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Chaverim y'karim ~ dear friends,
I am somewhat at a loss for words given the fire-bombing of a synagogue in Jackson, MS this past weekend. My colleague, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, has written a post in The Forward which summarizes the history of this particular synagogue, highlights when it was struck by an arsonist in the past (1967), and calls upon our non-Jewish neighbors to assess seriously what is happening in our country. "An arsonist torched a Mississippi synagogue. It feels hauntingly familiar."
From chants, violence, and intimidation outside synagogues in New York City to the destructive violence that has engulfed this Southern synagogue most recently, we are facing what our ancestors knew all too well. The ideology behind Jew-Hatred morphs and takes many forms ... we have lived it for 3,000 years. The rise in violence began long before October 2023 but today it lurks about and goes, literally, into our buildings from the Ivory Towers to the brick facades of our sacred spaces.
If you would like to help the world remember who we are: don't be a stranger! In your own spaces and places, stand tall and proud as a Jew. And so you remember that you are not alone, consider one of the upcoming events either at temple, at the JCC in Sherman, or the Jewish Federation in Southbury to be with our people.
Last week, the Torah portion included both the entry to slavery for the Israelites and the challenge to Moses to be the one to lead us out of Egypt. We read of the illness and the antidote all in a matter of a few chapters.
The illness and depravity of Jew hatred will not go away. But we have some control over how we will respond:
- being well versed and able to recognize the language and intentions of our enemies;
- participating actively with our sacred heritage in our homes and synagogues;
- connecting with fellow Jews and the myriads of those who love us;
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looking for partners and neighbors who stand with us to live the words written by George Washington and enshrined through the laws of this land: "the Government of the United States (which) gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
If you would like to offer some tzedakah to the Beth Israel Synagogue in Jackson, I can only imagine how they will lovingly receive your gift.
As always, I am sharing resources below to help you have some of the tools necessary for your own knowledge as well as what to share with others.
L'shalom,
Rabbi Mark Cohn
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