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Anti-Semitism
Last week, I attended a lunch-and-learn event sponsored by the American Jewish Council. The topic: anti-Semitism. A member of All Angels purchased me three luncheon tickets. I invited the Bishop-elect Doug Scharf and Susan Goldfarb, Executive Director of the Longboat Key Education Center. I attended the luncheon for primary reason that my life as Rector of All Angels intersects with people of the Jewish faith. What I learned at the luncheon shocked me.
Sarasota is experiencing a rise in anti-Semitism. The Proud Boys and the Goyim Defense League (GDL) are operating in and around Sarasota. In July, 2020, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai were desecrated with symbols and messages of hate. It is believed the GDL are responsible for several flyer-drops that have occurred this summer. The content is not appropriate for printing; just know the flyers spread messages of hate and flat-out lies about the Jewish people. Nevertheless, be on the lookout for this phrase, 6MWE; it stands for “six million weren’t enough”. If you see it as graffiti, please call the non-emergency line for the police so it can be removed.
The speaker for the day, Holly Huffnagle, AJC Director of Combating Antisemitism, who is a self-identified Christian, told us, “What begins against the Jews does not end with the Jews.” Anti-Semitism is a Christian concern and a concern for all Americans. She cited examples of recent shootings in America where the shooter himself had posted anti-Semitic language and images but decided to target others. Specifically, the shooter of the Tops Market in Buffalo had originally planned to target Jewish people but when he realized the targets were not concentrated enough in one area, he switched his plans to go after people of African descent. What begins with Jews does not end with the Jews. She told us it will not take long before anti-Semites go after Christians who do not see the world in the same way they do. Likewise, they will go after Americans who uphold the principle of equality regardless of race, gender, sex, language, religion, or political opinion. And, if left unchecked, they will go after people who are perceived to have more than them.
Lastly, there are two sectors of society that are promoting anti-Semitism – groups on the far right and groups on the far left. On college campuses, today, Jewish students are being denied admittance into certain social groups and activities because of their faith. Other students are being denied because they identify with religion of any kind which includes students who identify with the Christian and Islamic faith. What begins with exclusion often doesn’t end with exclusion.
After the presentation, the twenty Christian pastors at the luncheon heard stories of anti-Semitism in our area – children being denied admittance in scouting groups and athletic teams, housing leases being denied (because their last name “sounded Jewish”), marking on cars, rocks through windows, and, of course, the numerous flyer-drops that have occurred in our area whose sole purpose is to have the material land in the hands of children to warp their sense of history and justice and to motivate them to join a hate group.
This is not a time of fear or to be afraid. Our presenter left us with what can be done to tamp down anti-Semitism. It should be noted that “tamp down” is used here because hate, especially against people of the Jewish Faith, has been around for a very long time. We, however, are responsible for tamping it down in our own time. Hate cannot combat hate. Instead, tamping down hate takes community collaboration and communication. The luncheon was a good start. So is reading this Reflection. So is it when you see graffiti and call to have it removed. The Psalmist declares, “Those who honor the Lord, their light shines in the darkness with mercy and compassion.” (112:4)
Through community collaboration and communication, God’s light will shine the darkness to tamp down hate with mercy and compassion.
- Rev. Dave
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