Bradley Byrne: No place, no time for hate
At a recent church service, the sermon focused on the 12th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, which describes Jesus’ answer to a question from a scribe about which Commandment is “first of all.” Jesus replies with the Shema: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Even though Jesus was not asked about a “second Commandment”, he adds to the Shema, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In response, for once, a scribe agrees with Jesus. It seemed timely to hear this verse and to hear a modern-day minister preach on it. Just a few weeks ago, eleven people were tragically killed at a Jewish synagogue near Pittsburgh. These innocent Jews were killed by a man filled with hate, much like the murders of innocent African American Christians in a Charleston church three years ago. These horrific events remind us that evil is not a superstition, but an all too real presence in our society. The Old Testament and Jesus are crystal clear: the very essence of God is love. Therefore, anyone who hates another person acts against God and his purposes for humankind. Jesus took it another step by joining the Commandment to love one another with the Commandment to love God. Saint John in his first letter is explicit: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Our obligation to love one another applies to everyone. Indeed, the very presence of hate inside us is the work of evil, and we should all strive against that evil in our own lives. And when a particularly tragic work of evil happens, as happened in Pittsburgh, we need to speak out so that we reinforce our collective resolve against it. In the heart of election season, it is especially important to remember that more unites us than divides us. As Americans – and as humans – we are united by common bonds of love, faith, and understanding. Far too often we get caught up in the areas of disagreement, instead of realizing that far more brings us together. We are all imperfect humans made by our Creator. While we are often divided by where we live, our age, our background, our race, or our gender, we are brought together by many important common factors. My study of U.S. history long ago convinced me that our national principle of the equality of all people, explicit in The Declaration of Independence and reiterated by President Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, is rooted in our Founders’ understanding of the Bible’s clear teaching that we are all created and loved by God, and therefore must love and must value one another. So violent attacks on people because of their race or religion are truly un-American as well. An attack on any human because of their religious beliefs or the color of their skin or their background is an attack on all of us and the values we hold most dear. When we let these actions further divide, we only fuel the fire of hatred. Instead, we should use events like we saw in Pittsburgh to unite us and bring us closer together. So, please allow me to add my voice with many others against the evil of these and other acts of violence. There is no place, and this is no time, to hate. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Birmingham Jewish community reacts after deadly Pittsburgh synagogue attack
The Levite Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Birmingham is speaking out after several people were shot and killed at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. “The Birmingham Jewish Community is shocked and saddened by the hatred and the senseless loss of life experienced by members of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday, our Shabbat,” wrote the Levite JCC on Facebook. “We grieve for those lost and pray for healing for their loved ones and their whole community. We are touched by and grateful for the outpouring of support and love from the greater Birmingham faith community.” On Saturday, the gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 people and injuring six others, among them four police officers. It was the deadliest attack ever on Jews in the United States. According to law enforcement, suspect Robert Bowers specifically targeted Jews on social media posts online and made anti-Semitic comments during the shooting. The Levite JCC is organizing a prayer vigil for the community, Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30pm on the steps of Temple Beth-El Synagogue, 2179 Highland Ave. Called “Stand with Pittsburgh: A Prayer Gathering for Shalom (Peace),” the event will “offer prayers for Shalom, Peace, for our brothers and sisters in Pittsburgh and for our country.” Read the full Facebook post below:
Bomb threat triggers evacuation of Jewish center in Birmingham
From Alabama to Michigan, bomb threats across the country have forced evacuations at Jewish schools and community centers in 2017. On Monday morning, the Levite Jewish Community Center (LJCC) in Birmingham, Ala. received its third threat of the year. According to the FBI’s Birmingham division, the FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights division will investigate as part of a nationwide probe into threats against Jewish community centers. The LJCC received similar bomb threats on Jan. 18 and Feb. 20. Gov. Robert Bentley says he will not tolerate any such threats and will bring those responsible to justice. “As the Governor of every person of Alabama, I will not tolerate targeted threats against any segment of the community,” Bentley said in a statement. “I have been briefed on the bomb threats at the Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, and I have ordered the State Bureau of Investigation, a division with in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to coordinate with local and federal law enforcement officials to provide investigative resources. I am deeply troubled for our families and communities that have been threatened and feel frightened. I can assure the people of our state that Alabama will not tolerate any threat, we will bring those responsible to justice and we will provide any resource necessary to protect every one of our citizens.” Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, whose district includes part of Birmingham, is also taking a stand against the threats. “I am deeply disturbed by the threats against Jewish community centers in Birmingham and nationwide,” said Sewell. “These hate crimes will not be tolerated. Many of my constituents still remember the 1963 bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham that killed four young black girls. We cannot and will not let that kind of hate rock our community ever again. The families in my district reject anti-Semitism or discrimination against any religion or race, and we will call out and confront discrimination wherever it is present.” Last Thursday, Sewell joined 157 of her Congressional colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), urging the agencies to swiftly assess the recent threats against Jewish community centers and to advise Congress on any steps which it can take to help counter those threats. The Jewish Community Center Association of North America (JCC) echoed the letter. “Anti-Semitism of this nature should not and must not be allowed to endure in our communities. The Justice Department, Homeland Security, the FBI, and the White House, alongside Congress and local officials, must speak out – and speak out forcefully – against this scourge of anti-Semitism impacting communities across the country,” the JCC said. “Actions speak louder than words. Members of our community must see swift and concerted action from federal officials to identify and capture the perpetrator or perpetrators who are trying to instill anxiety and fear in our communities.” The JCC confirmed bomb threats were called into schools and/or JCCs in 11 states on Monday — Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In the first two months of 2017 alone, there have been more than 60 incidents targeting Jewish community centers nationwide.
