Rabbi Diana's Weekly Message

Dear Chevre,

We remember the tragic killing of eleven Jewish people three years ago, October 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. May the memories of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger be for a blessing.

Rabbi Deborah Waxman, president and CEO of Reconstructing Judaism wrote some words on this occasion:

https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/responding-to-antisemitism-by-growing-community-deepening-commitments-and-building-coalitions/

Locally there have been anti-Semitic, transphobic and anti-immigrant threats in school board meetings. This Monday evening, November 1^st, there will be a Vigil to Unite Against Extremism, Hate and Violence from 6-7 pm at the Garden of Reflection at 1950 Woodside Rd. in Yardley, PA 19067. Multi-faith and diverse coalitions from across Bucks County organized this event saying, “We stand with Pennsbury school district and all schools across Bucks County against racism, anti-Semitism, anti-LGBTQ hate and the rise of attacks on public education, students, staff and administrators.”

Separately, the local clergy council sent out a statement:  

Bucks County Jewish Clergy Council Statement

in response to recent events in the Pennsbury School District

Leviticus 19:18 teaches, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord.” Scripture reminds us that in all our actions, we do not take revenge or hold a grudge but remember to treat others with respect, especially those with whom we disagree on important issues.   

Threats of violence, racist comments, and antisemitic language have no place in a civil and respectful society.  Three years ago, this past week, a man walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue shouting racial and antisemitic epithets before murdering 11 people.  In recent days, we have watched and heard the language of hate being used more and more against elected members of school boards in our Bucks County community, most especially in the Pennsbury School District.  The threats of violence, racist language, and antisemitic comments have no place in our community or in our country.  We, the leaders of the Bucks County Jewish community, stand together to condemn the threats of physical violence and hateful language in the strongest terms.  We call upon all members of our community to condemn the threats of violence and to refrain from the use of any language that may be considered racist, homophobic, transphobic, and antisemitic.  We plead with elected school board members, elected officials, and the community at large to return to the use of civil discourse and to show respect for one another as human beings.

Our United States Constitution and its First Amendment guarantee our freedom of speech and expression but that guarantee comes with rights and responsibilities.  We will passionately argue for the issues most important to us and others will argue just as passionately for their position.  We must be responsible for ensuring that our words do not threaten bodily harm to others or could inspire another to commit an act of violence on anyone, and especially elected representatives of our community.   Death threats and threats of violence are not protected First Amendment rights and may be potentially against the law.

The leaders of the Bucks County Jewish Community believe that there is a choice in the words that we use, and those words and language have meaning and influence over others.  When we choose words of hate and bigotry, racism, and antisemitism, or threaten violent actions, we may be influencing someone to do just that -- take violent action which may hurt others.  We call upon everyone in the community to choose their words wisely and to refrain from words of hate and violence.  We call upon members of the community, elected leaders, and community leaders to debate the current issues with respect and civility.  Our children are watching and learning from our words and our actions.  We want our children to debate the issues and respect the democratic process passionately and respectfully without fear of violence or bigoted attacks.

Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy, Congregation Kol Emet, Yardley

Rabbi Sigal, Temple Judea of Bucks County, Doylestown

Rabbi Charles Briskin, Shir Ami, Newtown

Rabbi Aaron Gaber, Congregation Brothers of Israel, Newtown

Rabbi Diana Miller, Kehilat Hanahar, New Hope

Cantor Annelise Ocanto-Romo, Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, Richboro

Rabbi Eliott Pearlstein, Ohev Shalom of Bucks County, Richboro

Rabbi Rayzel Raphael, Darkaynu, Bucks County

Rabbi Jeffrey Schnitzer, Congregation Tifereth Israel, Bensalem

Rabbi Raysh Weiss, Congregation Beth El, Yardley

Howard Cohen, Bucks County Kehillah Chair, Bucks County

May we continue to stand up for justice and create a world which celebrates our diversity.

Rabbinic intern Lesley and I will see you on Zoom at 7:00 pm.

Kabbalat Shabbat

Also, if you happen to be in Lambertville on Halloween between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, stop by our porch. Someone is having a big birthday, and it's not me and it's not Perchik! 

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Diana