This is a blue square. While many causes have ribbons, the cause to be in solidarity in the fight to stand up againt Jewish hate is a blue square. AIDS was the begining of the ribbon campaigns with a simple red ribbon, breast cancer uses a pink ribbon, mental illness uses a green ribbon, autism uses a ribbon with puzzle pieces on it, and so on and so forth.
October 27, 2018 was a dark day for the Jewish community in America.
It was a quiet Shabbat morning at the Tree of Life Synagogue, or L’Simcha Congregation Synagogue, in PIttsburgh, Pennsylvania. Can you picture the people holding their prayer books, praying in Hebrew to God? They were in a state of grace and peace when suddenly that was pierced by a man with several guns, including an AR-15 automatic rifle, all purchased legally.
That man killed 11 people and wounded at least six others physically. This doesn’t take into account the mental wounds that still run deep among Jewish people. This has been the largest attack on the Jewish community in the United States, a land where we are supposed to have religious freedom.
Among those killed were a set of brothers, a married couple, and Holocaust survivors.
If you’re not Jewish, you should still be concerned about this issue of hate. If you are Christian, you should also be very aware of antisemitism considering that Jesus is Jewish and would be subject to the exact same antisemitism that Jews experience today as well as the horrors of the past.
Every act of hate that happens in this world should break your heart because you could be next.
The White House put out a great statement regarding the sixth anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagouge shooting.
Shalom,
Miriam
*IMPORTANT UPDATE
The Jewish Journal interviewed some very important people in the Jewish community who did not believe the blue square was an important symbol because no one knew what it meant. In addition they had a “Blue Out Thursday” on Instagram a few years ago and it did nothing because no one knew what it meant. So, if you see any organization offering free blue pins, disregard them. Instead, wear a blue ribbon.
*from The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
Or better yet, get a pin of what people are most familiar with, the Star of David.
*Israel – Star of David Silver Metal Lapel Pin from Amazon for $4.45
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