Bob Driver: Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump (a comparison)
Donald Trump, who may very well become our next president, is being accused of Hitlerism. By the time this column appears, the charges may have been dismissed. Or confirmed. Whichever way it goes, it behooves all of us to think about Hitler and Trump, and how they compare. For younger readers and those who may have heard vague reports about World War II and other related events, a little history: Adolf Hitler was a German soldier and political activist who climbed to power in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. His National Socialist (Nazi) Party took full control in 1933. In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, which triggered the beginning of World War II. Not long afterward, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. Bad move. Within a few years the USA, United Kingdom, Russia and other Allied nations reduced Germany to a bombed-out starving wasteland. Enough history. Let’s see how, or whether, Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler resemble each other: WEALTH. Trump was born with a platinum spoon in his mouth. Initially, Hitler was poor as a church rat but later enjoyed many creature comforts. At his death, he owned an extensive underground bunker in Berlin. SPEAKING STYLE. Hitler was a dynamic orator. His high-pitched voice and passionate utterances excited his followers and drove them to the edge of madness, especially when he revealed that most of Germany’s (and the universe’s) woes could be blamed on the Jewish people. He was a student of government and politics, and easily listed dozens of twisted reasons why he should lead Germany. Donald Trump also speaks in a penetrating, passionate manner to his overflow crowds, most of whom would cheer themselves hoarse even if Trump uttered nothing more than “Fish for sale!” Rather than referring to specific facts to support his beliefs, he relies on repetition of a few mostly inflammatory thoughts. He also uses various insults to thwart anyone who disagrees with him. This sets him far above Hitler, who dealt with opponents by having them shot. PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES. Hitler was not much to look at. He was fairly short, and seldom smiled. It was rumored that he was born with only one testicle. If true, this did not keep him from scaring the tar out of thousands of more fully equipped males in Germany and elsewhere. Trump’s most notable physical deficiency is a paucity of hair on the forward half of his scalp. He also has a habit of pursing his lips and defiantly tilting his chin upward, much like the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini did in his Roman balcony harangues. ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE. Hitler didn’t have much luck with the ladies. He is believed to have connected with several young women, but the hookups did not endure, partially because a number of the women committed suicide. Hitler’s longest romance was with blond Eva Braun. They did not marry until late April 1945 when Russian troops were turning Berlin into a morgue. Two days after the wedding ceremony, Adolf and Eva killed themselves. Their bodies were burned. Donald Trump’s personal life has been somewhat cheerier. He has married three attractive women (although not all at the same time). They have given him five children, all of whom reportedly think highly of their father. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. The Donald (as Trump’s many friends sometimes call him) is a (non-devout) Presbyterian, reflecting his Scottish roots. He has maintained good relations with other religious adherents, until recently when he uttered some unkind words about militant Muslims. Hitler’s thoughts about religion were vague, except for his lifelong anti-Semitic fervor. He liked to think of a heaven where everyone resembled Norse gods and goddesses and was enraptured by the music of Richard Wagner. Hitler did not believe in an eternal hell. Instead, he created it on earth, to the tune of 29 million victims of Nazi ambitions. IMMIGRATION POLICIES. Hitler did not welcome newcomers to Germany unless they were Aryan, enjoyed book-burning and wept copiously as they sang “Deutschland Uber Alles” while smashing the windows of Jewish shopkeepers. Hitler’s final solution to the presence of unwanted citizens was to emigrate them to concentration camps. As I write these words on Dec. 9, Donald Trump is saying various things about U.S. immigration and anti-terrorism policies. They can be summed up as “Send the illegal bad guys back to where they came from, and don’t let Muslims inside our land until they are officially purified.” CONCLUSION. All aspects considered, I’d much rather have Donald Trump in the White House than Adolf Hitler. However, this should not be considered my endorsement of Trump, except to say I hope he stays in the race until the very end. Rightly or wrongly, Trump is the personification of the First Amendment – freedom of speech – at a time when many in our land want to bend it, cripple it or shut it down. Bob Driver writes for Tampa Bay Newspapers. He is a former editorial page editor for the Clearwater (Florida) Sun. For more state and national commentary visit Context Florida.
