Conviction of Derek Chauvin

The lessons that the Torah (Bible) can teach us from the death of George Floyd and the conviction of Derek Chauvin!

In this weeks double Torah Parsha reading, Aharei Mot and Kedoshim, we can find one of the most famous and timely verses in the entirety of religion. That verse being, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)  The timeliness of this first could not be more stark in light of yesterday‘s verdict in the George Floyd case. 

While there were many tragedies and travesties in the death of George Floyd, the conviction of ex Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, shows us that no one is above the law and that all lives are holy. This being the central lesson that the verse from this weeks Torah reading in Leviticus, which I quoted above teaches us. Not only were the specific actions taken by Derek Chauvin deadly and deplorable, they were also the antithesis, to all that we as a moralistic and monotheistic society believe in. Thereby, Chauvin’s actions and crimes were perpetrated not only against George Floyd but also against God. For, there was no holiness in his actions on that May 25th of last year. George Floyd would still be alive had Chauvin remembered Leviticus 19:2, instead of his actions which he perpetuated in the darkness of evil.

Consequently, not only has Chauvin been convicted for his actions, but we as a society must finally be convinced to change our attitudes and behaviors towards each other. For, no individual deserves any less than to be seen as a fellow creation, born in God’s holy light. The final lesson being, that of the jury, whereby they reminded us in their conviction of Chauvin and his behavior that “all men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence). Thus, deserving to be treated as such, not only in the eyes of the law, but also in the eyes of each other.