We must always oppose violence





When I was growing up, my parents imbued in me a sense of religious pluralism; the belief that there are many paths to God; the understanding that I must respect my own Jewish beliefs as well as the beliefs of those around me.


Those were idealistic years when we all shared visions of an imperfect world that was repairable.


But today we live in different times, when we see a wonderful world and beautiful dreams being shattered in so many ways. Today we unfortunately learn the corollary to the lesson of my childhood: that all communities have the potential for violent extremism. In September we saw it in the Moslem community. It appears that we are now seeing it in the Jewish community as well, with the arrest of Jewish Defense League’s Irv Rubin and others who allegedly were planning to bring harm and destruction.


There can be only one response to violence and the threat of violence in a society, and that is to speak loudly and clearly against it. Not only must we leaders stand together in denouncing violence, regardless of its source, but we must maintain our dreams and visions of a world perfected. And we do this from the context of our respective traditions:


If two parties quarrel, make peace between them. (Koran – The Chambers 49.9)


Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. (New Testament – Matthew 5:9)


And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. (Hebrew Bible – Leviticus 26:6)


You know what? My parents were right after all.


Rabbi Alan Greenbaum


Temple Adat Elohim


Thousand Oaks



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