On Tuesday, August 27, Rabbi Avraham Gopin was exercising in a park in Brooklyn and was assaulted by someone with a brick, knocking his teeth out and injuring his face. This is the latest in a string of violence against Orthodox Jews in New York.
A day after the assault, Avital Chizkik Goldschmidt, a self-identifying Orthodox Jew who writes for the Forward, wrote an article entitled, “Why Does No One Care About Violence Against Orthodox Jews?”
She observes in her article that the response to these antisemitic hate crimes so far has been insufficient both by the city administration and by the organized Jewish community, with the exception of the ADL who are offering a significant reward for any information about the perpetrator.
She goes on to write that in the liberal circles where she often finds herself professionally, where all kinds of discrimination is appropriately opposed, she routinely hears slurs about Orthodox Jews.
At the heart of these attacks, which she believes are often rationalized as not being antisemitic, is “A deep, centuries-old discomfort with the religious Jew. The Jew who, though a proud American citizen, refuses to assimilate entirely; the Jew who insists on her own identity and practices.”
“Now, more than ever, Orthodox Jews will need the mobilization and support of secular and progressive Jews. Put political affiliations aside, and focus on 1the fact that in broad daylight, innocent Orthodox Jews are getting attacked — while politicians sit idly by.”
“Our secular brethren may walk in the street and have the luxury of blending into the crowd, as anonymous New Yorkers, but we wear our identities on our sleeves. And this puts us at the very front lines of anti-Semitism in the United States today. What will it take to get you to pay attention?” (Avital Chizkik-Goldschmidt, Forward, 8/28/19
Chizkik-Goldschmidt makes points that we need to consider forthrightly. I have been in settings where Jews who would be careful not to say anything misogynistic or homophobic or racist, as well they should be careful about all of those things, seem comfortable starting statements with the words “the Orthodox” and going on to generalize about (especially if it’s the so-called "ultra-Orthodox") matters including hygiene and ethics.
The word prejudice is related to pre-judge. I see someone whom I don’t know personally and judge them based on what I think I know about their group.
Yehuda Kurtzer, President of Hartman North America, wrote the following as part of a response to the Forward article: “When we talk about antisemitism we refer to expressions of hate that metastasize from individual grievances against particular individuals into indiscriminate hate against a collective; and that can include attacks on individuals when they are seen as ‘representative.’” (Kurtzer, FB posting, 8/29/19)
Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. We are asked to be self-reflective and to actually make changes in our behavior. So I want to ask us to consider, among the many things we might consider, if we make generalizations about the cluster of segments of the Jewish community that might be termed Haredi or ultra-Orthodox without engaging in thoughtful, careful analysis and/or without getting to know people who identify that way as individuals.
On September 12, we are going to host the cast of Shtisel, an Israeli series that was created about a Haredi family living in Jerusalem. The actors who play Shulem, the patriarch, Giti, his daughter, and Elisheva, a love interest of the artist Akiva will be here, along with the writer and co-creator, Ori Elon.
Clearly watching the series isn’t the same as getting to know actual members of the Haredit community. It’s television after all.
But what’s powerful about the series is that it presents Haredi people as people. On the one hand - there is no doubt that the norms of that culture impact people’s lives. Norms about eating, praying, dressing, dating, mourning.
But on the other hand - I mean, obviously! - but maybe it needs to be said - each person has a distinct personality.
Moreover, the issues that they face - dealing with love and loss - are issues that we all face.
So if you’ve ever experienced the death of a loved one, and you think you’re going about your life and you’re managing well enough, thank you and then - BOOM! - suddenly a memory of your loved one hits you like a truck and you can hardly breathe - then you can relate to Shulem.
And if you’ve ever felt profound excitement and confusion when it comes to matters of love - then you can relate to Elisheva and Akiva.
And if you’ve ever needed to gather all of your strength to protect your family and you don’t have the luxury of falling apart - then you can relate to Giti.
