Page 10A
FAITH
East Oregonian
Friday, November 18, 2016
U.S. Jews grapple with election-
year eruption of anti-Semitism Community
“We must not be
silent, we must
raise our voices,
we must act, and
to act we must un-
derstand what we
are up against.”
By RACHEL ZOLL
AP Religion Writer
NEW YORK — Amer-
ican Jews gathered Thursday
to wrestle with how they
should confront an elec-
tion-year surge in anti-Sem-
itism, a level of bias not seen
in the U.S. for decades.
At a national meeting of
the Anti-Defamation League,
the Jewish civil rights group,
about 1,000 people listened
to talks expressing shock at
the hatred expressed during
the presidential campaign
and questioned what they
thought was a high-level of
acceptance by other Ameri-
cans.
“I’m struggling right now
in this American moment,”
said Yehuda Kurtzer, presi-
dent of the Shalom Hartman
Institute of North America,
an education and research
organization, in his talk at
the event. “I wonder whether
I have been — and I think
the answer is probably yes
— a little bit naive.”
During this past year,
anti-Semitic
imagery
proliferated on social media,
Jewish journalists were
targeted and longstanding
anti-Jewish conspiracy theo-
ries got a fresh airing. Much
of the bias originated with the
alt-right, or alternative right,
a loose group espousing a
provocative and reactionary
strain of conservatism. It’s
often associated with far
right efforts to preserve
“white identity,” oppose
multiculturalism and defend
“Western values.”
In addition to the online
intimidation, reports of
anti-Semitic vandalism and
other attacks have risen.
Last week, the day after
the election, a Philadelphia
storefront was sprayed with
a swastika and the words
“Sieg Heil 2016,” which
means “Hail Victory,” a
common Nazi chant, and
the word “Trump,” with a
swastika replacing the “T.”
These
developments
have stunned U.S. Jewish
leaders, who in recent years
had been more focused on
anti-Semitism in Europe and
on addressing complaints of
anti-Jewish bias on college
campuses amid the debate
over the boycott, divestment
and sanctions movement
— Jonathan Greenblatt,
national director of the
Anti-Defamation League
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
In this June 2015 file photo, Jonathan Greenblatt, left,
incoming national director for the Anti-Defamation
League, talks with Abe Foxman, outgoing director of
the ADL, in New York. On Thursday, American Jews
gathered to wrestle with how they should confront an
election-year surge in anti-Semitism, a level of bias not
seen in the U.S. for decades.
against Israeli policies
toward the Palestinians.
In a sign of the depth of
American Jewish anxiety
about anti-Semitism, ADL
officials said donations to
their organization increased
50-fold in the days immedi-
ately after the election and a
large majority of the money
came from first-time donors.
Every one of their regional
offices reported an uptick in
calls from people wanting to
donate or volunteer, the ADL
said.
“We must not be silent,
we must raise our voices,
we must act, and to act we
must understand what we are
up against,” said Jonathan
Greenblatt, chief executive
officer of ADL, opening the
meeting in Manhattan.
As the presidential race
intensified, Jews started
seeing their names bracketed
with a series of paren-
theses in harassing tweets,
signaling that the person had
been identified as a Jew. The
image became known as the
Jewish cowbell and its source
was traced to neo-Nazis and
white nationalists.
The ADL investigated
the harassment and found
more than 800 journalists
had suffered anti-Semitic
attacks on Twitter during the
election, mostly from anon-
ymous Twitter accounts,
although some belonged
to white supremacists. In
a common example of the
reporters’ experiences, Jane
Eisner, editor-in-chief of
the Forward, an influential
Jewish newspaper that exten-
sively covered the election,
said she received an email
the morning after the second
presidential debate with
an image of a Nazi solder
pointing a gun at her head,
which was Photoshopped
onto a concentration camp
uniform.
Donald
Trump’s
campaign came under scru-
tiny since much of the harass-
ment came from accounts
tied to his supporters.
Trump
drew
direct
criticism last July when
he tweeted an image of
Hillary Clinton’s face with
a six-pointed star, a pile of
hundred dollar bills and the
words “most corrupt candi-
date ever.” The star was in
the shape of the Jewish Star
of David and was widely
condemned as anti-Semitic.
Trump’s campaign said it
was a sheriff’s badge.
Last month, Trump gave
a speech in West Palm
Beach, Florida, in which he
accused Clinton of holding
secret meetings with bankers
in a conspiracy to undermine
U.S. sovereignty. The ADL
said that whether intentional
or not, Trump had reflected a
classic anti-Semitic theme of
Jewish control of banks.
The
president-elect’s
daughter Ivanka, and her
husband, Jared Kushner, who
is now one of his top advisers,
are Orthodox Jews. Kushner
has defended Trump against
allegations of bias.
BOARDMAN’S LIMEY PASTOR
Giving thanks in a
thankful place
B
eing a Limey, I didn’t
to be among a people
have a Thanksgiving
who care. I remember
until I got here in
being on a street in the
my twenties. Until then, I
U.S.A. where a bicyclist
never had cranberry sauce
was knocked over by
with meat of any kind — an
a car, and was fully
idea of sweet and sour that
attended by police and
was unheard of in my small
ambulance. A woman
island nation. It also seemed
from Thailand who stood
Colin
strange to have such food,
beside me marveled,
Brown
which presumably went
for in her county, she
Faith
with the late autumn on
said, fallen bicyclists
the East Coast, with the
were just covered with
climate that I first moved to when cardboard so people wouldn’t
I came to the U.S.A. That is to
have to look at them.
say, Southern California. Palm
There is a wonderful prayer
trees and shorts seem so strange
from the Ignatian tradition which
in November.
helps us come in touch with
This morning it was quite cold, gratitude and God. It is called the
the leaves brown and slushy.
