The War Spills Over

The day I came back from Israel a demented, hateful man shot up the Jewish Federation in Seattle. He killed one employee and wounded five others. One of them is still struggling to survive and appears to have long term injuries. The civic and religious communities here are still in shock. People are asking how this could happen here, especially in a city which is famous for its tolerance. The response of the wider community, however, was impressive and very reassuring. Despite the tragedy there is a sense that the community will not let hateful acts destroy our civic virtues. Along with so many others I pray for the recovery of those who are injured. I want to thank the staff and leadership at the federation for their courage and persistance in a very difficult time. Thank you to the communal leaders, especially the mayor, Greg Nichols, for coming to the support of the Jewish community in its time of distress.

The women who died in the incident, Pam Waechter, was a very lovely person who was an exemplar of Jewish outreach. We shared a commitment to this type of work in the community. Pam was called a matyr in the eulogies. I don't think most people who choose to become Jewish professionals or volunteers, and those who choose do outreach work think about becoming matyrs. But I suppose we need to ask ourselves if we understand the dangers of being 'public Jews', serving the community in a way that exposes us as 'soft targets' for terrorists or deranged hateful persons.

Jews in other communities, the Jews of Argentina come to mind, have been much more exposed over this issue. Our tragedy here made me think a lot about the horrific bombing in Buenos Airies of the equivalent of the Jewish Federation in which 85 people died. The perpetrators have never been caught. In Argentina and in many other countries, serving the Jewish community is a commitment that exposes you to danger. The incident in Seattle brings us a bit closer to our fellow Jews around the world.

Now we have to think like them about our readiness to risk our lives for our purpose driven work. Maybe we are back to a time when to do Jewish outreach to assimilated Jews would mean having to work to confront the exposure to danger question. I know that some Jews hide, for fear of persecution or exposure to hatred. Who wants to be hated, especially a hatred that seems so infathomable and so irrational? What do you say to people to motivate them to explore Judaism. Or sometimes we do the opposite.

We sell Judaism because just to be a Jew is to be a heroic soldier standing up to all this hatred and persecution. Either way, antisemitism and hatred of Jews, seems to be a catalyst in standing up or hiding for many Jews. While I was in Israel a planeload of French Jews came to Ben Gurion to make aliyah. The war in the North had been raging for over a week. The immigrants were interviewed on Israeli TV in an impressive display of idealism and love of the Jewish people. The commentator kept on asking, "Aren't you crazy for coming here." He kept on repeating the comment.

Pam Waechter was a convert. Like every convert, I am sure she was asked about her awareness of the hatred of Jews and antisemitism. Converts, new immigrants to Israel, the loners in the Israeli army who come to defend Israel without the support of family are all impressive people. They sign on knowing the dangers. Other Jews think they are crazy. Maybe it is worth exploring why people become passionate about being Jewish despite the risks. Thank God for those crazy Jews who love the Jewish people.