Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati Urges the End of Abusive and Inflammatory Rhetoric
The JCRC Board of Directors and I co-wrote this statement. It was published online in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Tuesday.
Recent controversial statements in the public sphere have been in conflict with the values of the Jewish Community Relations Council that call for mutual understanding, respect and religious liberty. One of the targets of this grossly intolerant rhetoric is the Muslim community, and this is causing a growing concern among Muslim Americans for the safety and well-being of their families and an increased sense of isolation.
While we recognize that the jihadist ideology of some extremist Muslims threatens all, including Muslims, Americans, Europeans, Jews and Israel, we believe true security is best advanced through respectful dialogue, education, compassion for the vulnerable, and mutual respect, in addition to appropriate security measures. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati, standing with the national Jewish Council for Public Affairs, urges, at this time, exercise of decency and compassion, recognizing that compassion must be tempered by the reality of our dangerous world. At the same time, we urge continued efforts to stringently protect public safety.
The JCRC believes there is no place in America, a nation founded on religious freedom, for discrimination on the basis of religion or ethnicity. We know that when any religious group is denigrated or discriminated against, no religious or ethnic groups can be secure. This time it is Muslims that are singled out, and before that, Catholics, Hispanics, Jews, Japanese, Irish, African Americans, Native Americans and other groups that are a part of the fabric of our unique and diverse American society.
Jews have flourished in America because of religious tolerance, freedom, and a commitment to valuing differences. We are cognizant and deeply appreciative of the blessings bestowed upon us by our American citizenship. Having suffered oppression and expulsion for centuries, the Jewish community was welcomed as equal by the new nation at its founding. Therefore, we must speak out when fellow Americans are being unfairly targeted based on religion or group identity, to ensure that America lives up to its founding principles for future generations.
Times of upheaval and stress can often bring out the worst in human nature. Intended or not, harsh rhetoric can fan the flames of religious hatred, and we reject it. It is during times like these that we must be advocates of justice and human dignity, never forgetting the renowned teaching of our ancient sage Hillel, who said: “that which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.”
