In This Moment, by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman: June 16 - Tulsa and Blois: History Written by the Losers; Risk, No Benefit; A Moral Reconstruction

In This Moment

We take pride in our High School graduates, honored this past Friday night.  

More photos at the bottom of this e-mail.

See the recording of the service. 

Tulsa and Blois: History is Written by the Losers

If you look up "evil" in a dictionary, you might well find this press release that came from the Minneapolis Police Department on the day of George Floyd's murder.

 

We've since learned that this monstrously fabricated initial report was wrong, and that it is not alone among such deceptively spun coverups, even just since May 25.  The fact that many of these incidents of abuse are now on video has changed history, but we've got so far to go.  We need more than video - we need context in order to cut through the spin.  

Just as truth matters, it matters that we understand history.  For instance, did you know that the term "antifa" has Yiddish, Zionist roots? And by now every Jew should be aware of why the term "America First" is, at its historic heart, blatantly anti-Semitic.  

 

They say that history is written by the winners (unless you happen to be a Confederate symbol), so it's natural that those in power will often spin events in their favor.  But the sudden attention being given this week to the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacres in Tulsa really shook me up, because I can't recall ever having learned about it, and I took AP US History in a very progressive public school system.  Until very recently, had never heard about the worst massacre of African Americans ever to occur in the US.  

I live on the History Channel.  If they had a Jewish History Channel, I'd live on that too.  I can give you chapter and verse about the massacre of Jews in Blois, France in 1171, the anniversary of which was last week on Sivan 20.  Thirty one Jews were burned at the stake.  Want to get specific about how many times Jews have been massacred?  Here's a pretty comprehensive list.  But until last week, I new nothin' about what happened in Tulsa, where hundreds were murdered simply for the crime of being black.

So I looked it up on my trusty NY Times Machine, and sure enough, it was on the front page and covered in detail and reasonably objectively.  

On a whim, I checked out the same date one year later, in June 1922, so see what was in the news that day.  Two things caught my eye:

This... (Look in the box in the middle - an article about Jews being kept out of Harvard through a discriminatory admissions process)

and this... (an article about a monument to Jefferson Davis).

The more things change, the more they don't.  Jews and African Americans share a common history of being abused by history and often written out of it. I knew all about the Blois massacre but had no idea about  Tulsa, in June 1921.  Did you know about either?

There are huge differences between the Jewish and African American experiences in this country, and I don't mean to equate the suffering that has occurred on these shores.  Jews came to the "Golden Land" anticipating liberation, both from anti-Semitism and religious orthodoxy.  Blacks came here in chains.  We also have had - at least recently - very different relations with law enforcement.

But to learn about the similarities of our experiences over the centuries, take a close look at a snippet from the Times front page article of 1921:

Tulsa's White Supremacist pogrom began with the false rumor of an African American attacking a white orphan girl. This dubious accusation was trumped up by the KKK, who were raring for a fight.

Meanwhile, what accounted for the massacre of Jews in Blois in 1171?    You can read from the NYT reporter of his day, the German Talmudist Ephraim ben Jacob, how the Jews were accused of having crucified a Christian child during the Passover holidays and of having thrown the corpse into the Loire - the first blood libel in continental Europe. 

So the Jewish and African American communities have much history that we share.  And now, by partnering for change, and by teaching one another those written-by-the-losers lessons of history, together we can make history.

Risk, No Benefit

In case anyone was wondering about whether we should rush to "open up," no one has more shpilkes than me about getting back out into the world. So take a look at this from Yahoo News: Public health experts ranked 36 American activities based on risk and you'll understand why it would be reckless and foolhardy for us to do that.  And did I also say irresponsible?  How about immoral?

A Moral Reconstruction

Something amazing is happening.  The events of the past few weeks have brought together groups that, just a short while ago, would never have been seen marching together.  Imagine just a few months ago seeing Mitt Romney marching while proclaiming, "Black Lives Matter."

We're seeing this especially in the realm of religious leadership.  According to The Washington Post, as thousands gathered Sunday for prayer and protests in Washington, Pastor Howard-John Wesley called upon the clergy gathered to "poke and prick the hearts of this nation." 

That ground near St. John's was transformed by afternoon into a kaleidoscope of prayers, chants, singing and preaching from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faith leaders who joined in a multifaith effort to bless the protest movement. Among them was the Rev. William Barber II, one of the country's best-known progressive clergy, who called for a "moral reconstruction" that pulls in people of all backgrounds and races and forces sweeping policy changes rather than moderate tweaks.

