By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

This is the season of teshuvah, when we repent and pray that God will forgive us our sins. Just as we hope to be forgiven, so, too, are we asked to forgive those who have done us harm. That is not just a religious value: it’s a mental health one. Focusing on the hurt done to us by friends and family gives them far too much space in our heads and hearts. It can be hard to ignore criticism, but that’s what an adult learns to do. Not everyone in the world will like us or approve of us. Accepting that shows maturity and gives us the space to focus on our own lives. 
That is also true in politics, but with a difference. Those in power are not supposed to use that power to harm those who criticize or disagree with them. This is not some liberal, new age, woke thing. The Bible talks about the abuse of power, seeking to limit what Jewish kings can do. The biblical prophets spoke out against kings, who were condemned by God if they tried to silence those prophetic voices. Two recent Republican presidents echoed this idea in more contemporary terms:
“We need the media to hold people like me to account… power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive.” – George W. Bush
“Since the founding of this nation, freedom of the press has been a fundamental tenet of American life. The economic freedom that has earned us such great bounty and the precious freedoms of speech and assembly would have little meaning or be totally nullified should freedom of the press ever be ended.” – Ronald Reagan
That’s why what President Donald Trump has said and done recently is so disturbing. Trump made it very clear when he spoke at Charlie Kirk’s memorial that he doesn’t understand the concept of forgiveness. His actual words were “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.” One thing I’ve noted over and over in my chaplaincy work is that we can’t help our feelings. They are real. However – and this is a big however – I note that we can control what we do with them. Mad at someone? That happens. Hitting or throwing something at them? That is inappropriate and something under our control. 
Unfortunately, Trump has done the political version of physically lashing out. According to an Associated Press article, Trump asked “Attorney General Pam Bondi by name in a Truth Social post to seek criminal charges against high-profile critics, such as former FBI Director James Comey; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and New York Attorney General Letitia James.” As of this writing, Comey has been indicted, even though sources at the Justice Department noted that they didn’t feel they had enough evidence for an indictment. Other sources note that charges against James and others are coming due to the insistence of the president. 
Think about this: one of the most powerful men in the world has declared that if he doesn’t like what you say, then he will find a way to destroy your career or livelihood, or place you behind bars. Those in power seem to have forgotten about the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (Italics are mine.) To be blunt: how is it OK to own weapons that are capable of killing numerous people in minutes, but making a joke about the president or criticizing him is not? When did words become worse than bullets?
The United States has thrived on debate. Our press protects the average citizens by calling out the misdeeds of those in power. That is their job and it serves as a necessary protection from the very real problem that “power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive.” Every voice should be raised to condemn our government being used as a weapon against anyone who criticizes the president. Those voices are our contemporary prophets and, in light of the holiday season we just celebrated, we need to support them for religious and political reasons.