Jewish people are afraid as antisemitism rises, but fear will not paralyze us | Opinion – Tennessean
Posted By admin on August 12, 2022
We are experiencing not only a spike in antisemitic events all around us but also the normalization of some of that gruesome rhetoric that creates the conditions for antisemitism to thrive.
Joshua Kullock| Guest Columnist
Former Wisconsin Proud Boy member saw bigotry and bullying
Daniel Berry joined the Wisconsin Proud Boys in search of camaraderie, but instead found racism, antisemitism and sadistic bullying.
Jasper Colt, USA TODAY
Let me be honest. Even if we dont say it often enough, the truth is that we are afraid.
We are afraid because, even if Jews make up only 2% of the U.S. population, we continue to be the No. 1target of anti-religious hate crimes in America.
We are afraid because we have witnessed how some members of Congress have justified white nationalists while some others continue to demonize the State of Israel.
We are afraid because, here in Tennessee, books like Maus get to be banned, and every now and then we get to read in the paper opinion columnsthat make a questionable use of the Holy Writings and propagate anti-Jewish tropes.
We are afraid because 1in 3Jewish students have experienced antisemitism on college campuses during the last school year. We are afraid because we have heard the antisemitic chants of those who marched in Charlottesville in 2017 and we have seen the antisemitic gear that was used by some of those who stormed the U.S. Capitolon Jan. 6, 2021.
Finally, we are also afraid when we see antisemitic flyers flooding our neighborhoods here in Nashville.
Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.
We know that these and so many other hateful manifestations do not represent the very best of our nation. We know that we have a lot of allies and friends, and we are truly grateful for them.
It was heartwarming to see the swift response made by our local political leaders and to read emails and letters sent by different religious and communal leaders across the spectrum.
And yet, today we are experiencing not only a spike in antisemitic events all around us but also the normalization of some of that gruesome rhetoric that creates the conditions for antisemitism to thrive.
We are so afraid that, when we come to our synagogues, we are always trying to identify the closest exit door in case of an emergency.
Most of us must attend active shooter trainings and plan safety drills on a regular basis. We are continually looking for extra funds to upgrade the security of our buildings and always planning for the worst-case scenario.
And, you know what? It shouldnt have to be this way.
Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.
Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.
Synagogues are called to be welcoming and warm places where people of all ages can pray, study, and embrace those who are suffering the most.
Synagogues are meant to be open places to shelter the needy and to heal the wounded without having to risk being taken hostage by deranged terrorists with distorted views of who is running the world.
So yes, we are afraid, but we wont let fear paralyze us and we wont let the anti-Semites win. In spite of everything, we still believe in hope, we know that we are stronger than those who want to destroy us, and we are committed to creating a reality in which there wont be any room for antisemitism nor for any other forms of bigotry, xenophobia or hate in our midst.
That is why today, more than ever, we are called to strengthen our resolve to shape a diverse society that is proud of embracing people of different backgrounds, races, sexual orientations, and religions.
Despite the lure of suppressing those with a different political view than our own, we should work to create a pluralistic and inclusive society, open to everyone who is willing to be part of the solution and not of the problem. We are all in this together, and together we shall overcome.
We are afraid and yet, we are not giving up hope. We still believe that we can be G-ds worthy partners in creating a better world for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren as well.
Joshua Kullock is rabbi of West End Synagogue.
