Again, I am writing to you after an act of hatred. Again, I am writing to you after someone viciously attacked a group in prayer. Again, I am writing to you after we have been shaken by the fragility of our world.
The holiday of Purim is on the horizon. As a Jewish community, we are preparing for the carnival and the spiel. In the midst of all of this, the messages of Purim are resonating with the attacks that took place at the Mosque in Christchurch. The holiday of Purim calls on us to remember how Haman, filled with hatred and bigotry, spread fear throughout the land. His poison polluted an entire nation. The ultimate message of the Purim holiday is that we rose up against hatred, bigotry, and fear. We did not let these vicious messages win. Peace and understanding won the day.
We must take the messages of Purim and spread them. We must speak words of lovingkindness in our homes and in our workplaces. We must deliver words of understanding to our neighbors and our friends. And we must snuff out all forms of hatred in what ever form it takes.
In that spirit, the first thing I did this morning was to send a message to all of my friends at the Hudson Valley Islamic Community and Cultural Center in Shrub Oak. I have included my words to them below. I strongly encourage you to join me by sending them your thoughts, letting them know that they are not alone in their struggle against hatred.
Of course, I will inform you of any requests that their community might ask of us. Additionally, I encourage everyone to participate in the festivities of the Purim holiday. We should not only remember our victory that took place over 2000 years ago. We need to pay homage to our continued fight against hatred, bigotry, and fear.
Please join me not only at the carnival on Sunday, but especially at our Purim celebration on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Let us join together on this holiday, commemorating the values that bind us.
B’shalom, Rabbi Robbie
(Sent to the local Islamic communities)
To my Muslim brothers and sisters, fellow children of Abraham,
On behalf of the Jewish community of Temple Beth Am, I want to reach out and express my deepest condolences and utter disgust in response to the attacks that took place in Christchurch. These shootings were nothing more than an act of hatred. It was carried out in a sacred space where peace and lovingkindness are preached to a community that gathers to build themselves up all for the purpose of making this world a better place. Please know that you are not alone in your grief. We support you and will be there for you, should the need arise.
Starting this weekend, around the world, Jewish communities will begin their celebrations of the holiday of Purim. The messages of this holiday do not go unnoticed in the wake of this act of hatred. The holiday of Purim notes how a man named Haman preached hatred, bigotry, and fear against the Jewish people to everyone he knew. The holiday celebrates how the Jewish people came together and were victorious against these repulsive ideas.
Hatred, bigotry, and fear are the manifestation of Haman. They are your community’s and my community’s modern day Haman. While it may seem far off, I truly believe that our two communities, with the help of other like-minded communities, will overcome this embodiment of Haman that still exists. You are not in this fight alone. We are with you.
Thinking only of sal’am for all of you,
Rabbi Robert Weiner and the community of Temple Beth Am
