The lights went out in Pittsburgh 8 days ago. The shade from this moral eclipse reached far
beyond the Pennsylvania border and, indeed, extended throughout the nation and
onto foreign lands. I know Squirrel Hill
well, having performed medical training in Pittsburgh a few decades ago. I’ve been to the Tree of Life synagogue in
the prior era when none of us were afraid to engage in the routine activities
of life.
I am saddened and horrified to witness yet another momentary
triumph of evil. I wondered how it is possible
that a person who was born pure could over time morph into a seething cauldron
of hate, completely unmoored from the moral guideposts that keep us
civilized.
The man who stormed the innocents, wounded by selfless law
enforcement professionals, was taken to the hospital to receive medical
care. Yes, we cared for his health and
his life, despite that he massacred others who were in synagogue to pray and to
celebrate a new life that had recently come into this world. His nurse, a Jew, attended to him. A
society and individuals are defined by their ability to show compassion – not when
it is easy to do so – but when it is hard.
Example of an Eternal Light in a Synagogue Hovering over the Holy Ark
There has been much chatter if other people and influences
might bear some indirect responsibility in this tragedy. In my view, this is not the time to introduce
other agendas that distract us from what should be commanding all of our
attention.
I remarked above my amazement that the hate of a thousand
men could be contained in one man. At
times, we see the opposite phenomenon.
From time to time, we encounter a person who exudes more love, faith,
tolerance and compassion than we think one man can possess. Mr. Rogers lived near the Tree of Life
synagogue.
“Mr. Rogers, you left us too soon. We need you so desperately. Can you find your way back here even for a day?”
“Mr. Rogers, you left us too soon. We need you so desperately. Can you find your way back here even for a day?”
The wound is grievous and raw. I cry inside for the families and the
Squirrel Hill community. Within the Tree
of Life synagogue, as in all Jewish places of worship, is an eternal light,
which is situated in the front of the sanctuary. With this light which still burns today, and
all of our own lights, we must strive to wash away the darkness. The work will never be done.
It is all very heartbreaking and I fear it is just the beginning of what our national consciousness seems driven to do. :(
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