Views

A

merican Jewish com-
munities must act now 
to protect democracy 
and voting rights.
Protect the United States 
Postal Services 
(USPS). It is a 
mitzvah. It is 
the single-most 
important thing 
we need to 
do during the 
countdown to 
Nov. 3. 
It is currently 
being gutted, and if it cannot 
function properly, then the 
democratic process that under-
girds the American way of life 
fails. 
Jewish ethics and Talmudic 
teachings call out to us to take 
action. The famous maxim 
of Hillel, “Do not separate 
yourself from the community,
” 
reminds us of the importance 
of supporting the health of 
society (Pirkei Avot 2:4). The 
Talmudic sages make this point 
explicit. This maxim, they 
explain, teaches that when the 
community is suffering, you 
have an obligation to support 
it (Ta’
anit 11a). The deliberate 

sabotage of the USPS is causing 
a unique suffering.
At the same time, we are 
mindful of the consequences 
of living during this modern 
plague of COVID-19. We 
understand that we have an 
obligation to save ourselves and 
protect others through social 
distancing. This, too, is recog-
nized by the Talmudic sages, 
who proclaim the importance 
of isolation from the commu-
nity during a time of plague 
(Bava Kamma 60b). 
The option to vote by mail 
was supposed to relieve the 
tension in these contradictory 
claims made upon us — to 
both separate and not separate 
ourselves from the community. 
Through the USPS, we can do 
both. We can fulfill our obliga-
tion to maintain our society’
s 
health by voting while simulta-
neously preserving the health 
and safety of ourselves and our 
fellow human beings. 
The one pathway open to us 
that would allow us to fulfill 
our ethical obligations to our-
selves, our neighbor, and our 
democratic republic is severely 
constricted. 

Without the postal service, 
people will be forced to choose 
between safeguarding their 
health or safeguarding democ-
racy. This is an untenable 
and unnecessary burden. The 
ongoing dismantling of the U.S. 
Postal Services must be vigor-
ously opposed. It is a Jewish 
ethical obligation. 
Time is running short. 
We must support advoca-
cy groups like the League of 
Women Voters. Demand that 

your representatives and sena-
tors take action now to protect 
the USPS. Press your repre-
sentative to hold Postmaster 
General Louis DeJoy and the 
USPS board of governors 
accountable. Find out what you 
can do locally to help people 
get their absentee ballots to 
their clerk’
s offices. And get 
started now. 

Matthew Kaufman, Ph.D. is the rabbi of 

Congregation Kehillat Israel in Lansing.

Rabbi 
Matthew 
Kaufman, 
Ph.D.

To make a donation to the 
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.djnfoundation.org

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 

29200 Northwestern Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at 

Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: 

Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034.

8 | AUGUST 27 • 2020 

1942 - 2020

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week
jn

Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us

| Editorial
 Editor: Andrew Lapin
alapin@thejewishnews.com
Associate Editor: Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@renmedia.us
Social Media and Digital Producer:
Nathan Vicar
nvicar@renmedia.us
Multimedia Reporter: Corrie Colf 
ccolf@renmedia.us

Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@renmedia.us
Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin
dannyraskin2132@gmail.com
Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar
rsklar@renmedia.us
Contributing Editor: David Sachs

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne 
Chessler, Irwin Cohen, Adam Finkel, 
Louis Finkelman, Maya Goldman, Judy 
Greenwald, Elizabeth Katz, Barbara 
Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Danny Schwartz, 
Mike Smith

| Advertising Sales 
Vice President of Sales and 
Business Development: Carol Kruemmer
ckruemmer@renmedia.us
Senior Account Executive: Keith Farber
kfarber@renmedia.us
Account Executives: 
Kristine Bonds, Tim Brown, 
Catherine Grace, Kathy Harvey-Mitton, 
Anne Perlin

 | Business Office
 Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho
 agusho@renmedia.us
 Operations Assistant / Event Coordinator: 
 Ashlee Szabo
 Circulation: Danielle Smith
Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By 
 Farago & Associates
Manager: Scott Drzewiecki 
Designers: Jessica Joannides, 
Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen,
Michelle Sheridan

| Detroit Jewish News
Partner: 
Arthur M. Horwitz
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Partner: 
F. Kevin Browett
kbrowett@renmedia.us
Partner: Michael H. Steinhardt
How to reach us see page 11

guest column
Protecting Postal Services Is a Mitzvah

Greenberg’s View

