Online Service – Atonement and Reparations

Yom Kippur, which means the Day of Atonement, is on Sept. 27. It follows 10 days after Rosh Hashana, which is the start of the Jewish New Year. The period between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is one of reflection and reckoning, culminating in Yom Kippur, the most important Jewish holiday. Given this current moment in which we have seen so many Black Americans killed by police, and in which institutional racism is even more apparent and appalling, it is fitting that we consider—as a long overdue process of collective atonement—reparations for African Americans in the U.S. Expressions of sorrow are part of atonement, but are not sufficient to address the 400 year legacy of slavery and white supremacy in this country. What is the scope of the injury to Black Americans that needs to be addressed and repaired? What would a reparations process look like? Is there a way to address reparations as a nation, in our UU denomination, in our congregation, and in our personal lives?