Both the Temple and Synagogue vandalized in Knoxville last night.
Just heard from our temple secretary that the stained glass windows in both Temple Beth El, and in the synagogue, Heska Amuna, have been badly damaged by rocks that were thrown. This is the first time such desecration has occurred in more than 100 years of our existence here in town (50 years in our current building). It's hard not to see this as an effect of the current news reporting on the conflict in Gaza. One feels protected and smug in America, one feels that our neighbors are friendly and benign, that tolerance is implicit, taken for granted.
I'll go to temple tonight, though I hadn't planned to. Ironically, this is how ordinary Palestinian families caught up in the conflict probably feel. They hadn't planned on making common cause with Hamas, but now that their homes and lives are in rubble, what else would they do?
It's a complicated story, and there's no end to it. The need for visionary leadership has never been greater. Poor Obama! So much weight on one man's shoulders. We'll pray for him tonight.
Peace, think locally, act globally--Marilyn
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Hyp-storian (not verified) says:
I don't know which is
I don't know which is sadder, Marilyn- the fact that it happened, or the fact that I'm not all that surprised it happened.
If you feel up to reading something else that's sad, then take a look at what I'm hoping will be my final blog about the Israel/Gaza mess. It's titled "The 'Final' Word on Israel/Gaza?"...
Marilyn Kallet says:
"The world is a narrow bridge, the most important thing is..."
That prayer spoke to us tonight: "The world is a narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be afraid."
Sad, definitely. The stained glass windows depicting prophets were damaged. Isaiah had a grenade-sized rock thrown through his belly. "Watchman, what of the night?" he said. The glass had been cleaned off the floor, but the holes in the windows let in the frigid air. The entire Jewish community was there, and so were our Christian friends--the sanctuary was packed.
My Russian peasant relatives only ever trusted other Jews. My whole life I've spent trying to widen my view. But it is hard on a night with broken glass.
Sue Glasco says:
Desecration
Marilyn--
I am so sorry these stained glass windows were broken. You are probably correct that this is a response to current news. If so, how ironic that a protest to violence is through violence. If only people would learn to use persuasive discourse, I am convinced that many problems could be solved if not satisfactorily, at least without violence and desecration. How very true that what is going on is a complicated story. I cannot keep up with local happenings, let alone world-wide ones; and yet we do need to think and act globally. I feel sorry for all sides. It is good to think that you will be in prayer for our new President tonight. I believe in prayer even more than persuasive discourse.
Marilyn Kallet says:
I'm with you, Sue! Thanks for your thoughtful response.
But when reason fails, I sometimes long for ritual magic!
All cheers and loving wishes at this season, Marilyn
Scott C. Holstad says:
Wow!
This is highly unfortunate and very disturbing, Marilyn. I'm really sorry to hear of it. Jen will no doubt be upset too. Take care.
- Scott
Marilyn Kallet says:
Thanks, darling. Much appreciated.
Yes, for Jews, broken glass is more than just debris--Kristallnacht was the opening act of the Holocaust.
Your message means a lot to me! love, Marilyn
Kathryn Stripling Byer says:
Temple Damage
Marilyn, I am sure you are right, that this is a response to the Israeli assault on Gaza. There's no excuse for this sort of destruction, but my own feeling of political powerlessness at this time gives me some slight emotional sense of how it might have happened, a moment of sheer frustration and anger at how little ordinary Americans really can do to change this situation which, sadly, has been a reality for over 50 years. Yes, we elected Obama, but will he speak out for a two state solution? Will it be too late once he's in office? I'm not optimistic. If you subscribe to The Nation, there's a good essay in it by Henry Siegman, "Last chance at Middle East Peace? : The two-state solution for Israel-Palestine will disappear for good if Obama doesn't act fast." It's sobering. I hope Obama does act quickly. I wish he would speak out now, but I know that's asking the politically impossible.
Happy New Year to You, too! Abrazos, Kay (kathrynstriplingbyer.blogspost.com; ncpoetlaureate.blogspot.com)
Marilyn Kallet says:
Obama will need to be visionary.
Much depends on him, more than on most. At least he's smart.
My niece, a sculptor, just got back from Israel, where the American student artists were guarded by Israeli soldiers, men and women, who were also artists. Half of them got called up while Hannah was there, which personalized the events for her. Some of these had fought in Lebanon, and were hoping and praying that they would not have to participate in a ground assault. But, they were going to do what they had to do to defend their home. That was never an issue. These are people who are used to defending themselves and their families. It's not about land, it's about not being destroyed.
I would strongly suggest that you go to Israel and see for yourself. That will make you more authoritative in your stance, or more thoughtful about Israelis as real people too.
Marilyn
Kathryn Stripling Byer says:
Israelis are real people
Oh Marilyn, but of course Israelis are real people, why would you assume someone like me would think otherwise? But then, so are the Palestinians. Do you know Naomi Shihab Nye's poetry? Her poems for her father's death in the October Sun (out of Chapel Hill) are lovely and heartbreaking. If we/Obama can't find what you call a "visionary" way of dealing with this issue, we will all suffer.
Mostly I feel sorry for these young Israelis asked to do what they are doing. I think the Al-Haaretz piece I emailed you says that pretty eloquently.
BUT, congratulations, again, on your new book. We will likely disagree on the issue of Israel for a good while to come, but it's an important issue and it must be considered as such by all Americans, regardless of religious and ethnic background. I suspect that you and I will have to settle on a no-talk-about stance re Israel, as my longtime friend Penelope Schott has had to do with her sister.
Despite, the trauma of what happened recently, I am glad that the Synagogue's damage was material and not, as in the Knoxville Unitarian Church's attack, deadly. Glass can be swept away and windows replaced. Lives cannot.