Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on March 4, 2017

HAMDEN >> Rabbi Herbert Brockman of Congregation Mishkan Israel said Friday the late Rabbi Robert Goldburgs legacy was that of social justice, having aligned himself with several progressive causes and justice-minded activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr.

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, the honoree at Fridays Shabbat service at Congregation Mishkan Israels Robert E. Goldburg Peace and Justice Service, addressed those attending on his own outlook on peace and justice in 2017 as a Democratic senator in a time when Republicans control the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

I choose to remain optimistic in what is a deeply troubling time for many of us, Murphy said.

The senator told the congregation that he believes in America, progress is often made in big leaps forward two steps ahead and almost routinely one step back. He said this retrenching is historical to the nation, and the true test of progress comes from recovering from that step backwards.

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I think that is the moment we are in today, he said.

Like Brockman, Murphy reminded the congregation that it has its roots in social justice and wrapping hands and arms around the disenfranchised and dispossessed.

Murphy answered approximately 10 questions from audience members, all of whom expressed fears and concerns about the future under President Donald Trump.

One man, who said he was sitting shiva a part of the mourning process in the Jewish tradition for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asked what Murphy believed was the best possible outcome for the environment in the next four years.

Its incredibly important we stay within the Paris Agreement, Murphy said. The signal to the world community we are staying in that agreement is incredibly important, and right now there is a fight within the administration.

When asked about reliable news sources, Murphy indicated he gets most of his news from the microblogging site Twitter.

I follow the mainstream news, but I also follow outlets on the left and outlets on the right, he said. Im getting a pretty good idea of all the different spins.

Similar to recent public statements by his colleague from Connecticut, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Murphy said he believes the best work being done now is at a truly grass-roots level.

I love that much of this activity is organic, he said. If I had a wishlist, it would be for more student activism.

Murphy said he believes students are already plugged in, but young people have historically led on American social movements.

We need to convince high school students, college students, people in their 20s that theyre going to regret not speaking up and marching 20 to 30 years from now, he said.

As for what Murphy wouldnt do in the pursuit of justice, he said, would be to adopt the same tactics as Republicans did for the last four years after being critical of then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells attempts to defeat former President Barack Obama.

Murphy said repeating the Republican attitude toward Obama would lead to a downward spiral of constant retribution.

As for his views on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, Murphy kept some distance.

I have not made a decision on Judge Gorsuch, he said. Im very worried about some of the things Ive heard from him and I dont want him bringing politics onto the bench.

Outside of the prayer service, Murphy told reporters that in light of a rash of threats on Jewish synagogues and community centers, those locations have often been among the most hospitable to others. When asked, Murphy said Trumps chief strategist Stephen Bannon made a living making money off hate speech as former executive chairman of Breitbart News, which has given a platform to hate speech, and is not an A-level adviser.

Trump himself condemned the recent anti-Semitic behavior at the beginning of his Feb. 28 address to Congress, although he hours earlier implied bomb threats and graveyard vandalism were being done by political enemies to make him look bad.

His words were important. They were strong, Murphy said. But he has to be consistent.

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Murphy balances peace and justice at Hamden synagogue - New Haven Register

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