Then I tuned into the opening plenary of the AJC Global Forum, and watched in amazement as Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, one of the top representatives of the international Muslim community, said things about the partnership between Muslims and Jews that seemed almost unimaginable just a short time ago.  Things like:

 

and...

 

and...

 

He backed up that last claim with a recent trip to Auschwitz, accompanied by Muslim leaders of all denominations, Sunni and Shiite, along with Jewish leaders.  This is a far cry from the Holocaust denial of Ahmadinejad. The extremists are still out there, no doubt, but what you see above is the face of official Islam. If you don't believe me, listen to his speech - it's about 25 minutes in.

AJC Virtual Global Forum 2020 Opening Plenary

Along with the religious realignment, a new consensus about racism is also formulating. Ibram Kendi argues that the term "racist" shouldn't be invoked as an insult, but rather as a description of anything or anyone not currently, actively fighting for racial equality. "The language of color blindness - like the language of 'not racist' - is a mask to hide racism," he writes.

As we learned at services last week, to not be racist is not enough.  We must all take a more active approach and become "anti-racist."  And so now, we have joined with civic and religious partners throughout the community to stand up against racism.  At the bottom of this email, see the statement that we have signed onto.

A moral reconstruction is occurring.

Be safe, and enjoy this beautiful day!

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"TBE to Go" Podcast Series, "From Israelite to Jew"

Our new adult ed series, TBE To-Go got off to a nice start with our first discussion section yesterday covering the first four podcasts of the series, "From Israelite to Jew." This section will be repeated next Shabbat morning at 8:45, as part of our Synaplex Shabbat.

The next discussion section will take place on Sunday, December 6, at 10:30, immediately following the first session of the Mitzvah Initiative. As we will be approaching Hanukkah, we'll be discussing podcasts 5-12, which culminates with the history and legacy of the Maccabees. Those episodes can be found below.

Some key questions to consider in listening to these sessions include: How do Jews confront with the challenges of assimilation? Who is considered an "insider" and who an "outsider?" What are the tensions that grew between those who never left the land and those who lived outside the land of Israel? What is more central to Judaism in the period, the Temple or the Torah? What is the interplay of religion and politics, especially as it relates to Israel's strategic location as a crossroads between empires? How is Judaism impacted by Hellenism, even among those who reject Greek culture? (How do they demonstrate their rejection "Hellenistically?") How is the "real story" of Hanukkah different from the one we've come to know?

"TBE to Go" usies the power of the Internet to bring world-class scholarship to our doorstep. "From Israelite to Jew," by Michael Satlow, traces the history of Judaism and the Jewish people from the time of the Babylonian Exile through the Second Temple period. Satlow is Professor of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies at Brown University, where he began teaching in 2002. He received his doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993. Professor Satlow specializes in Early Judaism and has written extensively on issues of gender, sexuality, and marriage among Jews in antiquity, as well as on the Dead Sea scrolls, Jewish theology, methodology in Religious Studies, and the social history of Jews during the rabbinic period.

This series was designed for popular consumption (i.e. it is not overly technical or jargon-filled), but it goes into great depth in discussing topics essential to the formation of what we now know as Judaism, including the composition of the Torah, the stories of Esther and the Maccabees, key figures like Ezra and Herod and the origins of Christianity.

Each episode is about a half hour long. The episodes can be downloaded in several ways, all free of charge, including by going onto iTunes Music Store and entering "Satlow."

You can also find them below.

From Israelite to Jew: 5: Ezra
The fifth episode of the podcast, "From Israelite to Jew." This episode deals primarily with the career of Ezra, in 458 BCE. I discuss intermarriage in the Bible and the emergence of the Torah as a source of authority in Israel.The podcast can be heard here; more downloading options are here.




From Israelite to Jew: 6: The Torah
In this episode, Satlow discusses the historical formation of the Torah, or Pentateuch, and provide an introduction to the documentary hypothesis. The episode can be heard here. More download options can be found here.



From Israelite to Jew: 7: Nehemiah
The seventh episode of the podcast, "From Israelite to Jew." This episode deals primarily with the career and reforms of Nehemiah, which lasted from 445 BCE to around 432 BCE. The podcast can be heard here; more downloading options are here.



From Israelite to Jew: 8: Jews of the Persian Empire
This episode discusses two Jewish communities outside of Jerusalem, that represented by the biblical book of Esther, and that of Elephantine, Egypt. It takes place in the fifth to fourth centuries, BCE. The podcast can be heard here; more downloading options are here.



From Israelite to Jew: 9: Hellenism Arrives
A discussion of Alexander's conquest of west Asia and its aftermath (323 - 200 BCE). What is "Hellenism," and how did the Jews react to it? Particular attention is paid to the Septuagint, Ecclesiastes, and Ecclesiasticus. The podcast can be heard here; more downloading options are here.



