Hate Speech Has No Place in a Synagogue
Rabbi Michael White and Rabbi Jerome Davidson
[image: Rabbi Michael White and Rabbi Jerome Davidson]
<http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial-opinion/opinion/hate-speech-has-no-place-synagogue>
Rabbi Michael White and Rabbi Jerome Davidson
We write as rabbis devoted both to our faith community and to human
rights for all peoples. We were disheartened to learn that the Great Neck
Synagogue has invited Pamela Geller to speak on April 14. Geller has a long
track record of hateful and virulently anti-Muslim views that seek to
divide American Muslims and Jews, rather than unite them.
Both the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League
<http://www.adl.org> have designated Geller’s “Stop Islamization of
America” organization as a hate group. As was recently reported in the
Jewish Week, Etzion Neuer, director of community service and policy for the
ADL’s New York region, said that Geller “under the guise of fighting
radical Islam, absolutely demonizes an entire religion. In directing her
rhetoric at the entire Islamic faith, she fuels anti-Islamic bigotry.
Geller doesn’t do us any favors,” he continued. “She muddies the waters
because she hands the platform to the extremists in our midst. Instead of
thoughtful, fact-based dialogue on the issues, we get incendiary rhetoric
and xenophobia.”
We cherish our relationships and friendships within the local Muslim
community. Both Temple Beth El of Great Neck <http://www.tbegreatneck.org/>
and Temple Sinai of Roslyn share deep and abiding connections with the
Islamic Center of Long Island. Our communities have broken bread together,
studied together, engaged in social action projects together, and our
children have learned from each other as well. The local Muslim community
adds immeasurably to Long Island’s vitality, and we are blessed by their
commitment to the betterment of our society. Their presence among us
affirms the essence of America’s greatness, a nation founded on the
principles of democratic pluralism.
We state unequivocally that Geller’s inflammatory rhetoric does not
represent us or the great majority of Jews in Great Neck and on Long
Island. Hate speech has no place in synagogues. Synagogues should be places
for worship, positive dialogue and reasoned political debate. The right of
free speech is vitally important, but Geller crosses the line from
political to hate speech. In sharp contrast, Judaism teaches us to respect
the traditions and values of other faiths.
Last fall the group T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
<http://www.truah.org/> (formerly Rabbis For Human Rights-North America)
echoed that sentiment with its effective New York City subway ad campaign
that countered Geller’s offensive anti-Muslim subway posters. T’ruah’s
message challenged: “In the choice between love and hate, choose love. Help
stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors.”
We share T’ruah’s vision, reflecting our faith’s mandate to work for
understanding, unity and peace among all humanity. Geller’s messages seek
to divide peoples, and fail to acknowledge that even with significant
political differences, Jews and Muslims are working to build the world of
justice and compassion that both faiths demand. Rather than trying to
denigrate a diverse community and rich tradition, we must find ways of
respecting one another and working together on shared concerns.
At this season of the year following the Passover festival, Jews study a
tractate of the Talmud called Ethics of the Fathers. We are mindful of
Hillel’s enduring words in the opening chapter: “If I am not for myself,
who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now,
when?” The time is now to stand – for ourselves, for our fellow citizens,
for our common humanity and kinship.
We hope Great Neck Synagogue leaders will take a hard look at their
decision and ask themselves why they are giving a platform to someone who
has devoted her life to defaming fellow Americans of a different Abrahamic
religion.
*Rabbi Michael White is the Senior Rabbi at Temple Sinai of Roslyn. Rabbi
Jerome Davidson is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck and
teaches at the Hebrew Union College, New York City.*
--
--
Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
* It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
* Read the latest breaking news, and more.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"PoliticalForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
