
Therefore, I urge all members of the Jewish community to fulfill their obligations by registering as soon as possible and by voting. By this, we can express our appreciation and contribute to the continued security of our community.”
Rabbi Feinstein’s words offered more than an approach to civic duty; they demonstrate a way to directly connect our values with our civic practice.
We give thanks for those who have struggled throughout our nation’s history to make the promise of democracy more fully real. We remember the civil rights leaders, clergy, organizers, and ordinary people who risked their safety and sometimes their lives to challenge injustice and secure the right to vote. We honor the men and women who stood alongside their Black brothers and sisters in that struggle, and we remember the role of Jewish clergy, including Tucson’s own Rabbi Joseph Gumbiner, in support of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
May their courage strengthen our own. May their sacrifices remind us that justice is never finished, that freedom must be continually protected, and that the promise of equality must extend to every generation.
We will give thanks for our freedoms by protecting them, for our rights by exercising them, and for our democracy by participating in it. May we never take for granted the liberty to worship, to speak, to assemble, or to cast our votes. May our gratitude inspire us to safeguard these blessings not only for ourselves, but for all who call this nation home.
May gratitude move us to action. May faith move us to service. May hope move us to persevere. And may the voices of all our people be heard in the shared work of building a more just and peaceful world.
May we never separate ourselves from our community. May we never take our freedoms for granted. And may we always remember that the health of our democracy depends upon the participation, courage, and conscience of us all.