Reb Jeff
  • Blog
  • About
  • Favorites
  • Resources
    • Counting of the Omer
  • Wedding Officiation
  • Contact Me
  • Temple Sinai

A Community Mourns—and Lives

8/6/2012

 
When members of a minority religion with a history of being persecuted are again victimized with baseless hatred and violence, decent people come to stand by their side. That is what I saw in 2003 when the cemetery of the congregation I served was vandalized. Tonight, I tried to do something to return the favor. 
Picture
A quiet moment from tonight's candlelight vigil at the Sikh Society of Florida.
Back in 2003, a bunch of teenagers—kids with too much time and too little to do—decided to get some attention by knocking over a dozen stones in the congregation's small cemetery. They also painted a swastika on the cemetery's storage shed. Pretty ugly.

In response, the clergy of every faith group in town came to stand with the Jewish community. They spoke directly to their churches, and to the community at large, with the message that antisemitism would not be tolerated. A blow against one religion, they said, was a blow against all. I was deeply moved by that experience.

Yesterday, in an incident far more grim and far more serious, a man with a semi-automatic handgun entered a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, with the intention of killing people simply because he saw them as being different. As you know, seven people, including the gunman, were killed. 

I attended a vigil tonight at the Sikh Society of Florida to show the solidarity of the Jewish community with our Sikh neighbors. I wanted to let them know that they have friends in the Jewish community. I wanted to pay back a debt I owe to others who did the same for me.

At the vigil, there were passionate speeches that sounded painfully familiar in the ears of a Jew born in the twentieth century. Sikh men and women talked about how their religion's highest ideal is the equality of all human beings. They talked about how ignorance and hatred have combined to turn their peaceful culture and religion into a scapegoat—and not for the first time in their people's difficult history.

They talked about how regrettable it is that the image of a man with a beard and a turban has been transformed in the West into a symbol of evil—instantly associated with the image of Osama bin Laden. Many Americans assume that Sikh men, who are religiously required to wear turbans and beards, are Arab Muslims. Sikhs, of course, are neither Muslims nor Arabs. 

They also tried to make sense of the senseless act of a deranged man who took so many innocent lives and left so many families heartbroken. For Sikhs—who, like Jews, are monotheists—this can only lead to questions about how an omnipotent and benevolent God could allow such a thing to happen. There are no answers for such questions.

They talked about those who sacrificed themselves to save others. Satwant Kaleka, the president of the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, was killed when he tried to stop the gunman. He was armed only with a knife. The Sikh community also declares with deep gratitude the heroism of Lt. Brian Murphy, the Oak Creek police officer who came to the aid of the shooting victims and was shot at close range at least eight times. He is now recovering in an area hospital following multiple surgeries.

For me, the deepest surprise about this evening was a mood that was more life-affirming than mournful. Certainly, the Sikh community is horror-stricken by the murders in Wisconsin. Yet, they are a people who greatly value community and the blessing of sharing what they have with others. There was a certain, modest satisfaction in this community that they could come together—and welcome others into their spiritual home—to draw strength from each other in facing a very dark time. 

If I came to the Sikh temple tonight thinking that I was paying off an old debt, I left feeling, instead, that I had received a further gift. The Sikh community showed me what my own tradition teaches—that in a time of darkness, we make our own light by sharing ourselves with others.
Beth
8/7/2012 12:26:36 am

I am completely inspired.

Reb Rachel link
8/7/2012 01:01:08 am

This post moves and inspires me. Thank you so much for sharing it.

(I looked yesterday to see if there were a Sikh community in Berkshire County, in hopes of finding some way to offer comfort, but the nearest gurdwara is in Boston...)


Comments are closed.

    Welcome

    This blog is about living a joyful Jewish life and bringing joy to synagogues and the Jewish community. Join the conversation by commenting on posts and sharing your experiences. For more on the topic, read the First Post.
    "Like" Reb Jeff on FB

    RSS Feed

    Enter your email address to subscribe to Reb Jeff posts by email

    Follow Reb Jeff's Tweets

    Recent Posts

    Purim & COVID-19
    ​The Honor of Heaven
    Chasing Our Own Tails
    Drilling Under Your Seat
    Change the World
    Self-Righteousness
    Where We Came From
    What We Must Believe
    ​Is Passover 7 or 8 Days?Origin Story
    Va'eira: Leadership​

    Jeff's Favorites

    • First Post
    • Searching for How the Bible Defines Marriage 
    • The Difference between God and Religion
    • In the Beginning of What?
    • Rape, Abortion and Judaism
    • Ten Thoughts about Being a Rabbi
    • Temple Dues and Don'ts
    • A Pesach Lesson from Yoga
    • The Purpose of the Torah

    Torah Portions

    Genesis
    Bereshit
    Noach
    Lech Lecha
    Vayera
    Chayei Sarah
    Toledot
    Vayetze
    Vayishlach
    Vayeshev
    Miketz
    Vayigash
    Vayechi

    Exodus
    Shemot
    Va'eira
    Bo
    Beshalach
    Yitro
    Mishpatim
    Terumah
    Tetzaveh
    Ki Tisa
    Vayakhel
    Pekudei

    Leviticus
    Vayikra
    Tzav
    Shemini
    Tazria
    Metzora
    Acharei Mot
    Kedoshim
    Emor
    Behar
    Bechukotai

    Numbers
    Bamidbar
    Naso
    Beha'alotecha
    Shelach
    Korach
    Chukat
    Balak
    Pinchas
    Matot
    Masei

    Deuteronomy
    Devarim
    Va'etchanan
    Ekev
    Re'eh
    Shoftim
    Ki Tetze
    Ki Tavo
    Nitzavim
    Vayelech
    Ha'azinu
    Vezot Haberachah

    Holidays
    Shabbat
    Rosh Chodesh
    Pesach/Passover
    Omer Period
    Yom HaShoah
    Yom HaZikaron
    Yom Ha'atzma'ut
    Pesach Sheini
    Lag B'Omer
    Yom Yerushalayim
    Shavuot
    Fast of Tammuz
    Tisha B'Av
    Tu B'Av
    Rosh Hashanah
    Days of Awe
    Yom Kippur
    Sukkot
    Hoshanah Rabbah
    Shmini Atzeret/
    Simchat Torah
    Chanukah
    Tu BiShvat
    Adar (Joy Increases!)
    Purim

    Archives

    November 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Loading
    Jewish Bloggers
    Powered By Ringsurf
    Picture