When the Majority is Wrong: A Choice for Justice

NBC exit polls https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/exit-polls

I've seen a lot of conversation on my social media timelines about how a majority voted for 45 as if that alone validates the choice. However, history reminds us that majority rule does not always align with morality. A majority once voted to uphold slavery. A majority supported the segregationist policies of Jim Crow. These decisions inflicted immense harm—tearing communities apart, robbing people of freedom, killing countless individuals, and fracturing families. They established systems of injustice whose effects continue to shape our world today.

When I hear the refrain about the 'majority,' I think about those who stood on the other side of history. Figures like Congressman John Lewis, Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Ella Baker come to mind.

These were individuals who sacrificed for the promise of justice and equality. In the minority, they chose justice over convenience and morality over comfort. Their courage and conviction pushed them to do what was right, even when those choices came at great personal cost. History remembers them kindly because they had moral clarity and fought for what was right.

It's important to be clear that this moment represents an uncomfortable truth: America, as a nation, chose a felon—a white man with multiple indictments—over a highly qualified Black-Asian woman with decades of public service and proven leadership. It's a stark reminder of how systemic racism and sexism persist, elevating mediocrity cloaked in whiteness over excellence and competence embodied by women of color.

This isn't just a political moment—it's a moral reckoning for a country still struggling to live up to its promise of equality and justice for all.

To those who chose the path of justice—whether in this recent election or in other moments of upheaval—know that your decision matters. You are part of a long and proud legacy of individuals whose courage to stand against injustice has shaped history's arc toward progress.

In Judaism, we are called to pursue justice above all else. The Torah commands justice, justice you shall pursue—not because it's easy, but because it's hard. The path to justice is often unclear and challenging, but the work is vital and ongoing.

Judaism also teaches us that we have a responsibility to repair and heal the world. This is not a task completed once and forgotten—it is a daily practice woven into every decision we make.

If you're feeling disheartened, please remember that you are part of a legacy of people whose moral courage has shaped history. Every time you stand up for what is just—whether through your vote, your voice, or your actions—you carry forward the sacred work of making our society better.

Morality is not about the majority. It's about doing what's right, even when the path is lonely. Morality is also a journey filled with meaning and purpose.

I believe in the power of those who choose justice. I believe in you. Each time you act with compassion, kindness, and understanding, you help lay the foundation for a better world.

Our choices shape history. Let's continue to choose justice. Let's continue to choose better.

Thank you for being part of this sacred work. Your courage matters. Your choices matter. Together, we can build a world that reflects the values we hold dear.

With gratitude and hope,

R' Sandra