Read the original:
Jewish people are afraid as antisemitism rises, but fear will not paralyze us | Opinion - Tennessean
- Juror in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial is excused - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - June 6th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial: Week 1 featured emotional testimony and chilling 911 recordings - TribLIVE - June 6th, 2023
- Psych exam pending for ethnic intimidation suspect in Royal Oak synagogue graffiti - Oakland Press - June 6th, 2023
- FIDF CEO Weil speaks to 350 at Green Road Synagogue Shabbaton - Cleveland Jewish News - June 6th, 2023
- Audio released of first responders at Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - The Times and Democrat - June 6th, 2023
- I did this myself: Officers describe confrontation with Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting defendant - CNN - June 4th, 2023
- Sole Lodz synagogue to survive Holocaust triumphs over demolition plans - Ynetnews - June 4th, 2023
- Renaming, formal dedication of Park Synagogue campus June 11 - Cleveland Jewish News - June 4th, 2023
- 'The Jewess and the Synagogue' - Tablet Magazine - June 4th, 2023
- Suspect in vandalism of Michigan synagogue hoped to blame graffiti on Ukrainian militia - MLive.com - June 4th, 2023
- Freehold Jewish Center - Wikipedia - May 29th, 2023
- Police: Michigan woman wanted to blame synagogue vandalism on Azov Regiment - UpNorthLive.com - May 29th, 2023
- Jury selection concludes in trial for Pittsburgh synagogue shooter who killed 11 - Fox News - May 29th, 2023
- Graphic crime scene and autopsy images will be part of synagogue ... - thejewishchronicle.net - May 29th, 2023
- Boston Synagogue to Host Boston's West End Lyric's 'The Joys of ... - OperaWire - May 29th, 2023
- Terrorist With A Knife Neutralized Near Synagogue In West Bank ... - i24NEWS - May 29th, 2023
- 22-year-old jailed for attempted arson attack on German synagogue - The Times of Israel - May 26th, 2023
- Jury selection wraps in Pittsburgh synagogue massacre with testimony expected Tuesday - ABC News - May 26th, 2023
- IDF: Palestinian killed after infiltrating West Bank settlement synagogue with knife - The Times of Israel - May 26th, 2023
- SYNAGOGUE - JewishEncyclopedia.com - May 24th, 2023
- Lit Explosive Tossed From Pickup Truck Near Synagogue - Newsweek - May 24th, 2023
- Shavuot: When Children Take Their Parents to Synagogue - Impact of Chabad Hebrew schools felt deeply at reading of ... - Chabad.org - May 24th, 2023
- Light unto the nations: How Kherson's synagogue became a massive outreach center - Ynetnews - May 24th, 2023
- Sim Shalom Online Synagogue Soars into the Summer with ... - Benzinga - May 24th, 2023
- Homepage | Park Avenue Synagogue - May 22nd, 2023
- Cherry Hill rabbi donates Torah to new synagogue in Idaho - CBS News - May 22nd, 2023
- Park East Synagogue is still searching for its next leader as another assistant rabbi exits - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - May 20th, 2023
- Synagogue massacre trial expected to start May 30 | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle - thejewishchronicle.net - May 20th, 2023
- Campaign to give Sons of Jacob Synagogue a fresh look - My North Bay Now - May 20th, 2023
- Sacred Art: The Hope of History at Dohny Street Synagogue - MutualArt.com - May 20th, 2023
- Revelers outside Jerusalem's Great Synagogue say they 'came to ... - The Times of Israel - May 20th, 2023
- Synagogues In Orlando | Jewish Family Community Center | Ohev Shalom ... - May 17th, 2023
- Meet our Clergy - Congregation of Reform Judaism - May 17th, 2023
- London synagogue catches heat for lighting indoor Lag BOmer bonfire - The Times of Israel - May 17th, 2023
- Jury selection in Tree of Life Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial advances - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - May 17th, 2023
- Ivanka Trump and her family were spotted going to synagogue - HOLA! USA - May 17th, 2023
- Wenatchee synagogue vandalized with swastikas | News ... - wenatcheeworld.com - May 17th, 2023
- Warsaw's Great Synagogue destroyed 80 years ago today The ... - The First News - May 17th, 2023
- Pittsburgh Jewish community tracks jump in hate speech amid synagogue massacre trial - The Times of Israel - May 13th, 2023
- Voice for Jewish community reflects on first week of jury selection in synagogue shooting trial - CBS News - April 29th, 2023
