Our Civic Covenant: Faith and Democracy
In a time of deep societal division and rising anxiety, Rabbi Adrian Schell delivers a powerful address for Civic Shabbat, "A Covenant of Courage."
Drawing on the ancient call to Abraham in Parashat Lech Lecha and the prophet Micah's vision of peace, Rabbi Schell explores the urgent challenge of our time: the breaking of our "civic covenant". He confronts the corrosive effects of populist language and the resurgence of antisemitism, arguing that these are not just political issues, but a profound moral crisis that threatens the soul of democracy itself.
This sermon is a call to reject the politics of grievance and instead answer the timeless call to "go forth, not to conquer, but to kindle". It is a powerful reminder that in the face of fear, our greatest strength lies in our shared commitment to decency, justice, and one another.