Posted by
Rabbi Ron Symons on August 25, 2017
We are living in very challenging times. Protesters, advocates, and politicians are trying to spin our moral compasses in such a way so that we have little sense of which way to step. But we know in which direction we should march: the moral direction that is taught by all of our faith traditions, the direction of “love your neighbor as yourself” and “do not stand idle while your neighbor bleeds.” Our fathers and mothers marched in this direction, and so must we, so that our children will in their day and so that we can create a world where hate, bigotry, racism and discrimination have no place in society, no matter the voice speaking them nor the unspoken words of those in power.
Monday, August 28, 2017, marks the 54th anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington. While many clergy from around the country will be attending a march on Washington on that day, we suggest a more local approach. Current events demand that we remind ourselves of the rich history of social justice preaching in our assorted faith traditions, so that we can be agents of love and not hatred. We need to recalibrate the community’s moral compass.
In that vein, as a first program of the JCC’s Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement, we are pleased to partner with Christian Associates of Southwestern PA in sponsoring:
A Clergy Forum of Social Justice Sermons
Monday, August 28, 2017
1:30 – 3:00 PM
JCC of Greater Pittsburgh
Robinson Building
Darlington Road and Murray Avenue
We will spend our first hour reliving (through video/written word) and discussing excerpts from great social justice sermons from across our faiths. We will then sign our names on an interfaith declaration to the Greater Pittsburgh Community about unity in the face of racism and bigotry.
While this event is designed for clergy (over 30 Jewish Christian and Muslim clergy have indicated they are joining us), we welcome you, no matter your religion or race, profession or role in the community, to join us. It should be fascinating and an important moment of motivation.