I don’t do too many hard sells from this pulpit, but I’m going to do one now. Watch the show if you haven’t - even a few episodes - it’s on Netflix - and then sign up to see the cast and writer/co-creator at Temple Israel on September 12.
I’m going to be moderating the discussion. It’s a marvelous opportunity for our synagogue (we expect a huge crowd from all over the NY area), a great chance to get behind the scenes of an outstanding show, and a great opportunity, as well, to confront our own stereotypes about the Haredi community.
I am not suggesting that we need to support every statement that comes out of the Haredi community, nor am I suggesting that we should adopt all of their customs - though some are worth considering. We have every right to define our own approach to being Jewish, as I spoke about last week, and we have an obligation to find appropriate ways to speak critically of one another when called for.
This includes, frankly, criticizing Haredim who oppose and vilify non-Haredi behavior. Just as some non-Haredi Jews prejudge Haredi Jews, some Haredi Jews prejudge non-Haredi Jews. That’s real, and we must push back against it when it occurs.
However when our legitimate concerns cross the boundary into unfounded prejudice that makes us regard the other as less intrinsically worthy, we need to own that. And here I’ll keep it simple. If we are less likely to cry out when Rabbi Gopin is attacked than when someone who looks more like us is attacked, then shame on us. That is simply indefensible.
This month of Elul is a time when we are asked to judge ourselves in anticipation of the judgment of our creator. What are not asked to do as part of the process is to judge one another.
With eyes wide open, with commitment to the basic and equal rights of every Jew, of every human being, to live in security and peace, with commitment to judge ourselves with at least the same scrutiny as we judge others, with a willingness to actually get to know another individual before we presume to know that individual - let us begin this sacred month leading up to the New Year.
וכל באי עולם יעברון לפניך V’khol ba’ei olam ya’avrun l’fanekha. Let all of earth’s inhabitants be able to pass before You for the kind of judgment that we mortals cannot render.
Shabbat Shalom. Hodesh Tov.
Originally shared with the Temple Israel of Great Neck community on August 31, 2019
Rabbi Avraham Gopin, attacked on August 27, 2019
A day after the assault, Avital Chizkik Goldschmidt, a self-identifying Orthodox Jew who writes for the Forward, wrote an article entitled, “Why Does No One Care About Violence Against Orthodox Jews?”
She observes in her article that the response to these antisemitic hate crimes so far has been insufficient both by the city administration and by the organized Jewish community, with the exception of the ADL who are offering a significant reward for any information about the perpetrator.
She goes on to write that in the liberal circles where she often finds herself professionally, where all kinds of discrimination is appropriately opposed, she routinely hears slurs about Orthodox Jews.
At the heart of these attacks, which she believes are often rationalized as not being antisemitic, is “A deep, centuries-old discomfort with the religious Jew. The Jew who, though a proud American citizen, refuses to assimilate entirely; the Jew who insists on her own identity and practices.”
“Now, more than ever, Orthodox Jews will need the mobilization and support of secular and progressive Jews. Put political affiliations aside, and focus on 1the fact that in broad daylight, innocent Orthodox Jews are getting attacked — while politicians sit idly by.”
“Our secular brethren may walk in the street and have the luxury of blending into the crowd, as anonymous New Yorkers, but we wear our identities on our sleeves. And this puts us at the very front lines of anti-Semitism in the United States today. What will it take to get you to pay attention?” (Avital Chizkik-Goldschmidt, Forward, 8/28/19
Chizkik-Goldschmidt makes points that we need to consider forthrightly. I have been in settings where Jews who would be careful not to say anything misogynistic or homophobic or racist, as well they should be careful about all of those things, seem comfortable starting statements with the words “the Orthodox” and going on to generalize about (especially if it’s the so-called "ultra-Orthodox") matters including hygiene and ethics.
The word prejudice is related to pre-judge. I see someone whom I don’t know personally and judge them based on what I think I know about their group.