Martin Dyckman: They pander the repulsive to the bigoted
The letters, mailed from Vienna in the summer of 1938, spoke of enthusiasm and hopefulness at the prospect of coming to the United States. Nothing revealed the reason except for the stationery that had been hand-altered to show a new address. It was a few months after Hitler had taken over and life was becoming as difficult for Jews in Austria as in Germany. The letters had been sent to relatives in Brooklyn and were in my mother’s papers when she died nearly a half century later. I had them translated from the German. Dr. Jakob Neuer, a lawyer, assured his kin that if they sponsored them, he, his wife and their 13-year-old son, Richard, would not need charity in the United States. “We Neuers want to work,” he wrote. There was one problem. Although he was considered German and qualified for an early visa, his wife was classified Polish. For her, there was a three-year waiting list. The quota had been established in large part to keep Jews out. The Neuers did not have three years. They made it only as far as France, where safety was short-lived. Jakob and his brother, sister-in-law and nephew died in Auschwitz. Richard helped his mother escape to Switzerland and spent the war living by his wits in southern France. In a novel he wrote in French years later, he described an American consul in Vichy France as ever so courteous, always smiling, always saying maybe later. In fact, maybe later meant never to the anti-Semites at the State Department. In 1939, about 900 Jews boarded the steamship SS St. Louis at Hamburg, bound for Cuba, expecting eventually to reach the United States. But the Cubans reneged on the visas they had sold them. They turned the ship away. So did the United States. When it reached Miami, the Coast Guard patrolled the harbor to make sure no one swam for shore. President Franklin Roosevelt ignored their appeals. Although he was a German, ship captain Gustav Schroder refused to take his despairing passengers back to Hamburg. He docked at Antwerp, where Great Britain, France and other western European nations agreed to accept the refugees. By the end of the ensuing war, the Nazis had murdered 250 of them. Polls from that period showed the American public strongly opposed to admitting Jewish refugees, even when the proposal was to take only 10,000 children. It was left to the British to do that. All this comes to mind, with stomach-wrenching disgust, with the news of Jeb Bush and other politicians calling for discrimination against Muslims in admitting Syrian refugees to the United States. Then, the pretext was that the Jews might include German spies. Never mind that the U.S. abounded with native-born, German-speaking Nazi sympathizers. Now, the pretext is that there might be terrorists among the Syrian refugees. Never mind that it was a fake Syrian passport found with one of the Paris terrorists or that they were all European citizens, not refugees. And never mind the eternal shame for closing our borders to Hitler’s intended victims. Unlike Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and Chris Christie – who give new meanings to the word “vile” – Bush attempted to clarify his initial statement calling for preference to Syrian Christians. He said he supports welcoming women, children and orphans of any religion. But what about Muslim men? Does Bush mean to keep them out and let only their wives and children in? How does that comport with family values? But at least he’s a shade better than Christie, who said he would not permit even “a 3-year-old orphan” into his state. “Today’s Syrian orphan, it seems, is 1939’s German Jewish child,” said an Internet posting from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Any form of religious discrimination is an insult to the American flag. No one who stands for that sort of vetting deserves to sit on a soil and water conservation board, let alone in the Oval Office. Mea culpa. I wrote earlier this month that Bush, unlike the candidates atop the Republican popularity polls, would be a “credible successor to the Oval Office.” Now, he is explaining yet another rash statement and is also calling for sending U.S. troops into Syria. Has he learned nothing, nothing from his brother’s ghastly blunder? It must be in the genes. President Obama called this one right. “When I hear folks say that, well, maybe we should just admit the Christians but not the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that’s shameful. That’s not American. That’s not who we are. We don’t have religious tests to our compassion.” But it appears that some of us do, including a few who fancy themselves fit to be president. Either they are cowards, catering to the undisguised bigotry and frothing xenophobia that represents a sizable segment of Republican voters, or they are simply bigots themselves. None deserve any decent citizen’s vote. Martin Dyckman is a retired associate editor of the newspaper formerly known as the St. Petersburg Times. He lives near Asheville, North Carolina.
