No Place for Hatred Toward Jews

                                                            Word of Life Synagogue Victims

The trial for the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 continues in a Pittsburgh courtroom with testimony from those who survived, including injured police officers. This was a horrendous act of anti-semiticism, the worst in US history. The perpetrator's hatred was fuelled by conspiracy theories about Jews which are rampant on the internet.Some of the victims' family members want the death penalty while others consider capital punishment as contrary to their religious values. 

While the trial has progressed there has been another story of anti-semiticism swirling around, this one involving Robert Kennedy Jr., a member of the fabled family which includes JFK and Robert's father, Bobby. This Kennedy was the founder of the admirable organization called Waterkeeper Alliance which has done tremendous work to "protect rivers, lakes, bays, sounds, and other water bodies around the world." There are Waterkeepers organizations in Canada and I invited one of their staff to speak at Bridge St, Church on a Sunday morning. 

Sadly, Kennedy has drifted into bizarre conspiracy theories and bogus science in recent years, including the discredited connection between vaccines and autism. Several of his family members, including a sister, have denounced his nuttiness.

                                                    Robert Kennedy illustration from The Atlantic 

 In April Kennedy announced that he was running for the presidential nomination as a Democrat, which has sent shudders through the party because of his controversial views. At a gathring last week he claimed that the coronavirus could have been a bioweapon developed to affect some groups and to spare others. Here is a portion of what he said, filmed by an attendee: 

There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately.  “Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.”

Keep in mind that at least a million people in China, probably many more, died of COVID. A Jewish writer from New York City has noted that Jews were accused of spreading the virus even though many died in that city. 

After the fact, Kennedy vehemently denied saying these things, even though the film footage is clear. Once again family members have condemned his remarks and distanced themselved from him. 

Why am I connecting these two stories? One could be construed as the actions of an insane "lone wolf" who engaged in terrible violence. But the other is chilling as well. Kennedy is a person of influence who has an audience which presumably listens as though he is speaking in an informed and straightforward way. Both involve vile anti-Jewish lies and are connected to a hatred which goes back two millennia. often promulgated by the followers of Jesus, who was himself a Jew. 

I am reminded, as a Christian, that I must take every opportunity to speak against what is a deadly virus of misinformation, There is no place for hate. 

                                                                         

                                                                            Word of Life Synagogue