Rabbi Shai Held

Thank you: Rep. John Katko; Rep. Liz Cheney; Rep. Adam Kinzinger; Rep. Fred Upton; Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler; Rep. Dan Newhouse; Rep. Peter Meijer; Rep. Anthony Gonzalez; Rep.Tom Rice; Rep. David Valadao-- islands of decency and patriotism amidst a sickening swamp of Trumpism.

This year, with all that we've been forced to live through, maybe we can actually grapple with MLK's demanding vision and blistering critique of American society instead of reducing him to a teddy bear that makes no demands.

And many of us have been shedding dearly held illusions for a very long time now-- about political groups we valued, about religious communities we felt attached to, about family members and friends we admired. Lots of loss. It's okay to grieve. 2

Pastoral mode for just a moment-there is lots to do and vigilance to maintain. But give yourself at least some time to mourn.Bad as the past four years have been, we lost something immensely precious last week. 1

4,000 Americans died yesterday in significant part because of the incompetence and malevolence of the president that you supported and enabled. We could not care less how many Twitter followers you lost.

Maybe they do still believe in the God who loves the victims; it's just that they've convinced themselves that they're the only true victims. 2

Remember when right wing culture warriors would complain about "the culture of complaint" on the left? Amazing how large swaths of the right became the very thing they claimed to detest. 1

Keep thinking that it would be good for a compassionate church committed to the teachings of Jesus to have a mission to "convert" the Grahams, Falwells, Dobsons, Bennetts, and Jeffresses of the world and help them rediscover authentic Christianity.

The difference between hoping and (merely) wishing is commitment. To have hope is to be committed. If you want to have hope in the wake of the nightmare that has been Trump and Trumpism, *commit.*

Elected officials of both parties: if you care a whit about America, impeach and remove him now.

Just imagine if the terrorists had black or brown skin. We'd have had hundreds dead, thousands arrested. 13 arrests?! 13?!

When will @twitter finally ban this seditious thug? https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1346954970910707712 …

Any religious leader of any political persuasion who does not condemn Trump forcefully and in no uncertain terms ought to be condemned themselves. The time for pussyfooting is over. Speak now or let God and history judge you.

Reports have it that @SenatorCollins is deeply concerned.

מפגינים? לא, מחבלים ומחללי שם שמיים.https://twitter.com/GiladCohenJR/status/1344878996148932609 …

What did the Soup Nazi say to Rudy Giuliani? "No coup for you." You're welcome. H/t Vox podcast