Lessons of Vandalism

Now that the initial shock and horror of the discovery of the defacement and vandalism of Tifereth Israel Synagogue has been absorbed, we would like to say “thank you” on behalf of both the congregation and the Anti-Defamation League.

While it is hard to comprehend how any good can be produced from such a despicable act, we were warmed, then overwhelmed at the outpouring of support and offers of assistance from every corner of our community.

We particularly wish to thank the ministers of those churches that, with Tifereth Israel, form the Navajo Interfaith Assn. They, along with the leaders of virtually every congregation and denomination, have offered support in both a practical and spiritual manner, sometimes with words of comfort, often with kind offers of assistance in cleaning up.

We have been inundated with calls from firms and individuals, and we were deeply touched when our fellow citizens stopped their cars in the rain and insisted on helping us clean the obscene graffiti from the synagogue walls.

Two important lessons have been learned from the public’s reaction to this vandalism.

First, it is obvious that our entire community has recognized that an act of desecration against any religious institution is, in effect, an attack on religion as a whole. Were the vandalism to have occurred against a church, mosque, Buddhist temple, or any other institution, we know the reaction would have been the same.

Secondly, it is obvious that our educational and religious institutions must gear themselves to providing our young people with additional education, not only about the Holocaust and the inhumane murders of 20 million human beings during World War II, but also against the nature and devastation that bigotry, prejudice and racism wreak on our democratic society.

RALPH BARNES, president

Tifereth Israel Synagogue

JODYNE ROSEMAN

San Diego Anti-Defamation League