United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism executive vice president and CEO Rabbi Jerome Epstein was one of the three rabbis who partcipated in last week’s Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service. In a letter to the movement reflecting on the experience, he offered this story from his brief meeting with the new president:
Before the service at the Washington National Cathedral began, participants were given a photo opportunity with the president and first lady Michelle Obama as well as with the vice president and Dr. Jill Biden. We were instructed, "Because of time constraints, do not offer any advice; just pose and smile." When it was my turn, I dutifully followed the instructions and did not offer any advice, but when I approached President Obama, I asked whether he would permit me to recite a priestly blessing of biblical origin. When he smiled and said, "I wish you would," I recited it in Hebrew and then in English. When I concluded with the words, "Shalom" — "Peace," he smiled and said "That’s what we need. Peace!" The moment — and his response — gave me spiritual hope for the future.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
