The synagogue hostage taken in Colleyville, Texas; the vandalism at a synagogue and a Jewish school in Chicago; a school board banning the graphic novel Maus; windows smashed at Chicago-area, Jewish-owned businesses on Shabbat, all of this occurred in the past month, part of a rising tide of antisemitism in this country.
This is not just an “over there” problem either. At recent meetings of the Oak Park Village Board, public comments were made multiple times likening the village’s COVID protocols to Nazi Germany. This kind of loose talk is unacceptable at any time. But particularly as these comments came just days before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, they are heartless. This kind of rhetoric minimizes and trivializes the Holocaust. Trivialization is a form of Holocaust denial. It is unacceptable.
I have been careful not to name or otherwise identify who made these comments because though such comments are unacceptable and must not go unchallenged, this problem goes far beyond individual commenters at one local board meeting.
Antisemitism is a major problem in our country and it is growing worse. Our Jewish neighbors have been saying this for years. It’s time for people of goodwill to become educated and active on this. Tools and resources are easy to find at www.adl.org.
Rev. John Edgerton
Lead Pastor, First United Church of Oak Park
President, Community of Congregations