Preaching Goes Viral

Faith in the Face of...

Politicians, religion, and the pandemic

Poverty, Financial Struggle, and Shortage

Natural disasters and human catastrophes

in the depths of the great depression. The lives of those living in this country were shaped by a trifecta of economic, public health and environmental disasters. And yet in early 1933, president elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt relied on his own faith to jumpstart his administration and his people right before his inauguration together with his closest family, friends and advisors, including his entire cabinet Roosevelt participated in a special prayer service. He said a thought to God is the right way to start off my administration. It will be the means to bring us out of the depths of despair. According to historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin, who wrote about that moment in her book leadership in turbulent times after the 20 minutes service came to an end, Roosevelt remained on his knees, his face cupped in his hands. Later that morning, as he waited in the Capitol for the ceremony to begin the president elect improvised a new opening sentence to his address. This is a day of national consecration. Clearly the address he was about to deliver was a civil sermon designed to provide the larger purposes that would bind the people together. As a sacred obligation, thinking of God can bring us out of the depths, can transport us away from our difficulties and can bring us together as Roosevelt hoped it would for his administration and the people of the United States.

2022-12-13

Rabbi Sarah Berman

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