TBE News

From the Private Study of Rabbi Jason Rosner

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I write to you from the halcyon glow of paternity leave. I felt compelled to break from leave temporarily last week as antisemitism knows no regard for such blessed moments. If you do not already know, our local Laguna Beach City Council was “Zoom Bombed” by bigots and racists. This group leveraged one of our most sacred values, the freedom of speech outlined in the 1st Amendment to spew hatred and divisiveness.

As the War in Israel grinds on (May the hostages be speedily returned!), we feel the ramifications here at home. The relationship between the American Jewish Community and the State of Israel is so deep that we feel this pain as our own and many of us have relatives and or friends there. Some of you reading this are Israelis yourselves. Now we too find ourselves targeted by attacks that echo the xenophobic falsehoods of the 1930’s, the 1650’s, the 1230’s, even some from as far back as the Roman Period.

Together we fight for the values we hold dear. As a parent, as I look into the eyes of my son, I wish for a world free of bigotry and hate for him to inhabit.

The day after the aforementioned “Zoom Bombing,” I spoke to members of the Laguna Beach City Council, including the Mayor Pro Tem, and thanked them for their dedication to good order and discipline during the meeting. Board members and my clergy colleagues have written as well. Our security committee continues to work tirelessly for our safety and all of us are rowing in the same direction.

Monday was Presidents’ Day and I will let the words of George Washington himself reassure us that the Founders had no such hatred in their hearts. We present as evidence, experts from Letter written in 1790 by George Washington himself, addressed to the Jews of Rhode Island:

“Gentlemen…
The citizens of the United States of America…possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance…may the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid…. ~ G. Washington”

In dedication to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness for us, our children, and our children’s children Here, in Israel, and in all the World,

Your devoted servant,

RR

Am Yisrael Chai