EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

A terrible event occurred in the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where a deranged person, full of hate, acted out on his fantasies by killing 11 people on a Shabbos morning. The world was there to condemn it. Press releases and press conferences were held around the country to assure the Jewish community that this incident was of one specific person and not representative of our country as a whole.

There is much to reflect upon in the aftermath of this tragedy. While we are fortunate to live in this great country, and our elected officials and government are here to protect us and make us feel comfortable, I have perceived a shift regarding the Jewish community in two areas.

The first is college campuses. It has become acceptable to criticize Israel in the spirit of “free speech.”  Protests staged under the banner of “free Palestine” have matured into full-fledged anti-Semitic rage in college campuses throughout America.  While colleges attempt to whitewash the anti-Semitism by claiming that the criticism is targeted only at Israel, how many Jewish students have voiced their discomfort about being in these colleges or trying to stand up for Jewish issues?  When they attempt to hold their own rallies, they are told by faculty that they their message is offensive to other people. While I think the Israeli Palestinian issue is one for discussion, I feel that the anti-Semitism issue is even more important and disturbing.

The second issue I want to bring up may cause some raised eyebrows. In response to the Pittsburgh attack, some officials, organizations, and community members made bold statements, telling us how the Jewish community is unsafe in America. They advised police presence in all our synagogues and even encouraged firearms registration. While we must address the security issue, take proper precautions, and condemn this horrendous event, we also have to put it into perspective. This act was committed by one sick person with an evil agenda; it is not a reflection of the majority of Americans nor the country as a whole.

Let us come together to condemn hate. May we always remain united, and may we know of no more sorrow.  

Warm regards,

Shea