By Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz
During the month of May, we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, a special time to celebrate and honor Jewish Americans’ culture, history, and contributions throughout our Country.
A few months ago, AJC Westchester/Fairfield requested that I introduce them to our First Selectman, Fred Camillo. AJC is an organization highly engaged with global advocacy. It works diligently to develop effective working relationships with diplomats, elected officials, and interfaith leaders at local, state, national, and international levels.
AJC hopes to address the broad priorities of how best to combat antisemitism, promote Israel’s place in the world, and counter the spread of radicalism and extremism. AJC and other similar organizations are how we can make our world safer and more secure for all.
First Selectman Camillo warmly embraced a working relationship with AJC, and this past week leaders and activists within our community gathered at Town Hall as he was to share the Town’s proclamation in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.
I went as an invited guest, and it felt terrific seeing friends and colleagues from other houses of worship present. I have had a longtime relationship with the Rev. Shannon White, Pastor for Spiritual Development at Round Hill Community Church, and we have shared our presence at many community gatherings over the years. I asked Rev. White who had invited her to this particular gathering. Her response was sincere and beautiful: “No one invited me; this is where I am supposed to be now.” It was a loving, straightforward, and poignant reminder that everyone must feel seen, heard, and valued.
Before sharing the Town’s formal proclamation, the First Selectman opened with personal remarks.
To paraphrase a few of his remarks:
• “We all need to have a deep appreciation for the contributions of Jewish Americans to our country’s prosperity and spirit.”
• “America is at its best when we celebrate our diversity.”
• “We must continually address any barriers or challenges that any group might face to reach their utmost potential.”
• “America is stronger, at home and on the world stage, when we harness the strength of every voice and every community that makes up our nation.”
Also noted was the fact that a while ago, the Town of Greenwich had formally adopted the IHRA’s (International Holocaust Remembrance and Alliance) working definition of antisemitism:
• “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
Governmental adoption of this working definition of antisemitism has empowered many to address the rise in hate and discrimination targeting Jews.
The IHRA provides many illustrations by which to guard against.
A few examples offered:
• Those who charge Jews with conspiring to harm humanity.
• Those who blame Jews for “why things go wrong”.
• Anyone who utilizes sinister stereotypes of Jews in any form of communication.
• Anyone who offers justification to harm Jews.
• Anyone making dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews.
• Anyone who would deny the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
• Anyone applying double standards as applicable to Israel’s behavior that is not similarly expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
• Anyone using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
While Greenwich faith-based and communal leadership has created an extraordinarily positive relationship with our local Jewish community, sadly, dangerous antisemitic individuals and groups still exist and must actively and effectively be combatted. Last year in Connecticut there were 207 documented incidents involving white supremacist propaganda, which was more than double the number of incidents reported the year prior. Incidents included white supremacist stickers and flyers being distributed and found at state parks, flyers with racist, homophobic, and antisemitic messages found in residents’ yards, and the placing of “hate flyers” on car windows while posting live on the internet.
Temple Sholom must annually budget significant resources for the security of our building and those present in it. All dollars spent on security are funds not available to support our spiritual mission and good works. When creating our budget, we often consider the required security funds as paying our “Antisemitism Tax.”
To be a Jew is to belong to one of the world’s oldest living communities. Our history goes back over three thousand years. Over the centuries, and despite our continual confrontation with senseless hatred as often manifested by discrimination, exclusion, and persecution, Jewish culture always manages to thrive and enrich our particularistic faith-based communities and the universalistic communities at large.
Jewish life in America dates back to colonial times, with Jews who settled in New Amsterdam. Throughout Jewish American history, Jews achieved remarkable degrees of economic success and cultural integration. Often, leaders of other minority communities note that Jewish Americans collectively represent a “model minority” for others to emulate.
My grandmother of blessed memory fled Riga with her parents and sisters after a program resulted in the murder of her oldest brother. In 1917, arriving at Ellis Island, my great-grandfather told her and her siblings, “We have arrived at the goldene medine (the golden country); now all our problems will become resolved.”
While life was not always even, the essence of my great-grandfather’s message is true. America is, for Jewish Americans, the “New Promised Land.” Our Country has provided the freest and most open society Jews have ever known. Synagogues and other Jewish organizations and institutions thrive, and Jewish Americans thrive in every walk of life. There are still dangerous hate-mongers who are the minority, and the majority must forcefully and successfully confront the hatred.
At Temple Sholom, at every Sabbath morning service, we offer a prayer of gratitude and blessings for our Country. Standing and facing the American flag that is always on our pulpit, we pray:
God and God of our ancestors, with mercy, accept our prayer on behalf of our Country and its government.
Pour out Your blessing upon this land, upon its inhabitants, upon its leaders, its judges, officers, and officials, who faithfully devote themselves to the needs of the public.
Help them understand the rules of justice You have decreed so that peace, security, happiness, and freedom will never depart from our land.
God, whose spirit is in all creatures, we pray that Your spirit be awakened within all the inhabitants of our land.
Uproot from our hearts hatred and malice, jealousy, and strife.
Plant love and companionship, peace and friendship, among the many peoples and faiths who dwell in our nation.
Grant us the knowledge to judge justly, the wisdom to act with compassion, and the understanding and courage to root out poverty from our land.
May it be Your will that our land be a blessing to all who dwell on earth, and may You cause all peoples to live in friendship and freedom.
Speedily fulfill the vision of Your prophets:
“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
“For all of them, from the least of them to the greatest, shall know Me.”
And let us say: Amen.
Temple Sholom’s Senior Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz is a scholar, teacher, community activist and preacher, and is recognized as one of the prominent religious leaders in the Greenwich area and beyond. A frequent guest speaker at synagogues and churches, study groups, community institutions and universities, he is a charismatic personality who engages individuals and stimulates hearts and minds. His teachings can be found in Greenwich Sentinel and in other local and national publications.
