As the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle went to press last week, a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges stemming from the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, last year.
The April 20 verdict prompted various responses from local rabbis, agencies, and organizations — shared mostly via social media and email. Below are some of the messages conveyed to the community and congregations.
Congregation Beth Torah
During the last year our country has been shaken by many acts of violence against Black and Brown individuals, sometimes, even at the hands of those whose job was to protect them. Yesterday, we witnessed the end of a trial that we pray will mark the beginning of accountability and, perhaps, equal justice for all in our nation.
As the president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, Rabbi Javier Cattapan supports this statement, as does our entire congregation.
Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City welcomes the jury’s verdict of guilty on all three counts in the trial for the murder of Mr. George Floyd. The verdict ends an important chapter in the pursuit of justice for Mr. Floyd and his family. We recognize that one conviction is not enough to end the racist systems that have plagued our nation for centuries.
As leaders and teachers of our people, we embrace what the Torah teaches us: We are created b’tzelem Elohim (in the Divine image) and must put the value of all human life at the center of our faith. We encourage every member of our Jewish community to continue working together to end all forms of discrimination in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
As we aspire to a better, more just future for us all, we pray for comfort for George Floyd’s family and for all those who mourn with them. We stand in solidarity with the families of all the victims of police brutality and pray for the day when accountability and equal justice for all becomes a reality.
With the prophet Amos we declare, “Let justice well up like water, and righteousness like an unfailing stream. (Amos 5:24).
Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel teaches, “[...] Righteousness is not a trickle; it is God’s power in the world, a torrent, an impetuous drive, full of grandeur and majesty. [...] Righteousness is a vast and mighty stream because God is its unfailing source.” (p. 272)
We pray that may we join God’s power in doing the work of tzedek, of righteousness; may we add ever more strength to that mighty stream of righteousness.
Rabbi David M. Glickman,
Congregation Beth Shalom
The world watched and listened yesterday as the guilty verdicts were read in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis.
The images of this act of violence and the death of George Floyd made visible many of the worst fears in our country. The videos brought to the front of mind the hundreds of years of permitted violence against Black people.
Millions bore witness to those harrowing nine and a half minutes of footage. Outrage from this violent incident sparked protests demanding racial justice throughout last summer and into the fall.
On television this week you could see George Floyd’s brother in conversation with Emmett Till’s cousin; this was an additional stark reminder of our nation’s painful history.
At the time of the funeral of the murdered 14-year-old, Emmett Till, his mother, Mamie Elizabeth Till-Mosley said, “I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby.” Darnella Frazier was a 17-year-old bystander last spring when she had the courage to open her eyes, and open our eyes, by filming Floyd’s arrest and murder in Minnesota.
In the Book of Exodus, the word “to see” is attached to many characters who are forces of liberation. The Hebrew midwives see if a baby is a boy and needs to be saved. Pharaoh’s daughter sees the infant Moses floating in the Nile. Moses sees the suffering of his brethren and sees a taskmaster beating an Israelite.
Ms. Frazier saw, and her video allowed others to see. The jurors saw and were able to deliver justice. My hope is that we can see the power of this verdict, and also continue to see the injustice in our nation.
Our community is grateful for the support and cooperation that we receive from local law enforcement. However, historically, this has not always been the case. There have been times and places where Jews were afraid of law enforcement.
That historical experience gives us empathy for the experience of Black people and minorities who have legitimate fears when interacting with law enforcement — even at a time when we enjoy and are grateful for strong support and cooperation we receive from local law enforcement and officers who care so much and work hard to protect us.
Those relationships, together with this earned empathy, can empower us to be strong partners in creating systems of justice that help everyone in our community.
I am thinking today of the family and friends of George Floyd. I am praying that this verdict brings them a small droplet of comfort after the unthinkable loss.
I am living with the image from the prophet Amos which is referenced by Dr. King in his most famous speech: But let justice well up like water, Righteousness like an unfailing stream. (Amos 5:24)
I pray that we can be partners in increasing justice, be good members of our greater community, and an influence for peace as we continue to pursue for our nation the process of becoming that more perfect union we dream of.
Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City
Yesterday, we all received the long-awaited news that police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted for the killing of George Floyd. JFS believes this is an important step of accountability and healing against a backdrop of pervasive racial injustice. While this verdict does not represent complete justice or expunge the violence continually experienced by communities of color, it is a reminder we must continue to pursue our role in forming more equitable organizations and communities.
Guided by the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the world,” we join the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies in continuing to find ways to pursue justice, equity, and equality for all people, learning to recognize and fight both everyday instances of discrimination and institutional racial injustice.
Sarah Smiley, sustaining rabbi, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah
Guilty on all counts in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
16 year old shot and killed in Columbus, Ohio.
One step forward, one step in the same direction.
Some justice, some injustice.
When the verdict came in, I was reminded of the words from Leviticus that teach us “You shall not stand idly by while your neighbor bleeds.”
After witnessing George Floyd’s murder last summer and watching the horrific video over and over again, many participated in protests and marches, educated themselves, spoke out against racism as ways of not standing idly by.
We must continue this work to fight injustice in our world. While the verdict held Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions, true justice will only come when all people — no matter their skin color — are treated equally, and trials like this one are no longer necessary.
Jews are taught to accept others, without prejudice or bias.
The Torah, in Leviticus, states “You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman, but incur no guilt because of them. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your compatriot. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Eternal.”
We must work together for the day when we can truly say all people are treated b’tzelem Elohim - like they are created in the image of God. I have to believe that one day we can live these words of Torah and everyone will have the ability to love their fellow as themselves.
Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee
[The organization shared the tweet of the national AJC: “Nothing can bring back the life of George Floyd. But, at the very least, justice has been served today.’] JCRB|AJC Executive Director Gavriela Geller added via email:
Although we are glad that the legal system delivered accountability in the verdict of Derek Chauvin, real justice remains elusive as long as our system continues to take the lives of Black men, women and children — a system that most recently killed Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old child. In the words of the poet Amanda Gorman, “Victory would be George Floyd being alive. Every day Black Americans worry if they will be next is another day without justice.” JCRB|AJC is committed to continuing our work with our partners in the Black community towards a more just society.
