As Jews around the world lit the Hanukkah candles (Saturday, Dec. 28), we learned of yet another horrific anti-Semitic attack. A man armed with a machete entered a rabbi’s home in Monsey, New York, during a Hanukkah celebration, and stabbed five people. The victims were taken to the hospital for injuries, with at least one in critical condition.
We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and the later arrest of the alleged suspect in New York City.
We are witnessing a full-fledged epidemic of anti-Semitic attacks in the New York region, with at least one every day this past week — only weeks after the shooting at a kosher market in New Jersey. Friends and allies, please understand that what is happening is extremely traumatic for our community.
As AJC notes, anti-Semitism must never be seen as a uniquely Jewish phenomenon. It is not. It is a virus that, as we have been saying since time immemorial, may begin with targeting Jews, but, ultimately, also seeks to destroy the pluralistic fabric of our democratic societies.
This surge in attacks must also be seen in the larger context of rising anti-Semitism around the world, including elsewhere in our country and in significant parts of Europe. We are also aware that the incidents in Monsey, in Jersey City, and many of the events of this past week were not perpetrated by white supremacists. It is incredibly important that our allies unequivocally call out all anti-Semitism and recognize that it comes from several sources. Local state, and federal officials must take equally seriously each incident, whatever its source may be. Anti-Semitism is anti-Semitism.
Finally, we as a community must be very intentional not to allow these events to stoke racism. We cannot feed into the “us vs them” narrative that pits our communities against each other — it is a zero sum game.
We too are feeling scared, heartbroken and angry. But the solution is to figure out how to build bridges, not walls. That is JCRB|AJC’s commitment, and that is our work.
As Dr. King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
During Hanukkah, we commit to fighting darkness by creating light. Let’s remember to be the light always. We’re praying for the victims and praying for us all — that we can love each other, listen to each other, and support each other through this wave of darkness.
JCRB|AJC Kansas City
