On this day after the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, I hope you will take a moment to read the following excerpt from an article written by Chancellor Arnold Eisen of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about the words of the kaddish, the memorial prayer that Jews recite daily in the months immediately following the passing of those closest to us and that we say as well to mark the yearly anniversary of their deaths. The very first line of the kaddish is especially meaningful to me. I think its words have a lot to say to all Americans of whatever faith or creed.
“May God’s great name be magnified and sanctified in the world that He created in accordance with His will.”
…How do we make God’s name great and holy? Not only (and not primarily) by reciting this or any other prayer. We sanctify God’s name by doing good together in the world.
This is the principle known in Judaism and other faiths as imitatio dei: “imitating God.” As God performs deeds of justice and loving-kindness, so we, too, should do such deeds. As God comforts those who mourn, so can we. Every one of us, this day and every day, can be a source of goodness to the world and a source of strength and hope to one another. We can thereby bring the kingdom of God closer.
…None of us can bring back to life those who perished on 9/11. Nor can we put an end to the threat of future terrorist atrocities, though we must try….
…That is the kind of peace for which the kaddish urges us to pray on earth — and for which it urges us to work. A dynamic rather than a static peace. An order that actively brings diverse individuals and groups together, not one that aims for sameness and homogeneity…. We don’t wish, in the face of tragedy, for everyone to think or believe as we do. We pray that we, and they, will have what it takes to bring great peace in and through our difference–even when it hurts, even on 9/11, even at ground zero.
For the entire article, check out the following link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arnold-m-eisen/lessons-from-kaddish-911_b_945993.html
May the memory of all who perished on September 11, 2001 be for a blessing.