Yehuda Kurtzer, President of Hartman North America, wrote the following as part of a response to the Forward article: “When we talk about antisemitism we refer to expressions of hate that metastasize from individual grievances against particular individuals into indiscriminate hate against a collective; and that can include attacks on individuals when they are seen as ‘representative.’” (Kurtzer, FB posting, 8/29/19)
Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. We are asked to be self-reflective and to actually make changes in our behavior. So I want to ask us to consider, among the many things we might consider, if we make generalizations about the cluster of segments of the Jewish community that might be termed Haredi or ultra-Orthodox without engaging in thoughtful, careful analysis and/or without getting to know people who identify that way as individuals.
On September 12, we are going to host the cast of Shtisel, an Israeli series that was created about a Haredi family living in Jerusalem. The actors who play Shulem, the patriarch, Giti, his daughter, and Elisheva, a love interest of the artist Akiva will be here, along with the writer and co-creator, Ori Elon.
Clearly watching the series isn’t the same as getting to know actual members of the Haredit community. It’s television after all.
But what’s powerful about the series is that it presents Haredi people as people. On the one hand - there is no doubt that the norms of that culture impact people’s lives. Norms about eating, praying, dressing, dating, mourning.
But on the other hand - I mean, obviously! - but maybe it needs to be said - each person has a distinct personality.
Moreover, the issues that they face - dealing with love and loss - are issues that we all face.
So if you’ve ever experienced the death of a loved one, and you think you’re going about your life and you’re managing well enough, thank you and then - BOOM! - suddenly a memory of your loved one hits you like a truck and you can hardly breathe - then you can relate to Shulem.
And if you’ve ever felt profound excitement and confusion when it comes to matters of love - then you can relate to Elisheva and Akiva.
And if you’ve ever needed to gather all of your strength to protect your family and you don’t have the luxury of falling apart - then you can relate to Giti.
I don’t do too many hard sells from this pulpit, but I’m going to do one now. Watch the show if you haven’t - even a few episodes - it’s on Netflix - and then sign up to see the cast and writer/co-creator at Temple Israel on September 12.
I’m going to be moderating the discussion. It’s a marvelous opportunity for our synagogue (we expect a huge crowd from all over the NY area), a great chance to get behind the scenes of an outstanding show, and a great opportunity, as well, to confront our own stereotypes about the Haredi community.
I am not suggesting that we need to support every statement that comes out of the Haredi community, nor am I suggesting that we should adopt all of their customs - though some are worth considering. We have every right to define our own approach to being Jewish, as I spoke about last week, and we have an obligation to find appropriate ways to speak critically of one another when called for.
This includes, frankly, criticizing Haredim who oppose and vilify non-Haredi behavior. Just as some non-Haredi Jews prejudge Haredi Jews, some Haredi Jews prejudge non-Haredi Jews. That’s real, and we must push back against it when it occurs.
However when our legitimate concerns cross the boundary into unfounded prejudice that makes us regard the other as less intrinsically worthy, we need to own that. And here I’ll keep it simple. If we are less likely to cry out when Rabbi Gopin is attacked than when someone who looks more like us is attacked, then shame on us. That is simply indefensible.
This month of Elul is a time when we are asked to judge ourselves in anticipation of the judgment of our creator. What are not asked to do as part of the process is to judge one another.
With eyes wide open, with commitment to the basic and equal rights of every Jew, of every human being, to live in security and peace, with commitment to judge ourselves with at least the same scrutiny as we judge others, with a willingness to actually get to know another individual before we presume to know that individual - let us begin this sacred month leading up to the New Year.
וכל באי עולם יעברון לפניך V’khol ba’ei olam ya’avrun l’fanekha. Let all of earth’s inhabitants be able to pass before You for the kind of judgment that we mortals cannot render.
Shabbat Shalom. Hodesh Tov.
Originally shared with the Temple Israel of Great Neck community on August 31, 2019
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