Rabbi Sharfman gives invocation for Arizona’s new governor’s inauguration

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman elicited laugh ter from the crowd at the Arizona Capitol on Thursday morning by telling everyone it was probably a good idea to sit down and settle in because “rabbis can talk for a long time.”

Approximately 4,000 people were present for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ inaugura tion on Thursday morning. By the time Sharfman rose to give the invocation, they had been standing for several min utes for the Arizona National Guard’s presentation of the colors, the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. At Sharfman’s behest, people quickly relaxed and took to their chairs.

The Congregation Kehillah rabbi and president of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis first offered a blessing “in celebra tion of the beginning of a new chapter in our state’s history.” She asked for a “more compassionate” chapter, one that includes “a vision for the common good.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about that phrase ‘the common good’ for a while,” Sharfman told Jewish News. When she was asked to give the invocation a couple of weeks ago — an invitation that shocked and honored her — she knew it would be a good time to talk about it.

The invocation is a time to ask for God’s blessing, but “it’s also a chance to give a bit of a charge to the community about the work ahead,” Sharfman said. Once she realized that latter purpose, it didn’t take long to put words to paper.

She spoke of the state’s natural beauty, proud diversity and rich history and asked the state’s newly elected leaders to extend kindness and empathy to those in pain, to use resources to support the society and “to live with moral courage and holy chutzpah.”

She highlighted issues facing the state that she considers very important, such as bodily autonomy, the environment, education and returning civil discourse to politics. Still, she was also very aware it wasn’t a moment to represent her personal political views.

“I was representing the Jewish community,” she said. To that end, she called out the “hateful words and actions against the Jewish community.”

Everything she spoke of was based on “my understanding of Judaism,” she said. “It was not my place to call out names or parties, but instead to call out the issues.” ceremony.

Congregation Beth Tefillah Rabbi Pinchas Allouche also attended the inauguration, though not in an official capacity. He came as a representative of the Jewish community “to convey our support and friendship,” he told Jewish News.

Chelle Daly, who came from Chandler to watch the inauguration, was excited to learn that a rabbi would give the invoca tion. Daly is not Jewish but said she has many Jewish friends and is nervous about the rise in antisemitism.

Tucson residents Ray and Ina Brixey stayed Wednesday night in Phoenix to be at the Capitol bright and early Thursday morning. They said they were both Hobbs, Fontes and Mayes are all Democrats and new to their positions. Republican Treasurer Kimberly Yee is beginning her second term in office. Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, the only Jewish person ever elected to statewide executive office in Arizona and a member of Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, is returning to

Talitha Gilmore, who was there with Daly, said Sharfman’s role in the inauguration gave her hope that Hobbs’ administration would be more inclusive. Inclusion was one of the main themes of the inauguration, starting with the sign above the stage, which read “Celebrating an Arizona for Everyone.”

Most of the audience came to celebrate Hobbs’ victory, chanted her name and gave her a standing ovation. Meagan Brown and Raina York, both teachers from Marana, Arizona, near Tucson, drove to Phoenix early Thursday morning to celebrate “a governor who supports public education.” challenges, she was able to have some “really wonderful” conversations with some of the other participants.

Sharfman was also struck as she watched Hobbs, Mayes and Yee with their children.

“These officials are a bunch of women who are mothers — and it’s really a different energy,” she said.

Sharfman’s own daughter was about to give birth when Sharfman was asked to give the invocation. Thus, as she was writing, she was pondering how profound a responsibility it is to make the world a better place. Thursday morning, she asked God “to strengthen the hands” of all the elected officials so that they might act “on behalf of our greatest asset, the children.” JN