Answer division and hatred with solidarity in faith

On Jan. 15, the American Jewish community and many others around this nation were glued to their TV sets as a gunman entered a synagogue in a small Texas town during Sabbath prayers and held four worshippers hostage. For more than 10 hours, he demanded the release of a woman, Aafia Siddiqui, from a nearby federal prison who had been convicted of terrorist acts against Americans in Afghanistan. Often referred to as “Ms. Al-Qaida,” she is presently serving an 86-year sentence.

While the woman had expressed strong anti-semitic feelings during her trial, Siddiqi’s attorney was critical of the Texas attacker during the standoff. His actions also were condemned by CAIR and other Islamic relations organizations locally and nationally. For some, this made it less clear as to why a synagogue had been chosen.

But to members of the Jewish community, it was not so surprising.

Over the last number of years, in places like Pittsburgh, Poway, Calif., New York, New Jersey and Delaware, synagogues have been the target of political and religious animus. Some ended in the tragic murder of Jews.

The fact that both terrorists were identified as “Islamists” suggest modern and religious roots, having to do with the situation in the Middle East and the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. But this would not explain the Holocaust a decade before the founding of the Jewish State or, for that matter, the persecution of Jews in the preChristian pagan Roman period, the expulsion of Jews from Spain during the Middle Ages, or the pogroms of Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As one historian wrote, “anti-semitism is the longest running tragedy in human history.”

I learned of the synagogue attack that recent Saturday morning. The evening before, I had spent in the synagogue I served for 32 years. It was the annual observance of MLK weekend. For the past dozen years, a group of clergy had joined in an interfaith celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy. We were religious leaders of the

Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Native American, Unitarian, Baha’i and Buddhist communities — all joined in prayer. I could not avoid the juxtaposition of the events in Texas and Hamden. The first text I received Saturday morning was from a Presbyterian minister calling my attention to the events in Texas and expressing his love and concern. The next email was from the imam and Yale chaplain telling me that he and his community were praying for the synagogue that this should end peacefully.

In fact, such sentiments were sent to the Texas synagogue “from all over the country, in fact from all over the world,” according to the Texas rabbi.

And their prayers were answered. Through the good works of the local and Texas police as well as the FBI, as well as the quick and courageous captives themselves, they managed to escape. Sadly, the 44 year-old gunman was killed. Yes, I rejoice at the rescue but take no comfort with the loss of any person’s life. Mostly, I feel great sadness — sadness that we live in a world where hate continues to separate us from our brothers and sisters. We have seen houses of worship desecrated over the years, the victims of Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, S.C., the firebombing of the three Black churches in Texas, or the mosque here in New Haven to name a few. Indeed, we are reminded that hate does not discriminate!

Yet the message of MLK, in fact the message of the biblical prophets out of which Dr. King drew his message, is one of hope and courage and a rejection of fear and hate. There will be some who see only division in the events in Texas. They will see it as inevitable and use it to serve their own narrow purposes. We must not allow this to happen.

Hope comes from holding on to the broader vision of 19 clergy worshipping together, a Texas rabbi who not only knew when to run but to offer a drink to a stranger which enabled them to escape. We need better mental health services to deal with people in need. We do need to combat hate, bigotry and violence whenever they rear their ugly heads. Let the events of that recent weekend drive us even closer together in solidarity, in faith.