- Potential jurors' stance on death penalty gauged as jury selection in synagogue shooting trial continues - WTAE Pittsburgh - April 27th, 2023
- Pittsburgh Jews keep defying hate as synagogue trial nears - The Hill - April 22nd, 2023
- Capitol Hill synagogue vandalized on eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day - The Seattle Times - April 20th, 2023
- This gay Orthodox Jew was banned from his synagogue. Now hes fighting back. - Forward - April 20th, 2023
- Teen accused of posting bomb threat targeting Forsyth County synagogue, deputies say - WSB Atlanta - April 20th, 2023
- The Synagogue | The Pluralism Project - March 10th, 2023
- Jessica Seinfeld Calls For Non-Jews To Join Friends At Synagogue Tomorrow For Shabbat To Counter Day Of Hate With Love And Light - Deadline - February 27th, 2023
- Synagogue Facts & Features | What is a Synagogue? | Study.com - February 19th, 2023
- Arab worlds 1st purpose-built synagogue in century opens at UAE interfaith center - The Times of Israel - February 17th, 2023
- What Is the Purpose of the Synagogue? | Reform Judaism - February 16th, 2023
- Ancient Synagogues in Israel and the Diaspora - February 2nd, 2023
- Park Synagogue, Cory United to hold MLK Jr. Day commemoration - Cleveland Jewish News - January 6th, 2023
- Ice Cream Factory, The Court Hotel and The Old Synagogue set for thrilling New Years Eve celebrations - PerthNow - December 21st, 2022
- NJ Synagogue Threat: FBI Says Credible Information Developed NBC New York - December 11th, 2022
- Video shows man making bigoted remarks at Bloomfield Twp. synagogue - Detroit Free Press - December 11th, 2022
- Two men, one a descendant of Holocaust survivor, indicted in connection with threat to attack NYC synagogue - CNN - December 11th, 2022
- Michigan man charged after threatening synagogue-goers yelled antisemitic invective during arraignment - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - December 7th, 2022
- AA Synagogue - November 24th, 2022
- How One Jewish Groups Tweet Surveillance Uncovered a Synagogue Plot - The New York Times - November 24th, 2022
- Tree of Life - November 21st, 2022
- Jewish Community Security Organization in UK Says It Discovered N.Y. Synagogue Threats - HS Today - HSToday - November 21st, 2022
- Welcome to Edgware United Synagogue - November 16th, 2022
- New Jersey man accused of sending online threats to attack a synagogue and Jewish people, federal prosecutor says - CNN - November 11th, 2022
- I Let My Son Be an Extra on Maisel on the Holiest Day of the Jewish Year - Kveller.com - October 19th, 2022
- Why a new program aiming to fight anti-Zionism among Reform Jews is bound to fail - Mondoweiss - October 19th, 2022
- Reeling from the loss of her mom, this rabbi created an online community for healing - St. Louis Jewish Light - October 19th, 2022
- Slovak Who Attacked Gay Bar Credits Buffalo Shooter with Giving Him 'Final Nudge' - HS Today - HSToday - October 19th, 2022
- OPINION: Let's make this the year we end paid High Holiday tickets J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - October 15th, 2022
- Churches need to see more of the faithful - liherald.com - October 15th, 2022
- Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: October 14-20, 2022 - Sedona.biz - October 15th, 2022
- Why Conspiracy Theorists Always Land on the Jews - The Atlantic - October 15th, 2022
- Religion: Clergy strive to reconcile politically divided congregations | Journal-Courier - Jacksonville Journal-Courier - October 8th, 2022
- Huntsville's Temple B'nai Sholom encourages the community to visit the historic synagogue - WZDX - September 29th, 2022
- The synagogue is in the street: On Yom Kippur, Tel Aviv shows another side of itself - Forward - September 29th, 2022
- A Long Island synagogues renovations uncover a massive work of art - Forward - September 29th, 2022
- Synagogues exit pandemic with reflection, determination and hope for the future - Ynetnews - September 29th, 2022
- For the Sin We Have Sinned by Making People Feel Unwelcome at Synagogues - Jewish Exponent - September 29th, 2022
- The tragedy of Jews who can't stand with Israel - JNS.org - September 29th, 2022
- Fellowship in Their Golden Years - International Fellowship of Christians and Jews - September 29th, 2022
- Aurora rabbi joins other faith leaders in call for peace and progress - Daily Herald - September 29th, 2022
Comments