Letter to The White House, NY Times, East Bay Times, and SF Chronicle, sent out on June 6, 2020.
As a religious leader in Contra Costa County, California. I demand that the White House, stop playing politics with religion.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s tweet on June 5 accusing Contra Costa County of discriminating against religious services was either an outright lie or an all too common attempt by our President and his staff to promote anger and resentment to mobilize his so-called “base.” This is unacceptable and must be rejected by all people of faith.
The Bible teaches that preserving human life supercedes all religious commitments (Leviticus 18:5). To promote religious services that put worshipers at risk of infection or death from COVID 19 is immoral. I will continue to put the health and safety of my congregants first and not put them at risk. There are many ways to live out our religious commitments other than going to mosque, church, synagogue or temple.
I am proud of my County Health Services and my County Supervisor, John Gioia, for standing up to the White House and correcting Ms. McEnany’s lie.
God is the force for wholeness, healing, and unity in our world. The Bible teaches us that human beings were all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Period. Without qualification. No one is superior or inferior to another. All human beings are precious to God. To use religion to divide us is blasphemy and a desecration of God’s holy name.
Rabbi Dean Kertesz June 6 Letter
June 12, 2020 by tbhrich •
Letter to The White House, NY Times, East Bay Times, and SF Chronicle, sent out on June 6, 2020.
As a religious leader in Contra Costa County, California. I demand that the White House, stop playing politics with religion.
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s tweet on June 5 accusing Contra Costa County of discriminating against religious services was either an outright lie or an all too common attempt by our President and his staff to promote anger and resentment to mobilize his so-called “base.” This is unacceptable and must be rejected by all people of faith.
The Bible teaches that preserving human life supercedes all religious commitments (Leviticus 18:5). To promote religious services that put worshipers at risk of infection or death from COVID 19 is immoral. I will continue to put the health and safety of my congregants first and not put them at risk. There are many ways to live out our religious commitments other than going to mosque, church, synagogue or temple.
I am proud of my County Health Services and my County Supervisor, John Gioia, for standing up to the White House and correcting Ms. McEnany’s lie.
God is the force for wholeness, healing, and unity in our world. The Bible teaches us that human beings were all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Period. Without qualification. No one is superior or inferior to another. All human beings are precious to God. To use religion to divide us is blasphemy and a desecration of God’s holy name.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Dean Kertesz
Temple Beth Hillel
Richmond, Ca