Never is Now
A call to action after the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh.
“Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must — at that moment — become the center of the universe.” — Elie Wiesel
For many of us, the Tree of Life synagogue and Squirrel Hill community are now at the center of our universe. Through texts, calls, social media, and local vigils, we’re mourning the loss of 11 souls whose lives were cut short at the cruel hand of hatred and extremism put in action.
#TogetherWeRemember…
• Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland
• Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township, Pa.
• Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill
• Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough, Pa.
• Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill
• David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill
• Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg, Pa.
• Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg, Pa.
• Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill
• Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill
• Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington
This attack, the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), occurred just a few weeks before annual commemorations of Kristallnacht will take place in synagogues across the world. The parallels between 1938 Europe and 2018 Europe (and America) are terrifying.
Eighty years later, “never again” is not a reality. Hitler’s Final Solution is in vogue.
“This violence occurs at time when ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment.” — Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO.
Aldous Huxley once wrote, “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.”
This has to change. Never is now.
“Pittsburgh” will be seared into our collective conscience, yet another city name added to the list. Orlando, Parkland, Charlottesville, the list goes on.
Is your city next? Is mine?
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are active hate groups in EVERY state in the US — and that doesn’t include the “lone wolves” who cultivate their hate in online communities.
How are we supposed to counter the rising tide of hate when the reality is that every one of our communities needs to be the center of the universe at the SAME time?
We need to fight fire with fire, but rather than the kind of fire that divides and destroys communities, we need to spark and stoke a fire that burns bright and unites our communities as one.
#TogetherWeRemember that in the darkest moments, the brightest beacons of humanity ALWAYS shine through. It’s time to shine people, every one of us.
We must transform collective memory into collective action:
1. Attend a Tree of Life vigil to meet your neighbors across identity groups who are similarly outraged and ready to act.
2. Vote.
3. Donate your time and/or money to organizations dedicated to fighting anti-semitism and other forms of hate (Big organizations like ADL, HIAS, SPLC are great, but don’t forget smaller ones on the front lines too).
4. Attend the ADL’s “Never is Now” summit in NYC on 12/3. (https://www.adl.org/never-is-now)
5. Sign up to organize a #TogetherWeRemember vigil in April 2019 (https://togetherweremember.org/host-a-name-reading/)
The news cycle will move on, as will our country and the rest of the world. Heather Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, recently told me that the goal of these modern-day haters is “silence or violence.”
We cannot be silent and we cannot be violent, but we must take action.
“The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity.” — US Attorney Scott Brady
Our actions — today, tomorrow, and all the days to come — must represent the best of humanity. If you need further guidance on how to get involved, please reach out to me. Let’s get to work.
