Savannah religious leaders react to attacks on synagogue, church

The shootings and stabbings during religious worship this past year reflect more than religious issues, according to local religious leaders who spoke with the Savannah Morning News on Monday.

The violent acts reflect larger issues facing the country and even globally. They spoke of anti-Semitism, ease of access to weapons and mental health issues, to name a few.

High-profile incidents include:

-- On Dec. 29, a shooter killed two people before he was killed at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas.

-- On Dec. 28, five people were stabbed during a Hanukkah celebration in a rabbi's house in Monsey, New York.

-- On Dec. 10, a deadly shooting took place at a Jewish market in Jersey City, New Jersey. Three people and a police officer were killed, along with the two shooters.

-- On April 27, one person was killed and three others injured in a shooting at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in Poway, California.

"The violence and anti-Semitism seems to be flourishing," said Adam Solender, executive director of the Savannah Jewish Federation, adding that it is a global issue against people who are marginalized. "This is not a Jewish issue; it is a world issue. We as Americans all have to address this as a whole, because to allow what has been an ancient hatred to flourish again, it's on all of us.

"I don't want to make this about a religious minority," he said. "It's about education. It's about standing together. I was just taken aback today by the comments of (Congressman) John Lewis ... if you don't stand together you certainly fall apart ... It's how John Lewis has lived his entire life" for civil rights.

Solender hopes that people will fight for those who are marginalized.

"Just look at synagogues on a Saturday morning with police presence," Solender said. "It wasn't just after Tree of Life or Poway, in Monsey. It's been a real change of what it means to be a Jew in American. We thought the issues we saw in Europe in the last 10 years were a European problem, but it's not. It's a world problem."

On Oct. 30, 2018, the Savannah community held an interfaith vigil for the 11 victims killed in the shootings at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue. The vigil was organized by Rabbi Steven Henkin of Congregation Agudath Achim.

"I think it's a sad statement about where we are as a country, where our first instinct with those we disagree with, our first instinct is to attack them, those that are different from us," Henkin said. "That's a sad state of who we are as a country and who we are supposed to stand for.

"Until we have leadership, local, national, international people who stand up against these attacks, unless there is stronger condemnation of them, we are going to continue to see these happening.

"It's not a critique of anybody individually. Everybody needs to be stronger in condemning what's going on."

He tells people at his synagogue that "the religious life is not about living in fear of who you are or what's going to happen out in the world. What God asks us to know the world is a dangerous place ... a difficult place. It's our job to help make it better. We stand more strong because of our beliefs to do what God asks of us to do."

The Rev. Scott A. Benhase, bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, said Monday that the various attacks are "obviously separate incidents," based on what he has learned from media reports.

He said the attack at the rabbi's home in New York involved an assailant with a long history of mental health issues who had never acted out violently before.

He called "crazy" the fact that people feel emboldened in some ways to go and shoot people.

"That's something that's become the new normal in our society.

"When I was growing up, those things never happened," Benhase said. "We need to be thinking long and hard about some things now."

The availability of high-powered weapons used in shootings is "just a recipe for disaster. Would a rational person think this is a good thing to do?

"I just think we're not looking at all of the data and possible solutions," he said. "I'm a former gun owner myself and think people should be allowed to own guns. But it's a privilege and it needs to be regulated.

"You have to have insurance to drive a car in Georgia, but you don't have to have gun insurance to own a gun. You should at least have the same rules to own a gun as we do to drive."

Rabbi Zalman Refson, of Chabad of Savannah, said, "It's ironic that we are celebrating the holiday of light and all these terrible acts of hate are taking place. This captures the essential message of Hanukkah that Jewish people experienced this over 2,200 year ago. (The message from those Jewish people) and how to deal with it was never be afraid, never diminish their light and positivity. Never retract their commitment to their faith or take their faith underground. God forbid to take that avenue.

"That's what hate and evil is trying to do. (The shooters') mission statement is to eradicate and make people scared. By going underground, by diminishing one's commitment to their faith ...

"This is not just a Jewish message. Humanity has experienced a lot. ... We will deal with it, which we have always done. Strengthen our commitment; strengthen our support for each other, to our particular individual faith."

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