In pre-Yom Kippur Gathering, Jewish Constituents Call on Schumer to Stay Strong

US Senate Minority Leader called on to Block Rushed Supreme Court Confirmation

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NEW YORK, NY (09/27/2020) (readMedia)-- BROOKLYN, NY -- As Jews prepare for the beginning of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the liturgy says in the Unetanah Tokef, that it is now being decided who shall live and who shall die in the coming year, and by what method. This is happening as the Gates of Heaven, Return, Prayer are closing. The other central prayer, the Avinu Malkeinu, calls on G-d to heal the world of pain, disease, violence, and terror, and to have compassion on us all. The attendees were led in prayer by Rabbis Ellen Littman and Susan Fox and received encouragement from Rev. Chloe Breyer of the Interfaith Center of New York.

At the same time as Jews around the world are preparing for this holiest day, the President nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (z"l). Senator McConnell pledged to fill the Supreme Court seat immediately, which would effectively nullify the election results. Senator Charles Schumer's actions in the upcoming Supreme Court Justice appointment process will affect life and death decisions for decades to come.

"As we prepare for Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, we review our deeds of the past year and resolve to do better," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY. "We prayed together outside Senator Schumer's apartment to strengthen his resolve to not let the gates close on American democracy. We call on him to use every procedural tool available to ensure that this election is not nullified by a rushed, illegitimate Supreme Court confirmation."

About 50 people gathered in front of Senator Schumer's home to pray and to demand six actions from the Senator, that he: 1. Deny unanimous consent, 2. Call for a quorum, 3. Take advantage of cloture, 4. Impeach Attorney General William Barr, 5. Take no meetings with illegitimate candidates, and 6. Use every tool available to him to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's (z"l) dying wish that she "not be replaced until a new president is installed."

The assembled group recited two of the central High Holy Day prayers -- the Avinu Malkeinu and the Unetaneh Tokef (attached) and blew shofars. They recited a version of the Unetanah Tokef that addressed all of the reasons that people are dying from today day and which are likely to come before the Supreme Court in the near future bwfore delivering a letter to Sebnator Schumer's building.

"This is about lives. This is about New Yorkers, this is about Americans. This is about democracy. The gates of democracy are closing Senator Schumer." said Amy Plattsmeier, one of the organizers of the event.

"We're relying on Senator Schumer as our elected representative to stand for, and with the people. The time for politeness and playing by the rules is over. Democracy and our lives are on the line." said Jessica Roff, another event organizer. "He needs to do whatever possible to stop this nomination and honor the dying wish of Justice Ginsburg, may her memory be a revolution."

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