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August 16 • 2018

jn

I couldn’t agree more.
Religion plays a crucial role by
advancing society and taking care
of the most vulnerable among us.
Think of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit: Without
the Jewish concept of tikkun olam,
repairing the world, Federation
would not have the impact it does
and would not touch the lives it is
able to touch.
It’s not in spite of religion, rather
because of it, that our community
dynamic is just that — dynamic.
Through the power of tikkun olam,
the elderly in our community are
cared for, kids of all backgrounds
are able to attend Tamarack Camps,
entrepreneurs are able to start
their own businesses through the
amazing network of Hebrew Free
Loan and young LGBT folks have
a home in our community through
NEXTGen Detroit Pride, an initia-
tive I created and currently chair.
As community members, we can
see the impact religion has on all
our lives every day.
I’m calling on our community
to take Jeff Sessions’ remarks and
implementation of this task force as
a call to action.
We should take his words seri-
ously and hold him accountable
when he remarks on the power
religion has in the world. But we
should also be deeply skeptical by
his definition of religious freedom
and his views of secularism.
It’s understandable for disenfran-
chised groups to view themselves as
victims or oppressed. And it’s quite

easy for a task force such as this to
exacerbate those feelings. But those
groups have a choice: solely focus
on their victimhood or rise above it
and not let their oppression define
their productivity in society.
Jews know all too well how
important religious liberty is —
true religious liberty for all people
of all religions. In this polarizing
time of heated rhetoric and inflam-
matory comments, we have an
opportunity to lead a discussion
of what true religious liberty looks
like.
Defending true religious liberty
will combat the narrative that secu-
larism and secular people are the
ills of society. We must rise above
our oppression status and actively
work within our own communities
to make this country one that is
peaceful and fair for all people —
regardless of their religious affilia-
tion.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks grace-
fully says, “The crimes of religion
have one thing in common. They
involve making God in our image
instead of letting Him remake us in
His.”
Let us allow our Jewish teachings
to guide us and give us strength
through whatever more seems like
a confusing and scary world. Only
then, will the present seem brighter
and the future more promising —
for all. •

Sam Dubin is creator and chair of NEXTGen
Detroit Pride and board member of
NEXTGen Detroit.