Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 19, 2022

After the attack on Jewish Synagogue in Texas last month, I read an essay by Deborah Lipstadt, a professor at Emory University in Georgia. She is Jewish and started the piece with what apparently is a common Jewish prayer of blessing (in English): God, sovereign of the universe, who frees the captives."

Ms. Lipstadt said that she and many other Jews around the world recited that prayer with tears after the Texas incident. She praised a tragedy averted. Indeed, after an 11-hour standoff, four people, including a rabbi at a Jewish Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, escaped an armed man who held them hostage. Ms. Lipstadt also talked about the scars that remain. She discussed how difficult the incident was for the family of the rabbi and how that will affect them for some time. All very understandable and not surprising.

But then, Ms. Lipstadt revealed that Jews, particularly rabbis, in the U.S., now feel that it is an act of courage, defiance and faith to simply go to synagogue for daily prayer. She mentioned people attending services while searching for the nearest exit or safest place to hide. Jews have learned to be afraid beyond the synagogue. She described other acts: violence to Jews eating at a kosher restaurant in Los Angeles, violence in New York toward a Jewish man wearing a skullcap. But the pain is greater when the violence occurs in the synagogue. She described the process of visiting a synagogue for services only after calling ahead and then being checked in advance to be sure it is safe for them for her to go in.

What really hit me was when she said that she had not walked through the entrance to her local synagogue for years, since the October 2018 shooting in Pittsburgh, because the door could not be secured. To keep people safe, they permanently locked that door. Then, she lamented passing a large church on a Sunday, entry doors wide open, and congregants happily meeting people as they arrived.

I then realized that Jewish people are yet another group left out in our country from the privilege of the dominant class. Yes, I am using the term "privilege," in this sense, Christian white privilege. When I attend my predominantly white church, the doors are not locked, I dont look for the exits or a place to hide. I am more concerned about catching COVID than being shot because of my faith or other attribute. I have heard of some churches taking precautions in case a shooter comes on the scene. This is more of the recognition of the proliferation of guns in our country. They are everywhere and we can be exposed to gun violence at the school, at the shopping center, anywhere, really.

Checking further, I see some instances of gun violence at white Christian churches in our country, some even done with religious animus. But this is not so prevalent that it seeps into our consciousness as we attend church here in West Michigan. I have not had conversations with others at church about checking for the exits in case a Christian-hater comes in to wipe us out. This is another problem that only some have to deal with regularly, that we are just now learning about, because we dont have to face it.

Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who led his people out of the crime scene in Texas, did an interview after the escape. He had let the man into the synagogue that day and gave him hot tea. During prayer, the rabbi heard a click, which sounded like a gun. It was, but he didnt know it yet. He went to the man and talked to him gently. The man then pulled out the gun. After 11 hours, the rabbi figured out a way to get out of there without bloodshed.

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When asked if he would offer tea to a stranger again, he said he would. Hospitality means the world, said Rabbi Cytron-Walker.

To the gunmans family, the rabbi said, I am so sorry that you had to endure this tragedy. Its horrible for all of us."

Such grace during a time of intense discrimination against Jews. I cannot help but feel that this rabbi exemplifies all of the teachings that I value in my faith, those which Jesus showed us and taught us. Grace, love, forgiveness. This rabbi gives this to all. He and his people deserve to live a life free of fear. They, as everyone, should have that privilege.

Community Columnist Marcia Meoli is a Holland attorney and resident. Contact her at Meolimarcia@gmail.com.

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Marcia Meoli: Jews shouldn't have to life with this intense fear - HollandSentinel.com

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