Our Torah is a timeless resource for Jews around the world and GOD had infinite wisdom when passing down this sacred text. In no uncertain terms, we are commanded to unconditionally care for mankind, by doing all we can to make the world just and fair.
On Sunday morning, we talked about Holocaust Rememberance Day, and reviewed the importance of telling stories, teaching history, and most importantly remembering our past so as not to repeat previous mistakes. In very basic terms, we talked about the rise of Hitler, anti-Semitism, and World War II. We learned about policies in America, and talked about the 900 Jews on the SS St.Louis who tried to enter America and were turned away at our border, sent back to Germany, and ultimately to their death.
This message hit home for some our students as we talked about the people trying to enter America from Muslim countries, and what we must do as Jews and Americans. While we didn't hit upon an all or nothing answer, we did share some thoughts and ideas about saving a life, rescuing a captive, and treating everyone with basic dignity and respect, regardless of their race or religion. You would have been very proud of the dialogue between our students, and it was truly heartwarming to hear their questions and thoughts.
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