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Friend,
I wanted to write to you and our Bend the Arc community in the wake
of recent attacks directed at American Jewish gatherings in Boulder,
Colorado and Washington, D.C.
These attacks are tragic, terrifying, and indefensible. Our
hearts are heavy. Our grief is palpable, compounded. And no label or
categorization for the violence will negate its effects.
My Jewish friends, family, and peers have described the fear and
pain they feel — from recent threats and violence and from the
memories they stir from dark periods in our Jewish history. Afraid
that attacking Jewish people is becoming normalized. Afraid of being
targeted as Jews or in Jewish spaces, or taking part in civic life. I
too feel this fear as I look ahead to dropping my children off at
Jewish summer camp.
The many kinds of responses to the violence show a continuing need
to support our Jewish community, to understand and dismantle
antisemitism, and to build a world with safety for all of us.
One place for support, understanding, and community to
process these recent events and beyond is Bend
the Arc's upcoming online training “How to Talk About Antisemitism: A
Training and Toolkit for Community Leaders” on Sunday, June
22.
These past weeks, I’ve seen messages of solace and solidarity, and
responses of hostility. I’ve seen contentious conversations about what
is driving this violence. Is it antisemitism, misdirected anger
towards the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, or is it
both?
Collectively, we’ve also seen people in the highest levels of
government attempting to exploit our fear and isolation — using
division as a smokescreen to move their own agendas that run counter
to our Jewish values. They seek to disassemble the democracy we need
to keep Jews, and everyone, safe. When we aren't careful, we risk
contributing to their aims too, targeting or pointing the finger at
one another in the false name of Jewish safety — immigrants, people of
color, protesters, and even other Jews.
And we’ve watched some people use these abominable acts of violence
to discredit and vilify the movement to end the devastation and
suffering of Palestinians in Gaza (a movement which includes scores of
Jews and Israelis). We’ve seen others suggest that these attacks on
Jews are somehow justified, or unworthy of sympathy, because of the
actions of a government abroad. Both responses are shocking,
categorically wrong, and have no place in the Jewish community or the
progressive movement.
Jewish safety means safety for Jews we agree with and those
we disagree with. It means safety for Palestinians. It means we see
the safe return of all hostages. It means safety for our neighbors. It
means safety for all people.
Even in the hardest moments, I know a world free of antisemitism
and all forms of oppression is possible. To learn how to talk about
antisemitism using language and approaches that move us closer to
dismantling it, join
Bend the Arc's upcoming online training “How to Talk About
Antisemitism: A Training and Toolkit for Community Leaders” on Sunday,
June 22.
Our work at Bend the Arc is to build a country where all are safe,
living with what they need to thrive. Without fear. As we experience
the pain of these attacks, and as we witness increasingly normalized
extremist violence, we know we will only move toward our goal
together. Jews and non-Jews. All people of conscience who share our
vision.
Together, we will build the world to come — Olam
Ha’ba.
In solidarity,
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