TOV and Our Democracy

One of the things I tell my premarital couples is that, though marriages may be Made in Heaven (or Hell), the Maintenance is Done here on Earth! Every day!!! All relationships need to be maintained in some way. It is our responsibility to nurture and nourish relationships, as well as fix and mend them. It is the same with our Democracy and our way of life. "WE THE PEOPLE" is not a spectator sport!

Last Sunday, The Dallas Morning News had an article in the Travel Section about the Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism. This museum has no artifacts, but tells its chilling story with documents, photos and videos. It explains how the Nazis came to power in Munich and the lessons that history imparts. Winfried Nerdinger, the Director of the museum asks,"Why did it happen here, (Munich) not in any other place? And what do we learn about the fragility of Democracy?”

After the slaughter and brutality of the First World War, the accompanying humiliation, deprivation and starvation destabilized Germany, leading to unrest and revolution, especially in Munich, Bavaria's seat of power. "In the complicated political churn that followed, and a tug of war between moderate and political left-wingers, the political right started planting anti-Semitic seeds."

"By January 1919, the National German Workers Party was created and Adolf Hitler, who had a talent for getting people worked up, quickly rose to power within it." Hitler declared that Munich will always be the head-quarters for the movement. By 1922, there were 8,000 card carrying members. In 1933, the party seized power in Munich's City Hall. Thirteen days after the Nazis came to power, Dachau was opened.

The Director further said that, divide and conquer was the tactic. The Nazis split up people into "insiders and outsiders" -- US vs. THEM. Everyone and everything that didn't fit in this society was excluded. "On the ground floor of the museum, there is a news ticker of right-wing extremist actions from around the world that is continually updated, a stream of hatred, bigotry and exclusion that reminds us to stay vigilant, lest Democracy slip from our grasp again."

The cornerstone of the American political system is "WE THE PEOPLE," but unless Americans are able to communicate with others and act together, the "WE" will cease to exist!!

As Americans are becoming more isolated, more and more of them are becoming radicalized and joining extremist groups including cults. A recent CNN documentary showed how social media was being used to attract Americans. The analysis revealed that ISIS, among other groups, uses social media to repeat one strong message, "We did not belong where we were; now we belong!"

The TOV Teams model creates a place where everyone that shares TOV Values, can not only belong -- they fill spaces that no one else can fill. Each person brings his or her unique life experiences, skills, talents, creativity, ideas and passions to nurture, nourish, fix and mend Lives and Life, for the Common Good, a win-win for all. Come join TOV Teams and experience the full meaning of "WE THE PEOPLE" and the power and happiness that working together gives. Become a Founding Member of the TOV Center’s TOV Teams Network – Click Here.

Choose Life by Doing TOV!

Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor