Anti-Semitic graffiti at Brooklyn synagogue prompts event shutdown
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(Photo: Robert Bumsted/Associated Press)
PITTSBURGH — Barry Werber usually attends services Friday night and Sunday morning, but this week was the anniversary of his mother’s death. Werber arrived early Saturday morning at the Tree of Life synagogue, and he and the few others who were already in the downstairs sanctuary were reading their prayer books when he heard a crash. Werber walked toward the stairs.
“I pushed the door open, and I saw a body on the steps coming down to our room,” Werber, 76, told USA TODAY on Monday night. “I have to assume that it was Cecil.”
Cecil Rosenthal and 10 others at the Tree of Life were gunned down on the Sabbath as the shooter yelled, “All Jews must die,” It was the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in U.S. history, the Anti-Defamation League said, and Werber says that Anti-Semitism is alive in the United States.
Now, Werber said he feels unsafe — even in his own home — and isn't sure how he’ll feel about going in the building and his sanctuary when it opens again.
The shooting was targeted and displayed a level on anti-semitism that Werber said he never expected to see in the United States.
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Now, Werber said he feels unsafe — even in his own home — and isn't sure how he’ll feel about going in the building and his sanctuary when it opens again. The shooting was targeted and displayed a level on anti-semitism that Werber said he never expected to see in the United States.
His cousins survived concentration camps. His parents fled Europe and Nazism. But, today, Werber said he’s not sure Jewish people have really gotten away from that.
I sure can't blame anyone who went through that for feeling that way, it's a natural and rational response. But I sure hope he noticed that the Shabbat Friday night and Saturday morning outside his synagogue was overflowing with supporters including tons of Gentiles. That happened not just in Pittsburgh but in synagogues throughout the US and around the world.
I think the Tree of Life synagogue, the AJC and other Jewish groups were very wise to make a public invitation and hold a semi-organized outlet for the public to express their support and their grief. That's the right response to build community solidarity.
And looking at it through a political lens I think the consequences will be devastating to the xenophobic GOP even if that wasn't the intent at all.
But it should also be pointed out that there's also been a spike in violent hate crimes against other minority groups as well.
In percentage crimes, perhaps not surprisingly, the largest increase has been against Muslim-Americans. But there's also been a big increase for other minority groups as well: African-Americans, Latinos, Gays, Asian Indians, etc)
Hmmmmm..according to libs, there is no way a minority would support Trump, so, which side of the aisle do libs think these losers represent?
Hint...It ain't Republican
So you're assuming those two guys are Trump supporters? You might be right.
Nope...those are yours...own it..
Wait..was that racist? I figured I would beat you to it since your comments are predictable.
Generalize much?
Probably a little generalization, but in truth, I have never seen or heard a liberal say otherwise, unless they escaped from the democratic plantation...then all name calling is allowed.
Actually that comment brings up an interesting thing I've noticed (and its not just limited to political discussions):
I have never seen or heard a liberal say otherwise,
I've seen that a lot-- especially on the Internet but also in the so-called "Real World". Its that is often people make the assumption if they've never seen or heard something...its didn't happen.
Its based on what I find to be a really strange assumption-- carried to an extreme, its the assumption that one knows everything!
A horrendous storm somewhere in Asia? Well, I haven't heard anything about that-- so it must be false! There hasn't been any recent rocket launch into space-- why? because I haven't heard anything about that! (These are just examples I made up...)
So getting back to specifics--- assuming that just because you personally haven't ever heard any Liberals say something-- doesn't mean its true about all or even most liberals.
I'm not saying it is true of liberals. I simply said I have never seen or heard a liberal say otherwise. Nothing more than that.
OK-- re-reading your comments I just realized that I had misinterpreted what you were saying! My sincere apologies
Why does an article that has a headline about an antisemitic act in Brooklyn only talk about the Pittsburgh attack? One might think that the headline would be followed by an article about what the headline said. I saw a report about yet another antisemitic vandalism in California - and I'm sure there will be more. Perhaps the article and the comments should be more directed towards the rise of antisemitism (which, by the way, is nothing new since it has existed for thousands of years) and the increased boldness, and perhaps since antisemitism has been rampant elsewhere than in America, and increasing, a discussion of reasons that could be OTHER than its all Trump's fault.
Its true that it has existed for thousands of years. And of course it exists in other places than the U.S. (In fact its considerably worse in many other countries...).
I don't know if anyone saw it or not, but a while back I did make a comment stating that I was involved in the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. I don't like to talk about it much publically, but since High School I have been very aware of racism and other forms of bigotry towards various minorities-- and I have been an activist-- often "putting my money where my mouth is" (to coin a phrase
.
Anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the U.S. (and even in many Arab countries, BTW) often seems to follow a cycle-- it ebbs and flows.
In the U.S. it was much, much worse at times...then decreased for a while. But it took a sudden spike after T
rump was nominated. That shouldn't be a surprise, and he has constantly bashed various minority groups.
Of course anti-Semitism is not all due to Trump's inflammatory rhetoric-- but I have followed it closely and there's no doubt in my mind that that's the main cause of the recent spike.
And BTW-- generally anti-Semitism in the U.S. over the years has been mainly on the Right. But there's definitely a new trend-- some of the craziest people on the left have, over the past few years, become extremely racist. In many cases, particularly on college campuses, some have become blatantly racist and anti-Semitic.
Who are you referring to?
And BTW-- generally anti-Semitism in the U.S. over the years has been mainly on the Right. But there's definitely a new trend-- some of the craziest people on the left have, over the past few years, become extremely racist. In many cases, particularly on college campuses, some have become blatantly racist and anti-Semitic.
There are numerous examples. Since we are talking mainly about the recent terror attack on that Jewish Temple in Pittsburgh-- he's just one example of the towards Jews that presails on many campuses:
Columbia Updates Statement on Pittsburgh Shooting That Didn’t Mention Jews or Anti-Semitism
Notwithstanding some have not agreed with the severity of the antisemitic problem on American and Canadian university campuses, I'm justified and encouraged by the fact that Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Weisenthal Centre, agrees with me. I don't expect the new management of the ADL to admit the truth because it's no longer politically neutral.
This from your link:
Although the State Department has adopted the definition of antisemitism along with most other western civilized countries, I guess it needs further verification to become effective for prevention.