By Ellen Cogut

The obligation and privilege to vote has always been somewhat obvious to my family, my friends, and me. So when Central asked for volunteers to help register voters, I signed up right away. I knew it would feel good to help, but I had no idea that the experience would be transformative.

Initially, I was a bit confused as to why we were assembling at Middle Collegiate Church and why Rabbi Kolin described the action of registering voters as a “faith-based” exercise. On the surface, it felt more like a civic responsibility than a religious one. I didn’t quite understand how or why Judaism played a role in our election process, but after hearing from people like Reverend Michael Ray Matthews, PICO National Network’s Director of Clergy Organizing, who described the way many individuals feel disenfranchised or alienated and forego their right to vote, I recognized why helping register voters was an important moral obligation in the pursuit of social change and healing.

Rabbi Kolin grounded our work in Jewish texts that teach that “a ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot 55a). She told us how statistics show that the voices of people of color, young people, and other minorities are profoundly under-represented in New York State voting and it became clear to me that only certain segments of the people are being represented in our elections.

Listening to several other faith leaders present at the orientation program, I became inspired by the need to help empower underrepresented people and help them get their voices heard. This idea was reaffirmed for me when I listened to Rabbi Buchdahl’s Rosh HaShanah sermon. She said, “Jews were not Chosen to be better, but to make things better. We were Chosen to uphold the traditions and teachings of Torah…” That was when everything came together and resonated for me. As Jews, we are obligated to act on our Jewish moral code and help those who may not be able to speak up for themselves.

Standing on a street corner in New York City with a clipboard and registration forms in hand, was both anxiety-producing and exhilarating. I was daunted by the prospect of stopping strangers who were rushing past to ask if they had registered to vote.

But the longer I stood there and the more people I approached, the more comfortable and happier I became that I was making this effort. In a short time, I helped register three voters who may not have been aware, as I had been since I was a child, that voting is a right and a privilege.

While on the corner of 14th Street and First Avenue, I had several interesting conversations and got to practice my Spanish and French language skills. I spent several minutes entertaining a young Hispanic child, who was sitting in her stroller, while her dad filled out the voter registration form. Unfortunately, his wife was not yet a legal citizen and could not register to vote.

Another young woman I spoke with had recently arrived from Texas to study at FIT. She had never voted in a presidential election and was thrilled to learn that she could complete the registration form right then and there and be eligible to vote for the first time in her life.

One middle aged man approached me and whispered that he was not qualified to vote because he was still on parole. I was honored that this man had chosen to share such personal information with me, a stranger. I encouraged him to stick with his good behavior so that he would be able to vote in the next election when he was off parole!

Walking back that evening with other members of our congregation, I felt invigorated and even a little surprised at the feelings that were generated by having taken a small step out of my comfort zone. The experience really reinforced my belief in tikkun olam, changing the world.

Ellen Cogut is a Trustee of Central Synagogue, where she and her husband Casey have been members since 1994. They have two daughters, Pamela and Rachel.