Liberal Judaism Participates in Day for Darfur

On Sunday 17 September 2006, Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, will be part of a humanitarian delegation of religious leaders at Downing Street, who will read specially written Prayers for Darfur before delivering them to the Prime Minister. The faith leaders are urging the international community to do all it can to ensure that a strong, international peacekeeping force protects civilians. They will also be asking the British government for continued diplomatic pressure for safe, unfettered access for humanitarian organizations to all who need their help.

Liberal Judaism’s contribution was written by Rabbi Janet Burden of the Ealing and West Central Liberal Synagogues. At its meeting this week, the Liberal Rabbinic Conference asked all colleagues and congregations to read the following Darfur Prayer in their coming Shabbat services.

Av Ha-rachamim, Source of Compassion, You have created all your children in the Divine image. We are called upon to recognise Your essence in our fellow human beings and to hold their lives as sacred.

Your Torah teaches that we must not stand idly by the blood of our neighbours, nor turn away from their suffering. We are commanded to seek peace and pursue it – not just for ourselves, but also for all peoples. And so we pray:

Eternal God of truth and justice, grant wisdom to the powerful, that they may use their power to protect those who live in fear for their lives. Help those who govern remain ever mindful of the plight of the vulnerable. Give them the courage to act justly.

O God, You support the falling and who lift up those who are bowed down. You are ever present in the healing powers that You have implanted within Your creatures. Help those who remain in either physical or emotional pain, and may the sufferings of the afflicted soon be ended.

By gathering together on this day, we strengthen each other. As we reflect on the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, may we always remain conscious of our responsibilities and grateful for those who share our goals.

May the One who makes peace in the highest, grant peace to us and to all humanity.

Further information about the situation in Darfur

Despite the signing of a Darfur peace agreement on 5 May 2006, the long running violence in western Sudan has not stopped; in fact, in some parts of Darfur, the violence has grown worse. Several hundred thousand people have been killed or seriously injured. Attacks on civilians continue, people are being attacked and displaced from their homes and do not feel secure enough to return home or to plant crops.

More than two million people live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in Chad, one of the poorest counties in the world. More than 3.5 million people are reliant on international aid for survival. Those living in camps have become targets for attacks. Looting, banditry and attacks on aid workers currently threaten the delivery of aid.

Governments have been quick to call for an end to the violence, but slow to act. UN resolutions have not been implemented and six rounds of peace talks over almost two years have failed to resolve the crisis.