Charlottesville and Our Obligation to Fight Hatred

In light of recent events in Charlottesville, VA, I sent the following message to my congregation, Temple Israel of Great Neck:

Dear Temple Israel Family:

Last Saturday’s white supremacist neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, led to the murder of Heather Heyer and the wounding of at least 19 others.  Many situations have multiple legitimate sides to consider, but this is not one of them. Many issues are ambiguous.  Not this one. 

Heather Heyer was protesting the neo-Nazis whereas James Fields Jr., who murdered her and wounded the others, was affiliated with them.  She was seeking to sow justice.  He was seeking to sow terror.    

Fields' peers are racists and anti-Semites.   They were marching in Virginia with confederate flags and swastikas, chanting “Jews will not replace us” and “Sieg Heil!” What more do we need to see and hear in order to respond? 

The white supremacist neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville, who have been spreading hatred and violence throughout the United States for years, consistently and egregiously violate the American and Jewish values that we hold dear.   And therefore we must do everything we can to oppose them in word and deed.   

We who value diversity as an American ideal and a fundamental expression of God’s love for all humanity must oppose those who champion a deranged vision of uniformity.  We who seek justice for all human beings, regardless of race, religion, gender and sexuality, must oppose those who discriminate against anyone who looks or acts differently than they do.  We who believe that America is truly great only when all of her citizens live together peacefully must oppose those who aspire to a twisted definition of greatness that thrives on discord and violence. 

In keeping with our American Jewish values we call upon President Trump to oppose white supremacist neo-Nazi terrorism consistently, unabashedly and systematically.  He may not hesitate or equivocate any more.  The danger is too clear and the stakes are too high as the enemies of diversity and justice gain strength and influence every day.  If you haven’t signed the ADL’s petition calling the president to action, I encourage you to do so.  

This coming Shabbat morning, as we pray for the wellbeing of our nation, we will voice our resolve to oppose these threats and to uphold our Jewish and American values of diversity and justice.  I hope you will join us. 

Elie Wiesel famously wrote, “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.”  As Jews we have known the sting of oppression and we bear a timeless legacy of fighting for justice for all people.  We dare not remain neutral.  We must speak out and fight back so that America can truly be a nation with liberty and justice for all. 

With resolve and hope,

Rabbi Howard Stecker