Our country is changing.

Normally, we would say that change is good. But, the change that is coming over America is anything but. I admit that as a Jewish individual, I may feel this change more prominently than most. Why would that be true?

For most of our existence, Jews have remained as Jews without having any land. Oh, sure, we yearned to have control of Jerusalem. The pledge of allegiance that Israel adopted comes from the Psalms. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose its capabilities. (Most folks are righties; I’ve been tempted many times to change my credo to include the left hand.)

The religion of the Jews involves the following of 613 mitvot- positive and negative commandments. And, sure, most of these can never be performed. 99 involve situations that arise so infrequently as to be virtually non-existent, and 344 require that the Great Temple be back in existence AND presupposes one reverts to a sacrificial practice (animal and agricultural), instead of prayer. But, still we pray each day (many of us thrice), follow the rituals and practices, and work towards making this world a better place each and every day.

I remember as a child and as I grew up, I was often asked to choose between my religion and my patriotism. Long ago, I recognized that I was an American Jew. Not a Jewish American. (Think about it.  There IS a difference.) And, that did not make me believe less in the concept of America. I just understood it better than most.

America- the concept and the nation- was set up as a credo nation, as well. Since Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, we Americans have been defined as a nation of individuals where each of us believe in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; that the just powers of the government derive from the consent of us- the governed; that we operate as republic, and we form a perform union- one and inseparable that relies on the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity.

The Civil War- despite all the hoopla about slavery and state’s rights (which is the opposite of this creed, by the way)- was fought  to ensure that the nation maintained its credo.

Except now, as was true 150 years ago, too many of us feel that our nationhood relies on the color of our skin, the place of our origin, and some others (thankfully, not even the majority of these misbegotten folk) adhere to the concept that only the Christian religious beliefs can be sustained by our nation.

I fear the results should these xenophobic folk control even more of the levers of our government than they do now. Because America is the only nation that was established by credo. And, that is what truly defines American exceptionalism.

We hold these truths to be self-evident… FOR ALL.

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