As Jewish year 5770 drew to a close last month, we found ourselves shaken by a new wave of bigotry in America, this time targeting Muslims and Islam.
During the month of Elul, when Jews focus on personal reflection and repentance, hateful rhetoric had reached a fevered pitch.
And as Jews gathered in synagogues on Rosh HaShanah, the talk of the moment was a pastor in Florida who threatened to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11.
This summer, the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan drew passionate voices supporting and opposing its location, just two blocks from the site of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
There is a wide range of strongly-held views about the center’s location that include respectful and legitimate opposition. To be clear, disagreement with the location is not tantamount to attacking Islam.
But the controversy has led to a rash of stereotyping, scapegoating, and violence against Muslims for no reason other than their religious identity. Such discourse and intolerance is anathema to the founding principles of our country.
In response, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, a consensus body of local community organizations and individuals, approached the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee about a community-wide, interfaith statement denouncing that rhetoric and calling for religious tolerance.
At the forefront
Within days, on Sept. 10, the conference released an “Interfaith Call for Tolerance, Respect, Civility.”
The statement refers to “a rising drumbeat of hatred and fear [that] is luring people to abandon religious tolerance, civility, reasoned discourse and mutual respect” and urges people “to stay true to the democratic ideals and religious principles that ennoble all of us.
“Today, Muslims and their religion are being increasingly and unfairly vilified in a country whose founders — knowing well the violent history of religious conflict in Europe — crafted a Constitution that committed the nation to religious freedom as a fundamental right for all people.”
Referring to anti-Catholic bigotry and resistance to the construction or expansion of synagogues and other Jewish buildings, the interfaith statement declares that “intolerance and hatred cannot continue. The nation must not devolve into an ongoing vilification that undermines our pluralistic society.”
By declaring together our commitment to protect one another, the collective voice of our diverse faith groups is more powerful than any statement we could make alone.
Our solidarity affirms our dedication to creating a community of mutual respect and common action for the good of society. We are proud to be part of such an effort.
As American Jews, we are intimately familiar with prejudice, intolerance and ignorance. We have been blocked from moving into neighborhoods or joining clubs, maligned for our faith, pressured into removing our kippot, stereotyped and victimized.
We know the danger of demagoguery and demonization. As such, we must be at the forefront in an effort to behave and speak with civility and respect.
That effort applies to people on all sides of arguments or controversial issues. Regardless of the validity of our positions, we must preserve the dignity of others, their faith and nationality.
That means listening rather than shouting, seeking to understand even those with whom we disagree. It means guarding our tongues and rejecting false witnesses.
Our Jewish values compel us to denounce such bigotry. One must look no further than Rabbi Hillel’s famous summary of Jewish law: “What is hateful to you, do not do to other people: This is the whole Law; the rest is commentary” (Talmud Tractate Shabbat 31a).
As we near the end of Tishrei, the first month of the New Year, we hope that the bitter rhetoric has abated and in its place will arise reasoned and respectful debate that upholds the dignity of us all.
Joyce Altman is chair and Elana Kahn-Oren is director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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