Continuing the Jewish fight against racism

Other items in this column include:
*Political bytes
*At the synagogues
*Holocast rescuer of Bolivia

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO —  My column yesterday dealt with reactions from various individuals and organizations within the Jewish community to the police killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, and what role the Jewish community might play in helping to heal the divisions in our society.  I will continue to bring to readers such thoughts and suggestions.

*Cheryl Rattner Price, co-founder executive director of The Butterfly Project, which educates people about the Holocaust utilizing the hands-on activity of painting ceramic butterflies in honor of each of the 1.5 million children who died at the hands of Nazi Germany, said,  “Human suffering as a result of bias and institutionalized racism is unacceptable and of great concern to our organization. As a social justice organization it is our mission to use the lessons of the Holocaust to teach about the dangers of hatred and bigotry in order to cultivate empathy and social responsibility.  These lessons demonstrate how the power of one person can make a difference, and we must build on that.”

Furthermore, she said, “We are committed to further educate ourselves in order to expand our conversations with students and community members of all backgrounds about racism, bigotry and hatred.”

*In a joint statement, Jodi Bromberg and Bruce Taylor, respectively the chief executive officer and board chair of 18Doors, a Jewish organization supporting interfaith families, messaged: “We stand with our black and brown friends and family members, and communities of color — and the diverse couples and families of 18Doors. We know that you are hurting, and that the beat of the drum of racism has taken its toll on your life, your health and your soul.

“And, we know that as interfaith, intercultural, mixed heritage families, at our best, we can be bridges that foster understanding across cultures and religions. We have experience navigating between different backgrounds, religions and heritages. We are white families, families of color, and multi-racial families — and some of us have more experience talking about race than others. And we still have work to do to dismantle the racism and unconscious bias within ourselves, our Jewish community and our society.”

Bromberg and Taylor added: “As we continue to educate ourselves and look inward as an organization, we hoe you will too — and that you will look for opportunities to help heal our world, and when given the option to continue to #ChooseLove.”

*New York Jewish Week printed an op-ed by Rabbi Avi S. Olitzsky of Beth El Synagogue in Minneapolis in which he says he used to grimace every time he heard about the Black Lives Matter movement because of that movement’s decision to align with Palestinians against Israel.   However, he said, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, he has been rethinking his position: not all people in the movement hate Israel; instead, they feel wounded that nobody seems to care about them except other Blacks.  Arguing about Israel can be put off to another day.  The imperative now, he write,  is “to hear the pain of our black brothers and sisters. We have to recognize the holiness in their struggle and their plight.”

*Tzvi Freeman, writing in Chabad.org Magazine, says “Our diversity is not an obstruction to our unity, but a formula to be celebrated for the strength, the beauty and the wealth it gives us. Let’s speak that way. Act that way. Build that way. Let all around us hear and see and know where our heart lies. If we speak, think and act as one we can change the course of history forever for the better. We are one. We must grieve together. We must build a new reality together.”

*Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, messaged “While I of course understand and share the anger at the brutal killing of George Floyd, I am appalled by the unrestrained violence that threatens to tear our nation apart. In the spirit of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, we must all bear in mind that nonviolent protest, not looting and destruction, is the only legitimate way for all those who wish to affect our national agenda to take part in a sober, bipartisan eradication of racism, antisemitism, and other hatreds in American society.”

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Political bytes

Iowa voters also contributed on Tuesday to the anti-racism movement, ousting controversial nine-term Republican Congressman Steve King in the GOP primary.  This came in the wake of King being stripped of committee assignments for making light of white supremacy and white nationalism in an interview with The New York Times.  Among other racial controversies, King flirted with the “Great Replacement Theory” that white supremacists foster on their social media networks.  In essence, that conspiracy theory describes immigration to the United States as an effort to replace the white population of the United States with diverse minority populations and accuses Jews of being the instigators.  King was defeated in the GOP primary by Randy Feenstra, a state senator, who argued that having lost his committee assignments, King was an ineffective representative for Iowa.  Feenstra will face Democrat J.D. Scholten, a former minor league pitcher, in the November election.  Scholten came within a few percentage points of defeating King in 2018.

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At the synagogues

*Temple Beth Shalom of Chula Vista has suspended Friday evening services, according to the Conservative congregation’s president Arlene LaGary.  Saturday morning Shabbat Services will continue with Torah study at 10-11 am, Torah Services, And Kiddush. Evening adult classes continue. Communication will be maintained with members, especially those who need medications or are low on food.