A Note From Rabbi Raina Siroty
As you may have heard, there was an attack targeting Jews this week at a restaurant in Los Angeles that was carried out by people carrying a Palestinian flag. It is being investigated as a hate crime by law enforcement.
I also wanted to make you aware of an incident that occurred much closer to home. This morning I was told a woman called to ask the Rabbi a question and I was given her number to call back. This is a common occurrence; people reach out to me often with questions about Judaism. I returned the call, told the person who I was, and she became irate. She began by stating that Jews are today’s Nazis and that we have no right to live in the land of Palestine. I listened to her rant for a few minutes and politely chose to end our call. Not long after, she called back, and Nadine, our dear Temple caretaker answered. This time, the woman said to her that “You Jews better watch your backs”. Nadine swiftly hung up the phone and alerted me.
The Temple has filed a report with the Alexandria Police Department and the Anti-Defamation League and all of the synagogues in Louisiana have been notified. This call will be taken seriously by the authorities.
Although verbal threats rarely turn into physical threats, I wanted to make you aware of what happened today and ask that you remain mindful and cautious of your surroundings. Anti-Semitism is indeed on the rise, and unfortunately it has affected our community here in Alexandria today.
We know that this incident adds to what has already been a difficult and painful time as we have prayed for the safety and security of Israel. The Jewish community suffers when anti-Israeli rhetoric crosses into overt anti-Semitism. No conflict in the Middle East can explain or contextualize these attacks on Jews in the streets of the United States.
To ensure our safety, we will continue to have officers at all of our Temple functions, and the police department will be passing by the Temple more often. The most Jewish way to live life is to keep living a Jewish life. If we live in fear, they have won.
Ufros aleinu sukkat shlomecha — May a shelter of peace be spread over us, over Israel, and over ALL who inhabit the land. Guard all of our comings and our goings — for life and for peace. Amen.
