After Charlottesville

Dear Temple Beth David community,

The recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past week-end where white nationalists spewed their hatred are both tragic and deeply disturbing. Both my parents and grandparents are natives of Virginia, and members of my family are graduates of UVA. These events therefore touch my life in a very personal way.

Moreover, as a Jew, like you, I have a particular sensitivity to acts of racism, hate, and bigotry. For many of us, the events that transpired over the weekend are appalling to our American decency and fairness. Simultaneously, they contain strong echoes of anti-Semitism that have occurred throughout our people's history. The murder of innocents and gathering of white supremacists reminds us that hatred and bigotry are still very real and present in our lives. There is no place for hatred and bigotry in the world and all of us are called upon to condemn it wherever it appears in unequivocal terms. Temple Beth David condemns these actions without hesitation Racial supremacy is a false and destructive notion that diminishes the humanity of all. The fact that there are people who participated in senseless racism, masked in the guise of historical debate, is deplorable.

While there are no readily apparent solutions to these issues I know that these issues can be very difficult to process. Please know that my door is open and I am available to speak with you at any time.

Wishing you all shavuah tov (a good week),

Rabbi Micah Ellenson