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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rabbi Warren Elf

International Human Solidarity Day

Good morning.

Every year on 20th December, International Human Solidarity Day seeks to celebrate the world’s unity in diversity. It’s also a day to raise awareness about the importance of solidarity.

Solidarity is defined as an awareness of shared interests and objectives that create a psychological sense of unity. It also refers to the ties in a society that bind people together as one.

According to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, solidarity is among the fundamental values that are essential to international relations. It states that global challenges must be managed so that costs and burdens are distributed fairly, in accordance with the basic principles of equity and social justice. Additionally, those who suffer the least should help those who suffer the most.

Solidarity creates a spirit of sharing, which is essential for eradicating poverty.

On this day, events are held all over the world to promote the importance of solidarity and also to focus on how to combat poverty.

Twenty-one years ago today, the UN General Assembly established the World Solidarity Fund. The Fund was set up as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme to eradicate poverty, and also to promote human and social development in developing countries, especially among the poorest segments of their populations.

So, on this International Human Solidarity Day,

God, I pray that when we are tempted to turn away from the poverty and injustice of the world, You renew in us the vision of how empathy, generosity, and solidarity can bring hope to others. Through us let the Psalmist’s hope be fulfilled: ‘God will champion the cause of the poor and do justice to those in need.’

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