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TygrBright

(21,022 posts)
13. This sounds like the Jewish people I knew growing up.
Tue Jul 22, 2014, 05:34 PM
Jul 2014

Our neighborhood was an interesting mix, and right up the street from us was a small home-based Synagogue of an orthodox group. Kids being kids, and somewhat dumb, my friends and I made a lot of noise on Saturday mornings when the funny-looking folks who were different than us congregated there.

My mother told us to pipe down, they were going to church, and how would we like it if a bunch of noisy people interrupted Mass? (Truthfully, I wouldn't have minded... but I sorta got the point.) But, being kids, it didn't stick and we were repeat offenders.

My mother (I think now after some consultation with the Rabbi and his family) decided that rather than doing extra chores or docking my allowance, I'd have to learn about what went on at the Synagogue. The Rabbi was really very nice. He didn't try to explain theology or anything like that. He just noted that although they worshiped on a different day, the Synagogue was the same for the Jews as our Church was for our families, and patiently answered questions about why it just looked like an ordinary house from the outside.

And in so doing, he noted that Jews had been persecuted for being different for many hundreds of years, culminating in the horror of World War II and the concentration camps.

Later I got to know other members of the community (there was a FABULOUS deli in the neighborhood...) and became interested in Judaism. I read books, and studied, and was deeply impressed by the quiet determination of neighbors who were involved in the Civil Rights struggles of my childhood, the Anti-Defamation League (back then, Jews could be barred from clubs and openly discriminated against in employment and other areas,) in Union organizing and support of labor, and in the DFL party.

So many of them seemed to share a sense of higher purpose in making the world a place where such things as the holocaust could never happen again, to ANYONE.

I think they would stand beside Mr. Moskovitz.

sadly,
Bright

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

This part really speaks to me. bravenak Jul 2014 #1
+1 Scuba Jul 2014 #4
Well said, indeed... N/T Dr Hobbitstein Jul 2014 #2
Humbling and heart wrenching BrotherIvan Jul 2014 #3
A compassionate, courageous, common sense observation made with indisputable moral authority. n/t RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #5
+100 nt hopemountain Jul 2014 #37
Yeah he's the one I look up to PatrynXX Jul 2014 #6
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jul 2014 #7
I am at a loss as to why rateyes Jul 2014 #8
Thank you for this. mbperrin Jul 2014 #9
Kicked and recommended! Right is right and wrong is wrong. Enthusiast Jul 2014 #10
K&R Skidmore Jul 2014 #11
DURec leftstreet Jul 2014 #12
This sounds like the Jewish people I knew growing up. TygrBright Jul 2014 #13
A beautiful man . . . fadedrose Jul 2014 #14
K&R Coventina Jul 2014 #15
THANK YOU for this incredible post Bigmack Jul 2014 #16
A beautiful statement from a beautiful man. herding cats Jul 2014 #17
K&R! Fantastic Anarchist Jul 2014 #18
K&R McCamy Taylor Jul 2014 #19
K & R democrank Jul 2014 #20
suffering knows pain knows torment. Thank you, sir for taking terror and trying roguevalley Jul 2014 #21
I do not believe TNNurse Jul 2014 #22
Not the only voice, another one of many, I'm sure. MrScorpio Jul 2014 #23
Humans can be wonderful. Faryn Balyncd Jul 2014 #24
K & R swilton Jul 2014 #25
I wish him well. Peace be upon him. I pray for his safety. kelliekat44 Jul 2014 #26
Thank you for this post suffragette Jul 2014 #27
Dammit Madfloridan!!! DeSwiss Jul 2014 #28
You're not alone, DeSwiss ReRe Jul 2014 #34
Kicked, recommended and kudos to Reuven Moskovitz. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #29
A courageous and good man. klook Jul 2014 #30
Bravo Mr. Moskovitz malaise Jul 2014 #31
He speaks the truth, a rare and ethical human being. sabrina 1 Jul 2014 #32
Thank you so much for posting this! As a Jewish woman, this sums up how so many of us are feeling jillan Jul 2014 #33
I'm with ya, Svester! pink-o Jul 2014 #44
So true! marew Jul 2014 #47
Great human being. NealK Jul 2014 #35
Wisdom is so rare and hard won. JEB Jul 2014 #36
a respectful and honorable man hopemountain Jul 2014 #38
"A sacred duty..." Iwillnevergiveup Jul 2014 #39
K&R!!!!!!!!!!! burrowowl Jul 2014 #40
List of children killed so far and locations Marrah_G Jul 2014 #41
A voice of sanity n/t intaglio Jul 2014 #42
Thank the heavens for liberal and compassionate Surya Gayatri Jul 2014 #43
I was discussing this yesterday. obxhead Jul 2014 #45
One of Du's stalwarts should tell him that the Palestinians are to blame Orrex Jul 2014 #46
K&R raouldukelives Jul 2014 #48
This post is so important, thank you so much for posting. 2banon Jul 2014 #49
K&R redqueen Jul 2014 #50
A man of integrity obviously, Mr. Moskovitz. K&R closeupready Jul 2014 #51
K&R nt magical thyme Jul 2014 #52
That's heart-achingly beautiful. Htom Sirveaux Jul 2014 #53
I've never understood how a people hungry for a state could deny it to others. toby jo Jul 2014 #54
Just goes to show how different the people can be from their government. lark Jul 2014 #55
They also believe libodem Jul 2014 #56
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