Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In contemporary Jewish life, until recently, it was felt that acts of Jew hatred took place in remote areas or by far leftwing and far rightwing thinking people. Sadly, this is not the case. The latest acts have taken place right near our shul at the Charles H. Best Middle School. There, two terrible events have now taken place. In one situation, students depicted a Swastika. In another situation, a student performed the Hitler salute. It is commendable that the school leadership is taking immediate action. However, the fact that such acts are taking place nowadays in the heart of a Jewish community raises the concern that Anti-Semitism is unashamedly overt.

The newest examples are not about an adult religious fanatic or a white supremacist entering a synagogue. Rather, young children seem comfortable doing so in the context of their school. Do children today comprehend the significance of these actions? 

Yesterday on the Jewish calendar, the seventh of Adar, marked the Yahrzeit of Moshe Rabeinu, Moses our teacher. As a young child growing up in Pharaoh's palace, he understood the hatred being imposed upon the Israelites. One of the first descriptions we read about Moses occurs when he sees an Egyptian beating upon a Hebrew. Moses intervenes immediately. He understands that evil needs to be confronted right away.

During the month of Adar (Adar II this year), we will read the story of Esther. Mordecai immediately understands the Jew hatred of his time coming from the Persian palace. He immediately persuades his relative Esther to take the risk of entering the palace, where ultimately she takes action to prevent Haman from implementing his plans.

As I wrote in a blog last week, especially regarding children, the best antidote is serious education about Anti-Semitism and specifically Holocaust education. In this week's latest sad events, the actions took place in a public school in a Jewish community. Here in the heart of Jewish Toronto, we have many effective ways to make a positive impact. 

Perhaps a trip to the Holocaust Education Centre would be helpful. 

Perhaps a visit by Holocaust survivors to this particular school and other schools would be helpful.

Perhaps showing powerful Holocaust films would be helpful.

In their own ways, Moses and Esther intervened. If we can intervene when the children are young, we must do so. The alternative is worse.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison