Cantorial Commentary: My strange trip to the Tennessee House of Representatives

I recently had the unique opportunity to serve as “Chaplain of the Day” for the 114th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee House of Representatives at the invitation of our congregant, John Ray Clemmons (D-District 55.) This honor is given to religious and community leaders of all backgrounds, and with it comes the opportunity to give an invocation prayer at the beginning of the assembly. The only parameters I was given were to keep it under four minutes, to avoid proselytizing of any kind, and to avoid making any specific political statements for or against any policies, legislations, or persons. A narrow tightrope to walk, but not impossible as long as I chose my words intentionally. 

I woke up early to drive downtown, a little more nervous that I normally am before appearing before a crowd. When I arrived at the Capital building, I was directed to a (very nice) parking spot, escorted through security, and through the grand doors of the impossibly tall house chamber. Assembled right outside the Chamber behind velvet stanchions was a crowd of a few dozen protesters holding signs and chanting— clearly impassioned and angry about one of the bills that was on the docket for the day: House Bill 1473. I had heard rumors about this bill, but didn’t know how much the general public would be aware of it. Brought forward by Representative Gino Bulso, this bill had one explicit goal: to absolve individuals and organizations of the fourteenth Amendment requirement such that they no longer have to recognize same sex-marriages in the state of Tennessee and are free to discriminate against same-sex couples. An abhorrent concept and perversion of the constitution no matter which way you slice it, republican, democratic, or otherwise. 

In addition to my invocation comments during which I spoke about justice, mercy, and righteousness, I knew I wanted to end with a song of some sort. Music has a way of disarming and softening up hardened hearts. I couldn’t easily find a song that I felt fit the moment, and one that I could do acapella, so I ended up writing my own. In the tradition of great civil rights songs of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, and inspired by the Biblical prophet Amos, I wrote this lyric: 

Let justice roll like a river and kindness like a mighty stream 
let us not forget that we are all set in God‘s image, b’tzelem Elohim 

Let each of us hold onto hope 
Let each of us hold out our hand 
To help out our brothers and sisters who suffer 
All throughout this land 

And our work shall not be finished 
Our task shall not be complete 
Until every man, every woman, and child 
In this nation can say “I am free” 

Unfortunately, my “apolitical” invocation was not enough to prevent the aforementioned bill from passing (with flying colors.) In fact, during the debates on the bill, representative Monty Fritts referenced my speech to support bill 1473. He said, “Our chaplain reminded us something this morning in his kind words and in song, that as image bearers of Almighty God, we are reminded to love one another…Many times the courts have assumed things that the constitution does not assert…in this case the court decided to redefine something that almighty God had not given that court the authority to redefine.” I guess he missed my point entirely. 

In addition, my disappointment at the bill being passed, I was also disheartened to see that I ended up getting more airtime than elected official, Justin Jones (of the “Tennessee three.”) Despite having his hand raised for most of the session, he was not called upon to speak even once. Having met him several times now, and listened to him speak many times, it is a tragedy and an injustice to prevent the world from hearing his wisdom in particular. 

I have absolutely no aspirations to become a politician, but it was indeed an honor to get to bring my Jewish perspective and represent the Jewish community in our legislative process. I feel like I got a glimpse into the belly of the beast. I pray that one our state officials can find a way to promote and maintain the God given rights of all of its citizens. As philosopher Karl Popper articulates, the “paradox of tolerance” is such that we cannot truly be a tolerant society while tolerating the intolerance of others.