My service on the Board of Governors of our Jewish Federation continues a family legacy. I grew up in a home where community service was a generational priority. My grandmother, in particular, was a leader I adored and aspired to be like. Along with my siblings, I was encouraged to serve others each day, whether by helping with a food drive, picking up trash, or volunteering with community organizations.
My commitment to service continued into my career, as I joined the Peace Corps and served as a health educator at a rural medical clinic in the central Asian country of Turkmenistan. Peace Corps Volunteers, along with all other US federal employees, take an oath as they begin their federal service. I took the federal oath on Thanksgiving Day, 1999. The oath is the same for all: military personnel, Peace Corps volunteers, postal workers, and elected officials, including the three branches of the federal government. That oath is:
I do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me G-d.
In the years since taking this oath, I have not often contemplated its meaning. I rarely thought of it. However, in recent times, I have found myself reflecting on the meaning and value of this oath. When the halls of Congress were stormed on January 6, this oath came back to me in meaningful ways. When our country has responded to antisemitism and hate, I have reflected on this oath. When our country has succeeded or failed to respond to natural disasters or other emergencies, I wonder how we are meeting the obligations of this oath. As our nation debates immigration, healthcare, and war, I reflect on this oath and consider how it guides our decisions as a country. Are the actions our nation is taking aligned with this oath? How does my Jewish identity coincide with this oath?
To me, this oath is about placing aside one’s personal interests for the greater good. It is the heart of tikkun olam, repairing the world. I am not a Jewish scholar, but when I searched for writings about Jews and the federal oath, I was surprised to find nothing written. There are discussions about allowing witnesses in court cases to swear to “tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth.” Since one of the Ten Commandments is not to bear false witness, some say that swearing in may not be necessary, but a good reminder. I found nothing on the federal oath and Judaism.
I wonder what commitment we, as Jews, especially those of us who have served with our federal government, share with our nation, and how we can best serve our communities. Although I took my oath many years ago, there is no end date to my allegiance, even though the duties of my office are complete. Today, I meet this obligation by serving my local community, specifically through our Jewish Federation.
As we near the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I find myself reflecting on the oath I took so many years ago and looking for new ways to support and defend the Constitution. Opportunities to do so can be found within the work of our Jewish Federation. Our Jewish Counseling and Referral Network, Jewish Community Relations Council, and other programs help build and strengthen our Jewish and adjacent community. Please join me in learning more about these important programs and how you can serve through them. Together, we can create a vision of the future for the next generations.
Jeanine Borland Mann is President of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