GOP sees Iran nuke deal as chance to cultivate Jewish voters
Seizing on Israeli opposition to President Barack Obama‘s nuclear deal with Iran, Republicans are working to cultivate Jewish voters, reasoning that a small shift in the margins could help them in battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Democrats dismiss the effort as demagoguery from the right, saying that most Jewish voters will remain loyal to the left. The front-runner for their party’s presidential nomination, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, is among those supporting the agreement. Congress will have a 60-day window to review the Iran deal and could pass legislation stopping Obama from lifting its sanctions on Iran, though the president can lift sanctions through executive authority. Republican debates, which begin next month, give GOP hopefuls a stage to keep the topic on the 2016 radar. Obama said he hopes the debate would be “based on the facts, not on politics, not on posturing.” The Republican Jewish Coalition‘s Mark McNulty said the agreement to restrict Iranian nuclear development in exchange for sanctions relief is “the brainchild of Obama and Clinton, so it could be very appealing for a Jewish voter to consider a Republican in the White House.” Successful candidates, he said, will be able to tie Clinton to the deal, which she helped to initiate as secretary of state by starting secret talks with Iran. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and other GOP candidates are doing just that. “In the end, this should have been a confrontation between a superpower and an illegitimate third-rate autocracy,” he wrote for Breitbart News. “Instead, the Obama/Clinton team settled for trading carrots and sticks and hoping for elusive signs of moderation from cruel theocrats.” For Clinton, the topic presents fresh challenges as her campaign tries to maintain strong ties to Jewish voters and donors focused on Israel’s security. The Democratic Party has consistently won broad support from Jewish voters. Since President Bill Clinton‘s first White House victory in 1992, Democrats have gained about three-quarters of the Jewish vote in presidential campaigns. Obama faced tens of millions of dollars in Republican advertising questioning his commitment to Israel in 2012, but he won about 70 percent of Jewish voters. Democrats say most Jews are not single-issue voters. Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown said that even if some Jewish voters turn from Democrats, “it’s only going to matter in the swing states of Florida, and maybe Ohio and Pennsylvania,” because of their large Jewish populations. Donna Bojarsky, a Los Angeles-based Democratic strategist who has served on the board of several Jewish organizations, said Bill and Hillary Clinton’s ties to the Jewish community run deep, from the former president’s friendship with the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to Hillary Clinton’s tenure in the Senate representing New York and four years as secretary of state. “It will be much more difficult in any way, shape or form to say that they’re not supportive of Israel,” Bojarsky said. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is Jewish, from South Florida and heads the Democratic National Committee, said Republicans opposing the deal are trying to “to score cheap political points in the Jewish community.” In a statement released by her campaign, Clinton said she supported the plan because it offered the U.S. the best possible way of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. But in a gesture to Israel’s security, she said any cheating by Iran would bring a quick return of sanctions and no options would be taken off the table, “including, if necessary, our military options.” She said Iran posed a “grave threat” to Israel and that the U.S. ally would need to be confident that it would be able to defend itself. In an oblique reference to Obama’s strained relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Clinton said if elected she would invite senior Israeli leaders to Washington “for early talks on further strengthening our alliance.” There are few signs that Clinton faces an erosion of support from Jewish groups or voters. The National Jewish Democratic Council, which had initially taken a wait-and-see approach, announced their “strong support” for the agreement on Friday. “The deal was aimed at halting Iran’s march towards a nuclear weapon, and we find it will do exactly that,” said their statement. One of Clinton’s top donors, Hollywood media mogul Haim Saban, for example, told TheWrap that “my support of Hillary, no matter where she stands on this one issue, is unshakable.” “It will only be a hindrance to her politics in the sense that it will create a talking point,” said Alan Solow, a Chicago-based Democratic donor who backed Obama’s campaigns and is supporting Clinton. Jane Eisner, executive editor of Forward, an influential national Jewish publication, said most Jewish voters are “looking for a certain level of commitment to Israel’s security,” then look to other issues to decide who gets their vote. Eisner said the GOP is making some inroads on the Jewish vote because of the changing population, not politics. Orthodox Jews, who are conservative, are the fastest-growing segment of the community, she said. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
