Jews around the world are celebrating the festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. It commemorates the revelation of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Shavuot falls seven weeks after Passover. The arc of liberation from slavery to democracy under the Rule of Law is celebrated by late night study of Rabbinic commentaries and the chanting of the Ten Commandments in the original Hebrew on Friday morning.
As we observe the revelation of our most sacred text, we recall it is a story that has given flight to the human spirit across centuries, from the ancients to the American founding fathers. Yet, in the midst of this vital holiday, we are living in a period of increased anti-Semitism. Assaults against Jews in the United States have reached a record high. The regularity of anti-Semitism in American life has resulted in over half of American Jews experiencing some sort of anti-Semitism over the past two years. Verbal attacks range from traditional anti-Semitic tropes to minimization and efforts at exclusion.
Indeed, at our synagogue, we recently experienced a deeply troubling incident two Sabbaths ago. On Saturday, May 9, during Sabbath morning services, a guest in the facility wherein our synagogue is housed hurled an openly hostile anti-Semitic epithet at our security guard. This individual then waved her hand dismissively at our security staff member, walked a few feet down the hallway, and disparaged that security person to another synagogue staff member not involved with our security detail. We pride ourselves at our synagogue on a safe and dignified work environment for all of our staff. A police report has been filed.
Our security staff person is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces. He served our country honorably, and in this case was simply doing his job to prevent harm. He is also a human being, just as you and I are, and his dignity was violated by this outburst of anti-Semitic bigotry. I do want to note that the facility that houses our congregation is a landmarked institution. The United States Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places has granted it historic status. Its history rises above the violation this American veteran suffered while standing guard over our congregation of faith two Sabbaths ago.
What then do we do as American Jews living in this kind of environment, just trying to live our lives and practice our faith? Yes, of course, physical safety is our immediate concern, but there is a spiritual dimension to our security offered by the message of Shavuot. In preparing for this festival, we have spent the weeks between Passover and the Feast of Weeks reading Pirke Avot, the classic ethical treatise of Judaism. It grounds us in the respect and civility we owe to all human beings. Genesis reminds us we are all made in the image of the God of Creation.
Loving human conduct is at the root of Torah and our upcoming celebration of the Ten Commandments. The Jewish people have survived from antiquity not because of any physical prowess. When all is said and done, it is the spiritual embrace of our tradition that envelops and protects us.
Rabbi Abraham Unger, Palm Beach
Rabbi Unger is executive director of New Synagogue
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Letter: Amid anti-Semitism, Jews seek spiritual embrace of tradition
Reporting by Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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