The great 20th Century American, Marian Anderson spoke about the effects of prejudice on an individual. She observed that "as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it
means you cannot soar as you otherwise might."
Her observation teaches us that two people are hurt by prejudice, the oppressed and the oppressor. It takes energy to suppress another human being. Energy that might have been used to create instead of destroy.
May the Holy One, the Creator of all humanity, enable us to direct our energy in such a way as to elevate ourselves and others, and may we learn to work in partnership with those whom we do not always understand. May this be God`s will--AMEN
Senate Chaplain Rabbi Mona Alfi
Prayer Date
05/19/2011