The individuals who vandalized Congregation Ohav Zedek Synagogue in Wilkes-Barre might have considered what the response to their words of violence toward the congregation would be. They might have hoped for fear, anger, and even aggression.
We believe they were taken by surprise.
As members of the Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice peacefully gathered along with more than 500 individuals to participate in the removal of the racist remarks and symbols on the doors of the synagogue, our belief in the power of diversity was strengthened, our resolve to continue seeking nonviolent solutions affirmed, and our trust in the goodness of humanity beautifully upheld.
We would like to thank the community of Wilkes-Barre for creating a living testimony to peace as children, men and women of all faith, racial and ethnic backgrounds gathered at 242 S. Franklin Street for the purpose of supporting our Jewish friends and neighbors.
We wish to add our voices to those who are calling for healing and forgiveness. We can only begin to imagine the unfortunate influences that set the perpetrators on such a destructive path. It is our hope that the courts may consider rehabilitation to be a realistic goal, and that an element of community service fitting the offense be required as part of the prescription.
Dear Friends,
I’m sure that many of you have heard about the terrible desecration of Congregation Ohav Zedek over the weekend that left swastikas and jarring reminders of the Holocaust with German words spray painted on the front doors of the Orthodox synagogue on Franklin Street. http://tinyurl.com/2g5rol There has been an outpouring of support from the religious community to Rabbi Nachman Bruce at Ohav Zedek and to Murry Uffberg, chair of the Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation.
A maintenance crew from John Heinz Rehab has volunteered to help remove the symbols with special materials on Thursday at 2 pm. I have been asked to extend an invitation to clergy and laity from the various ministerium groups (downtown, West Side, etc), the Interfaith Council, and local religious communities to join together on the front steps of Congregation Ohav Zedek this Thursday, April 3 at 2pm as a demonstration of solidarity. The synagogue is located at 242 South Franklin street, across from the Wilkes student union parking lot.
We hope you’ll be attending one of the talks that Rabbi Rami Shapiro will be giving this Thursday presented by the Interfaith Council: at 10:30 am at the Jewish Community Center, at noon at the Westmoreland Club (reservations are required- please e-mail me and I’ll see if there is still availability), and at 7pm at the Buckingham Performing Arts Center – Wyoming Seminary, 201 N. Sprague Avenue in Kingston. If you are attending the lunch at the Westmoreland Club, the Ohav Zedek synagogue is two blocks south.
Unlike sporadic anti-Semitic vandalism that has reached the Jewish community in the past, this is the first time that such jarring German language has been used (the term “abschaum” which means “scum” and the term “Juden” next to the Star of David which was imprinted on yellow arm bands which the Nazi’s forced all Jews to wear). Needless to say, there is reason to believe that this was not simply a prank carried out by thugs, but rather a deliberate attempt to instill fear in the community.
If it’s not asking too much, kindly forward this note to those who might be interested but who do not appear in the address section of this e-mail.
On behalf of the Jewish community, I thank you for all of your support in the past and at this sad time.
If you have any questions, or are interested in the Holocaust commemoration lecture featuring author Debra Lipstadt at the end of the month, please contact me by e-mail or by phone (357-5367).
Sincerely,
Larry Kaplan
Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre, PA
2 Comments
The individual(s) responsible are weak, ignorant, cowards. I feel blessed to live in a community where Jews, Muslims and gentiles can celebrate differences as well as similarities. Also, I don’t “tolerate” these groups … I accept and respect them for who they are.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE THERE IN PHYSICAL SOLIDARITY BUT I WAS WITH YOU IN PRAYER AS I WAS ON A RETREAT THAT DAY IN MERION PA. I SEND MY PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS ON YOUR COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE GREAT PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY AND I AM GLAD WE CAN SHARE BOTH THE JOYS AND SORROWS WITH EACH OTHER WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ACCEPT THE NEED WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER. WE MUST ALL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SOCIAL SIN OF THIS VALLEY AND OUR WORLD. THANK GOD WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS WE MUST PRAY FOR THEM AS WELL