About REGARD

Reflections on information given by Rabbi Harley that we could all use.

by Rob Jackson on January 18, 2023

When attending the MLK service at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we heard from many panelists on a variety of topics.  One of the panelists gave a presentation on something we can all do right now.  Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman from Congregation Bayt Shalom presented an ethic by which we could encounter one another in multicultural and interfaith situations.

This ethic is called REGARD and it is a “multicultural covenant to fight prejudice and celebrate diversity.”

To sign into this covenant, individuals and groups are asked to make three commitments:

  1. Praise: When I discover the gifts of diverse individuals and groups, I will recognize them and praise them (Gifts include passions, talents, experiences, and connections.) Rabbi noted that even groups with whom we have great differences, there is almost always something about them that is worthy of praise.  Praising someone is a practice of extending dignity to other human beings, even those with whom you have many differences.

 

  1. Protest: When I encounter prejudice, stereotyping, and hate, I will speak out with respect, civility, and love, to declare it socially unacceptable. As another panelist noted, the fight against racism does not need performative allies who say all the right things in public but allow prejudice at the watercooler without challenge.

 

  1. Pride: I will celebrate our differences and encourage my communities to join with other communities, when they celebrate their gifts and when they fight oppression.

 

Elie Weisel: “The opposite of love is not hate. It’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness; it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it’s indifference.”

 

If you are interested in learning more about REGARD, please contact Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman at .

 

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