|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
How well do we know each other? Could we create a community that is more kind, cohesive, and supportive? At Temple Beth Am, we have been discussing a need to better understand our neighbors. We perceive the necessity of talking with our neighbors, to learn about their lives and beliefs as we hope to share more about ours.
We are launching an initiative that we call Combating Hate, focused on all kinds of misunderstandings that we have about each other, resulting in misinterpretation, bias, even hate.
There are important events coming up soon, open to the community, that we see as ways to begin breaking down barriers.
Does anyone remember the song that Yul Brynner croons in the 1956 musical, The King and I? “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.” While the play itself may be out of date, the song begins with some interesting lyrics, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein:
“It’s a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils, you’ll be taught.”
This is based on a quote by a 1st century rabbi in The Talmud who declared, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and most from my students.” When we share our stories with each other, we are teachers, and when we hear the stories of others, we become the students.
In light of our Combating Hate program, we are arranging for dialogues among groups from different community organizations (religious and secular) that will allow us to sit down together, talk about important issues, share a nosh (we have to eat!) and pursue better understanding. We’ll all be teachers and we’ll all be students. What would you like to ask? What do you want to know more about? It’s encouraging to think about what we could accomplish together. If you are interested in being involved in such a dialogue, please contact us via e-mail at dialogue@tbam.org
We know that reciprocation is key if we expect our neighbors to have empathy for our story and sympathy for our fears. That means gathering, listening, and taking the time to stand up for each other. It means being prepared to support each other when we hear about another rallying cry, another attack, and another victim. We can each make a difference, and as Michelle Obama said, “ Don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”
And, for something very special, we invite you to our initiative’s “kick-off” event. Break the Bias will be a panel discussion at Pinecrest Gardens on the evening of Tuesday, March 28th featuring speakers from a variety of community organizations (faith based, community based, with sponsorship from local organizations.) The panel will comprise both teens and adults focused on how bias in our community affects their lives. We are committed to representing people from multiple backgrounds, ethnicities, faiths, ages, genders, and skin colors. We encourage the community to join us for what will be a lively, informative community-strengthening evening. Tickets are free, but RSVP is required at ww.tbam.org/BreaktheBias
As one rabbi at Temple Beth Am, I interact with the Jewish people in my community every day. I hear their concerns and know that our congregation is eager to step up and make a difference in the ways we operate and interact in this world. We hope you’ll be with us in doing this important work and hope to see you soon.
Rabbi Jeremy Barras
Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth Am, Pinecrest, FL
ABOUT US:
