Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society
(Adopted by Board of Directors August 27, 2017)
The High Holy Days are an opportunity for reflection and introspection. As the holidays approach, we at the Temple Beth Israel Preservation Society (TBIPS) are deeply engaged in considering the events of the year that is ending and preparing spiritually for the year to come.
A key element of the mission of TBIPS is to honor the builders of this community, among them Jewish Holocaust Survivors and resistance fighters who experienced first hand the consequences of hate, prejudice and evil. They came to the United States confident that they would never again experience the terrifying sight of a torchlit parade by angry men and women giving the Nazi Salute, carrying Nazi signs and shouting Nazi, racist and anti-Semitic slogans. But we all saw it in Charlottesville a few weeks ago. Not surprisingly, the consequences included terror, death and injuries. Responsibility for the violence that occurred in Charlottesville does not lie with many sides but with one side: the Nazis, alt-right and white supremacists who brought their hate to a peaceful community. We add our voices to those who have roundly condemned these hate groups.
We at TBIPS for ourselves and in honor of the courageous and principled founders of our temple, applaud and join with the Central Conference of American Rabbis, The Rabbinical Assembly, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing over 4,000 rabbis who have condemned the suggestion that there is any moral equivalency between the White Supremacists and neo- Nazis in Charlottesville and those who objected to their repugnant messages and actions.
The High Holy Days are a season of t’shuvah for us all, an opportunity for each of us to examine our own words and deeds through the lens of America’s ongoing struggle with racism. Our tradition teaches us that humanity is fallible yet also capable of change. We pray that President Trump will recognize and remedy the grave error he has made in abetting the voices of hatred. Whether intended or not, leaders of the hate groups are delighting in the message that they have heard from the White House. A correction is in order. We pray that those who traffic in anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia will see that there is no place for such pernicious philosophies in a civilized society. And, we pray that 5778 will be a year of peace for all.
Based on a resolution recently adopted by the rabbinical groups identified above.
