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Chaplain's Corner

The Pastoral Is the Political

BY RABBI BARRY COHEN stopped by a cop. Previously, I
had witnessed drivers who had
I have mixed feelings about been pulled over standing out-
our country. I was raised and side their cars, talking to police
Published biweekly by educated believing in a lofty, officers. In addition, my parents
Jewish Federation of romanticized vision. Slowly, never had a conversation with
Greater Portland this vision has been broken me about what steps to follow
9900 SW Greenburg Road, down, brick by brick, floor by when I am pulled over. Without
Suite 220 floor, building by building. I thinking, I got out of my car
Tigard, OR 97223 see more clearly both our fun- and engaged the police officer
503-245-6219 damental flaws and our inher- in conversation. He asked me
JewishPortland.org ent strengths. whether I had been drinking
During these past months, and why I swerved the car. I
Editor I have learned the history explained I had not been drink-
I should have been taught, ing and had to swerve to avoid
Deborah Moon whether through many virtu- a pothole. He let me go with a
editor@jewishportland.org al Zoom sessions (such as the warning. Rabbi Barry Cohen is the
503-892-7404 (message) recent summit, “A Community In retrospect, how would that Jewish community chaplain of
Call to Confront Hate”) or in- scenario had played out differ- the Greater Portland area.
Circulation dependent reading. I recently ently if I were a Black teenager
To receive the Jewish finished Caste, by Isabel Wilk- driving late at night in a pre- lieve in democracy for all.
Review in your email inbox, erson and am almost finished dominantly white neighbor- I wonder if my words are ag-
email your name and email with The New Jim Crow by hood in Memphis? How would gravating you. You may be ask-
address to Michelle Alexander. the police officer have reacted ing, “Why are you even writing
editor@jewishportland.org I have also gained valuable in- to my exiting the car? Would about this? Why don’t you stay
sight by learning about the 1921 I have found myself lying face in your chaplain lane?”
OPINIONS printed in the Tulsa race massacre, which tar- down on the pavement? Would Years ago, Thomas Mann
Jewish Review do not geted the city’s African Amer- I have been taken into custody? taught that “everything is pol-
necessarily reflect those ican community and stripped Would I have entered the justice itics.” Mann was a novelist,
it completely of its wealth. (I system? What would have been social critic, philanthropist and
of the Jewish Review lived in Oklahoma City, right the implications on the future I recipient of the 1929 Nobel
Committee, the Jewish down the road from Tulsa, for envisioned? Prize in literature. He and his
Federation of Greater eight years, and I recall that Have I benefitted from white family fled Germany when Hit-
Portland, its governing tragedy mentioned only once privilege throughout my life? ler came to power.
board or the staffs of either or twice.) I learned about “the From high school, to college, to To me “everything is (poten-
the newspaper or the 1619 Project,” which highlights where I have lived, to where my tially) pastoral.” And part of
Federation. the role slavery has played in kids have gone to school, to the the pastoral is building con-
our country’s history and the medical care we have received, nections with others and learn-
Upcoming contributions Black Americans etc. etc. etc.? Absolutely. ing how to acquire power to
have made to our culture and
effect change.
But there’s more to the sto-
issues our national identity. ry. While I have privilege, So what can we do to effect
I clearly understand ways I in many ways, I lack power. positive change in our country?
Issue date Deadline have benefitted from white From my youth, I was taught We can get educated about the
privilege. As a single parent the “American Dream,” and real United States, warts and
of two high schoolers, I have that it was a foregone con- all. We can become self-aware
June 23 June 17 devoted a great deal of time, clusion I would become more about the role we play in our
energy and resources to teach- economically successful than country. We can identify and
ing them how to navigate an in- my parents. That is not the embrace what we have in com-
July 7 June 30 creasingly complicated world. case. My father, as an inde- mon with others. We can empa-
In that spirit, let me share just pendent, successful entrepre- thize with those we consider to
July 21 July 15 one anecdote of how I benefit- neur, had much more power to be “other” or “different.” And
ted from white privilege when effect change than I do. of course, we can vote.
Aug. 4 July 29 I was in high school living in We are witnessing a coun- Then repeat.
Along the way, I will guide
Memphis: One Saturday late try where those in power are
night, I was driving home. I had attempting to divide and con- myself by one of my favorite
Submit news, photos to swerve to avoid a pothole. A quer. One aspect of this effort Jewish concepts: Keep my
and obituaries by the police officer parked on a side concerns voting rights. I would feet in the world as it is. But
street saw what happened and argue that too many of those lift up my eyes and gaze upon
issue deadline to immediately pulled me over. who have political power in the vision of what the world
editor@jewishportland.org This was the first time I was our democracy do not truly be- should be.
12 Jewish Review June 9, 2021