There have been many blogs and emails concerning the tragedies in France. I have been wrestling with the issue of whether or not to add mine to this flood of commentary and analysis. What added value can I give to the comments of very talented people who have already written insightful, moving and meaningful words? {mprestriction ids="1,3"}After much internal conflict, I have decided to offer my perception of how this has dovetailed our lives and our community in Kansas City.
Twice during this past year we have felt violated. The first time was last April, after the awful murders here at the Jewish Community Campus and at Village Shalom. The second time was last November, when violence at an Orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem took the lives of HBHA graduate Rabbi Kalman (Cary) Levine and Rabbi Mosheh Twersky, uncle of HBHA faculty member Rabbi Meshulum Twersky. We know, up close and personal, the face of terror. We know what it means to fear for our lives and the lives of those closest to us. We know what it means to mourn as individuals and as a community for our people and for those who chose to associate with us and never dreamt what that relationship would cost them.
We also know what it means to come together as a community and mourn, not alone but with all those who believe in freedom and justice and who have faith. We came together in churches, synagogues, Village Shalom and on our Campus to celebrate the beautiful lives cut short by senseless acts of hatred. We received the blessings from people of all faiths as we stood together, just as they did in Paris last Sunday, to say “No” to hatred and “No” to violence. While they said “I am Charlie,” we, here at home, say we are all Kansas Citians. We also say we are Jews and whether we are in Israel, France or America, “We are one.”
In Kansas City, we now have the blessing of the passage of time to begin to heal as they have in Israel and they will have in France. We are thinking about the lessons learned and next steps we must take. Here, in Israel and now in France, security has become paramount. We cannot just be careful but must proactively protect ourselves. In Israel it is a way of life. In Kansas City it has become the new norm. In Paris, and perhaps all Jewish communities in Europe, they will have to step up their activities in this realm. It is not comfortable. Whether it means an inconvenience at the airport or in our parking lot or at an event; it is something we must do. How much and to what extent we sacrifice personal liberties remains a question. In Israel they have become very good at security but it is never enough. In Kansas City and throughout Europe, we are getting better, but threats continue and so we must remain ever vigilant.
In Israel and Paris, terrorists set out to kill Jews, and they did. Here we know the gunman in April set out to kill Jews and instead murdered Christians. In Israel, a Druze policeman gave his life to protect a synagogue; in France, Muslim and Christian policemen gave their lives to stop terrorists and a young Muslim grocery store clerk sheltered Jews from harm in the kosher grocery. Those who practice the true meaning of their faiths and believe in justice know how to do the right thing even if it means the ultimate sacrifice. We have seen, in all these places, selfless acts of kindness, love and good faith from “the other,” and it is important we remember those acts and emulate them.
We are, after all, the people who believe in tikkun olam, “repair of the world.” It all starts with one individual.
Todd Stettner is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. For those interested in providing philanthropic support to the victims of recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Jewish Federation has opened the France Emergency Fund. The funds will be used to address security needs of the French Jewish community, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims and their families. Visit jewishkansascity.org/france to donate.{/mprestriction}