A few weeks ago, I led an interactive discussion with our Senior School students on the meaning of the word “tolerance.” The students defined “tolerance” as:
• Acceptance
• Understanding
• To allow or support something
• To be respectful of differences.
I was impressed by their insight and depth of understanding. We shared examples of when they experienced tolerance or lack thereof. We discussed the differences between “tolerance” and complete “acceptance”.
Our discussion was in preparation for a class trip to the Museum of Tolerance (MOT) in Los Angeles, a trip in which their families would be joining as well. We also discussed what topics they hoped the Museum would address. This is what they shared:
• Tough times and reality
• Reasons for antisemitism
• Results of tolerance
• Religion
This discussion, along with previous conversations I’ve had with these wonderful young students, makes my heart ache. At their tender ages, they should be experiencing life’s joys, discovering new talents, finding their passions in school, sports, hobbies, hanging out with their friends. They should enjoy their time as young teenagers, and they do all of that. Yet, at the same time, many of them have experienced antisemitism on a regular basis at school. They witness bullying, name-calling, taunting, in the guise of “it’s only a joke.” When they said that they hoped the MOT would cover the topic of “tough times and reality,” they were speaking from their own difficult experiences of being Jewish in today’s world.
The rise in antisemitism affects all of us in real and visceral ways. It affects our young people in ways we cannot even imagine. Our visit to the MOT enabled us to open doors to dialogue, discussion, and how we can be agents of change. Our visit covered two main topics: first, the Holocaust through a moving and poignant Holocaust exhibition. Our docent introduced our group to major themes including the use of propaganda, effects of dehumanization, and the roles and responsibilities of ordinary people in effecting change. The second part of our museum visit was to an incredible interactive and hands-on, series of virtual, multi-media spaces which focused on the themes of discrimination, diversity, global crises, personal responsibility, tolerance, and how we fit in. We had the ability to draw connections from history to current events as well as to reflect personally.
One of the goals for our class moving forward will be to determine how do we integrate some of the lessons from our Museum visit into our daily lives? What do they, our youth, need from us, their TBS community, in order to feel empowered, secure, and safe?
Our visit to the Museum of Tolerance was extremely timely. As you are well aware, since October 7th, antisemitism has risen exponentially. The vitriol and hate to which the Jewish community has been subjected here in the US harkens back to the dark days of WWII. I personally have been subject to online hate, attack, and intimidation. My dear friend and colleague Rabbi Rick Steinberg, Senior Rabbi of Shir Ha’ma’a lot in Irvine, has also been viciously maligned and attacked as well.
It pains me to let you know that those who threatened Israel and the Jewish community at the Santa Ana City Council in December are bringing forward another resolution to the Santa Ana City Council this Tuesday, March 5th. On the surface, this resolution appears to address both sides equally. The language seems more inclusive. Don’t be fooled by the ‘nice language’ - as we all know that the meeting will be nasty and ugly. The protesters will share their false narratives, misinformation, and vitriol about Israel and the Jews. It will be the same script with the same people bused in from outside Santa Ana.
We cannot let our youth, our community, or ourselves tolerate this. We must stand up to antisemitism and hate where ever and whenever it occurs. As Rabbi Steinberg said: “We must fight this hate with everything we have, but we must do it with continued class, love, and integrity. We will work hard to ensure that no anti-Israel or antisemitic resolutions get passed in the halls of government. We will defend our people with our resources in every single way. And we will do so without hate in our hearts. Even our brothers and sisters in the IDF, I pray that as they defend our homeland and our faith, they refrain from tending towards hate. I want peace for our people in Israel and I want peace for the Palestinians. I mourn the loss of life at the hands of hate across the Middle East – my heart is pained with each death.
The problem with hate is that it is contagious, particularly if one’s immunity to hate is compromised by the places they live or the societies in which they find themselves. We all need to inoculate ourselves from such divisiveness by striving every day to live in God’s image. To be a religious person, in my book, and in our book called the Torah, it states, “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Love thy neighbor as thyself.” But, of course, Rabbi Hillel taught that such a commandment might be too hard to follow – so he suggested, “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.” At the very least, we can follow Hillel’s words, if we can’t achieve the former biblical dictum.” – Rabbi Rick Steinberg, Senior Rabbi, SHM, Irvine, CA.
I, and our Kulanu Task Force, invite you to model for our youth what it means to speak up and speak out. We invite you to join us in speaking out against hate, in speaking out against this resolution. I urge you to come to the Santa Ana City Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 5th.
Click HERE to learn the truth about any ceasefire resolution and why it is not acceptable.
Click HERE by Sunday, March 3rd if you are interested in learning more about TBS’ efforts to prepare for the Santa Ana City Council meeting and to coalesce for Tuesday, March 5th.
Click HERE if you or any of your loved ones are experiencing antisemitism, hatred, bullying and would like to reach out to me or our Kulanu Task Force.
As the lessons of the Museum of Tolerance reinforced, “ani v’atah, n’shaneh et ha’olam – together, you and I can change the world.”
