Talmud Class: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's "Have Mercy" Speech

If you have not already done so, please take a couple of moments to watch this clip of the most famous part of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon at a prayer service this past Tuesday, the day after the inauguration, at the Washington National Cathedral.

In class we will watch this clip together before our study and conversation. Here are some questions we will consider together: What do you think of her message? What does it say about our nation now that Bishop Budde’s message—have mercy—can ignite so much emotion and controversy? How do you think it felt to be Bishop Budde delivering that message in that moment to the new President, to the nation, and to the world? How do Jewish sources help us interpret this moment? Tomorrow we will look at two prophets who speak truth to power: Nathan, who tells King David that he was immoral; and Jeremiah, who is nearly killed by a mob for saying that if the Judaeans do not change their ways, Babylon will destroy the Temple and exile the people. Does speaking truth to power ever work? For those of us who are not prophets and bishops, how does this large question intersect with our daily lives? What is asked of us, now?