From Israelite to Jew: 10: Jubilees and 1 Enoch
A discussion of two books dating from the third or second centuries, BCE, Jubilees and 1 Enoch. Both books, part of a collection traditionally known as "the Pseudepigrapha," testify to a Jewish understanding of continuing direct divine revelation in the Hellenistic period.The podcast can be heard here, more download options can be found here.



From Israelite to Jew: 11: The Revolt of the Maccabees
Why did the Maccabees revolt around 165 BCE? This episode explores both the revolt of the Maccabees and the origins of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.The episode can be heard here ; more download options are available here.



From Israelite to Jew: 12: The Hasmonean Kings
A discussion of Judah's consolidation of power around 162 BCE to the last of the Hasmonean kings, in 30 BCE.The episode can be heard here, or on the player below. More download options are here. The podcast is also available on iTunes.





Subsequest episodes can be found at these links: From Israelite to Jew: 22: After the Destruction: ...
From Israelite to Jew: 21: Destruction (2)
From Israelite to Jew: 20: The First Century
From Israelite to Jew: 19: Josephus
From Israelite to Jew: 18: Jesus and Other Strange...
From Israelite to Jew: 17: The Dead Sea Scrolls
From Israelite to Jew: 16: Philo (2)
From Israelite to Jew: 15: Herod the Great
From Israelite to Jew: 14: Hellenistic Judaism
From Israelite to Jew: 13: Origins of Jewish Secta...
From Israelite to Jew: 12: The Hasmonean Kings

TBE To-Go: Online Class "From Israelite to Jew"

Using the power of the Internet to bring world-class scholarship to our doorstep, we'll be embarking on a new adult ed venture called "TBE To-Go." Much like a book group, I'll be recommending seminars that can be heard at your own convenience, and then we'll be coming together to discuss them.

I'm particularly excited about our first offering: "From Israelite to Jew," by Michael Satlow, an 18 part series tracing the history of Judaism and the Jewish people from the time of the Babylonian Exile through the Second Temple period. Satlow is Professor of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies at Brown University, where he began teaching in 2002. He received his doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993. Professor Satlow specializes in Early Judaism and has written extensively on issues of gender, sexuality, and marriage among Jews in antiquity, as well as on the Dead Sea scrolls, Jewish theology, methodology in Religious Studies, and the social history of Jews during the rabbinic period.

This series was designed for popular consumption (i.e. it is not overly technical or jargon-filled), but it goes into great depth in discussing topics essential to the formation of what we now know as Judaism, including the composition of the Torah, the stories of Esther and the Maccabees, key figures like Ezra and Herod and the origins of Christianity. I can't recommend it enough.

When you hear these lectures, there will undoubtedly be questions. So I’ll be scheduling periodic discussion “sections,” where we can all come together and chew over this rich material. The first such section will take place on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, FROM 11 AM TO NOON. I’ve scheduled an additional section (covering the same chapters), on Synaplex Shabbat, OCTOBER 31, AT 8:45 AM. When the group gathers on those days, we’ll decide when to schedule the next one

I'm asking that people come to these sessions having listened to the first four lectures of the series: the introductory episode, "Between Faith and Reason," (an excellent treatment of the subject of why study religion at all), along with "Religion of Israel," "Exile" and "Return," covering the period of the Babylonian Exile. Each episode is about a half hour long. It is fine if you haven't heard all four by the 25th.

The episodes can be downloaded in several ways, all free of charge, including by going onto iTunes Music Store and entering "Satlow." You can also find them below.

Please RSVP is you are planning to come to the class so I can prepare enough supplementary materials. The lectures and class are free - as we take advantage of one of the great educational opportunities of the Internet Age.

From Israelite to Jew: 1: Between Faith and Reason
Prof. Satlow explores the relationship between religion and its academic study, suggesting that the two ways of understanding religion are not diametrically opposed. Click below to play or
here for other options.



From Israelite to Jew: 2: Religion of Israel
This second episode focuses on the religion of ancient Israel, as reflected in the Hebrew Bible and archaeological finds. Click below to play or here for other options.



From Israelite to Jew: 3: Exile
The third episode of the podcast, "From Israelite to Jew," discusses the events leading up to the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE, and the resulting exile. Click below to play or here for other options.



From Israelite to Jew: 4: Return
The fourth episode traces the first two returns from Babylonia to Jerusalem, first under Sheshbazzar and then under the dual leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, and the building of the Second Temple (539 BCE - 516). Click below to play or here for other options.