Reacting To the Rising Tide of Hatred
By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman
January 21, 2022
Many articles, op-ed pieces and online conversations appeared in the aftermath of last Saturday’s hostage-taking attack in a Texas synagogue. Filled with outrage and anxiety, there were two themes common to all of them: First, this isn’t the first—and at this point, probably not the last either—in a rising tide of anti-Semitic incidents; and second, what can we do about it.
Well into the evening, as the hostage situation in Texas ended, Jews everywhere felt a sense of relief, but not of ease. Only three years ago a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh ended very differently. Eleven worshippers were murdered where they were standing in prayer, while six more were wounded. More recently, a shooting in a San Diego synagogue left one person dead with three others injured. And last August a young man, student at a Denver yeshiva, was murdered just a few moments after he exited the school building. And there were others—desecration and arson at synagogues and other Jewish establishments, beatings of easy-to-identify Orthodox Jews, profanity- and hate-filled rants spouted at Jews.
Even if it weren’t for fear of being infected with the COVID-19 virus, Jews understandably are expressing anxiety about attending services and social events at our houses of worship. On college campuses and other public places, we have learned to hide any external identifying marks of our Judaism. Kippot are replaced by baseball caps; Jewish stars are hidden inside our clothing. At entrances to synagogues and other Jewish institutes, we are no longer surprised— or are we? —at the sight of security personnel, or when we are asked to show identification.
On Tuesday morning I attended a briefing organized by Jewish-Colorado and the RMRC—the Rocky Mountain Rabbis and Cantors organization. The discussion focused on safety and security resources available to the community. Jewish-Colorado now has as part of its staff a Regional Safety and Security Initiative director, a highly qualified and dedicated individual who, during the past two years, has worked with hundreds of individuals and Jewish institutions in Colorado. He also maintains close ties with the Denver Police, the FBI and the ADL, as well as with an organization called Secure Community Network (SCN), a national consortium dedicated exclusively to the safety and security of the American Jewish Community.
While it’s good to know that these organizations exist, that isn’t enough. In the next few weeks our temple—like many others all over the United States and elsewhere—will discuss further precautions we can take. We’ll conduct site assessments and arrange training exercises such as that which proved so effective last Saturday.
We live today through turmoil such as we haven’t seen in decades. Especially at such times, deranged individuals take aim at those whom they see as responsible for their discontent. Political and religious extremists take it upon themselves to brings a semblance of order—order as THEY see it—to society. The Internet, intended to bring us together as one human race, instead serves to sow distrust and fear. The media, focused on ratings and profits, enable and perhaps even encourage hate speech. The result is that we are constantly surrounded by the rasp of hate and the threat of violence.
To remedy this situation, society as a whole must come together—now more than ever—to stamp out the hatred. Those who sow distrust and divisiveness must be held accountable for their words and actions. Bigotry in any form must not become the acceptable norm in social, educational, religious or any other setting. It is vital that we all stand together on this principle.
It will take education—at homes, schools and at the various houses of worship. It will take a sense of community involvement. We must be there for one another.
On the same day as the safety and security briefing, I also attended a communal interfaith gathering in response to the synagogue attack. I listened intently as one elected official after another promised support. I was moved when representatives of various houses of worship, religions and denominations, promised their community’s support and love. Each had their own story to tell of prejudice, vandalism, hate and violence, reminding us that we are not standing alone. It felt good and right to stand shoulder to shoulder.
Yet we are well aware that prejudice and bigotry still exist, endemic in our society. Change is slow to come.
So what do we do in the meanwhile?
There were times when we firmly believed in miracles. Yet, regarding this belief, a Talmudic rabbi of the 3rd century, Rabbi Yannai, taught a valuable lesson. He said, “A person should never stand in a place of danger and say, ‘A miracle will be performed for me [and I will be saved]’, lest a miracle will not be performed for him [and he will perish].” Likewise today, we cannot expect miracles to save us; they are too far and few between.
There were times when we acquiesced. We lowered our heads, averted our eyes, we kept silent. This must not be our reaction today. Strengthened with the support of the larger community, we will not allow ourselves to be cowed into submission or fear. We will take whatever precautions we must; we will stay alert even as we hold on to our faith’s traditions of generosity and hospitality.
We remain hopeful that this period of turmoil and confusion will pass soon, and that a measure of normalcy will soon return to our lives. We look forward to a time when we no longer will have to look around us with apprehension, when the doors to our synagogue will not have to be locked during services, when we will be able to welcome the stranger once again without suspicion or concern. May peace and tranquility soon be found again in our homes, towns, and houses of worship.
May this be God’s will.
© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman
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