In Theory: What should be said at Trump’s inauguration?

In his latest “Martini Judaism” column, Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin ponders the question, “What should Rabbi Hier say at the inauguration?”

Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, has been invited by President-elect Donald Trump to offer a blessing at the presidential inauguration. However, an online petition is asking Hier to withdraw from the ceremony.

Salkin writes that Hier should offer a blessing, going so far as to write one himself, which closes with:

“We ask that you bless this new president with the ability to speak out against injustice; against the new wave of hatred against Muslims, immigrants, Jews, LGBT Americans, and others who suffer the sting of Otherness.

“Remind him of the covenant that George Washington made with the Jews of Newport: “the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.”

Q. What blessing would you offer at Trump’s inauguration?

First, I’d pray that God would bless and fill President-elect Trump with wisdom and courage to lead our nation in a manner that would honor God, claiming the divinely promised result “that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2).

I would ask that God would give him boldness and integrity to lead a government that praises citizens whose conduct is good and honorable and that punishes those who do evil, within the limits of law, reason and appropriate measure.

I would pray for our country, that we would humble ourselves before God and through faith anticipate the resultant blessings he promises. I would pray for God’s protection from our enemies, even as we have compassion for people whose ethnic origins are every corner of the Earth.

I would pray that as Commander in Chief our president would direct our armed forces members to the greatest effectiveness and greatest possible preservation of lives.

I would pray for the institution of the family in America as it is the fundamental building block of any society.

And, for heaven’s sake, I’d show up at the inauguration instead of boycotting it. Whether or not anyone disagrees with Mr. Trump personally, he will be our president. We could spend four years trying to tear him down, but in the process we would only tear ourselves down, and our country as well. Better to exercise our right to freedom of speech, freedom of the pursuit of what we believe will build our nation and the freedom to vote again in four years.

Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank

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In the fantasy world in which our uncontrolled tweeter-elect has invited me to deliver a blessing at his inauguration I would feel compelled to decline. Legitimacy in the sense of “in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards” certainly does not apply to the election or to his conduct so far, and I don’t want any part in a U.S. presidency that gives every appearance of being a train wreck.

But let’s pretend Mr. Trump manages to convince me to show up for the official event on the 20th. I would find words to move this man who proudly spurns self-examination to look within himself and find there a capacity to care about someone other than himself. I would speak so eloquently that this man who never reads anything longer than a tweet would develop intellectual curiosity and an attention span long enough to learn a few basics about our government.

After helping Tin Man find his heart and Scarecrow his brain, I’ll move on to settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You’re welcome.

Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose

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I am not sure why there would be a call to boycott or “withdraw” from Trump’s inauguration. How has Trump shown himself to be hateful to the Jews? He’s actually inviting their participation. I think the Rabbi should count it a blessing to be included on such an auspicious occasion, and I do not think this is a moment to bow to special interests or the sour grapes of those who didn’t get their way with the election, and scold the incoming leader of the free world under the guise of religious invocation. In hearing about the unnecessary tempest, I would advise the president to make sure there will not be any religio-political shenanigans (or rather, mishegas) and ask for a manuscript for review ahead of time. Certainly Rabbi Hier could go off the approved text, but it wouldn’t speak well for him or his community.

If I had to give an inauguration prayer, I’d say the things we all hope for in our leader; things we can all rally behind, and not things to make myself memorable for how I picked out certain perceived controversies and made myself judge over the yet untested Newly Elected. When the Jews were exiled to Babylon, the prophet Jeremiah conveyed to them these words, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says ... seek the peace and prosperity of the city [nation] to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:4,7). The leader of our land is our president. Pray for him, for his ear to God’s guidance, for his blessing as God’s administrator; allowed by God for this time to sit in the seat of the presidency in a country that still professes allegiance as “One Nation Under God.”

The president is not a king, and he is only a man. Like any other, he may show himself great — or a great failure. Time will tell. Until then, let’s join together in hopeful expectation and pray for his success in making America one also. Pray that President Trump truly realizes his campaign slogan in our time.

Rev. Bryan A. Griem
Tujunga