Jewish American Heritage Month

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Jewish people are afraid as antisemitism rises, but fear will not paralyze us | Opinion - Tennessean

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