Examen Prayer. It takes about 15
Thanksgiving vibes are moving
minutes — and if done at the end
in.
of the day can light it up like a
A few weeks ago the washing
sunrise at night.
machine clonked out, then the
First, ask God to provide you
microwave bit the dust — and
with his eyes to see things as he
then, for a finale, the refrigerator
does. Ask God for light.
died, leaving its insides balmy
Second, give thanks. The day
and Californian. I’ve been paying you have just lived is God’s gift
insurance on these items for
for you. Be grateful for this gift
the past few years, but only the
from him.
washing machine has been fixed.
Third, review the events of
The microwave is still moribund
the day you have just lived, and
and the refrigerator is still as dead allow the Holy Spirit to show
as is the food that was freshly
you things in this review. You
piled in it. Modern life is held
will see his working in this close
by such thin threads. We wait for
reflection. There will be things
parts to be flown in from the far
that you may have missed or that
lands these things are made in.
went unnoticed.
So, I am reminded of the
Fourth, seek out your short-
Grace of God, and remember the
comings. Note areas of challenge
fragility of our world. I remember where steps can be made.
the homeless, the people seen
Lastly, look forward to your
shivering in the streets who have
next day, see if you can review
no place to go, the people with
its pattern. Ask God to help you
pennies who count them out to
make this review, and ask God
eat from the dollar menu. We are
to show you where you will need
all a few bills away from dire
God in this new day to come.
circumstance.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for a country that
■
values its religious expressions
Colin Brown is pastor of
and enjoys freedom of thought
Boardman’s Good Shepherd
and discussion, and am thankful
Lutheran Church on Locust Road.
The issue erupted anew
when Trump announced
far-right publishing execu-
tive Stephen Bannon as his
top White House Strategist.
Bannon led the Breitbart
website, considered by
many to be the alt-right’s
platform that has been
widely condemned as racist,
sexist and anti-Semitic.
Trump campaign manager
Kellyanne Conway called
the accusations against
Bannon “very unfair.”
Some Jewish groups
have defended Bannon,
including the hawkish
Zionist Organization of
America. Bernie Marcus,
a founder of The Home
Depot Inc. and board
member of the Republican
Jewish Coalition, said in a
statement that Bannon was
“a passionate Zionist and
supporter of Israel.” Marcus
called the condemnations
of Bannon an attempt to
undermine the incoming
administration.
Seven-
ty-one percent of Jews
voted for Hillary Clinton,
according to exit polls.
Greenblatt worked in the
Obama administration.
Still, Jonathan Sarna, a
Brandeis University professor
and historian of American
Judaism, said it would be
wrong to attribute the criti-
cisms of Trump appointments
or his supporters to partisan-
ship. “I don’t know anybody
who is looking at this in a
serious way who says nothing
has changed,” in regard to the
level of anti-Semitism, Sarna
said.
“American Jews assumed
that anti-Semitism had
largely been overcome,”
he said. “And then all of
a sudden, unexpectedly,
anti-Semitism of a virulent
kind came roaring back.”
585 SW Birch,
Pilot Rock, OR 97868
(541) 443-2500
prbconline.blogspot.com
Pilot Rock, Sunday School: 9:30 am
Worship Service: 10:45 am
Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm
Wednesday Services:
Youth Group: 7:00 pm
F IRST C HRISTIAN C HURCH Faith Center Church
(D ISCIPLES OF C HRIST )
215 N MAIN • PENDLETON
Sunday Worship: 10:40a
Bible Class: 9:30a
Offi ce 276-5358
M-F, 8:30-12:30
WWW.FCCPENDLETON.ORG
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
-Presbyterian Church (USA)-
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Pendleton
Service of Worship - 10:00 am
Children’s Sunday School -
10:20 am
Fellowship - 11:00 am
www.pendletonpresbyterian.com
Open Hearted...
Open Minded
Community
Presbyterian Church
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
P eace L utheran C hurch
210 NW 9th, Pendleton
ELCA
Join us Sundays
9:30
Sunday
Worship
9:30
am am
Sunday
Worship
10:30 am Fellowship
11:00 am Sunday School
& Adult Class
~Come and be at Peace ~
on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
541-289-4535
Tom Inch, Pastor
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Seventh-Day
Adventist
Church
Saturday Services
Pendleton
1401 SW Goodwin Place
276-0882
Sabbath School 9:20 am
Worship Service 10:45 am
Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all
services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 pm
Wed Prayer & Worship -
7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
Sunday Holy Communion 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday Holy Communion Noon
Weekly Adults Spiritual Life Group
All Are Welcome
3202 SW Nye Ave Pendleton, OR
541-276-7590
Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM
Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM
Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM
Mon. Community Women’s Study
9:30 AM & 6 PM
Awana Kids Club (K-6th grade)
Wed Men’s Study 6 PM
MOPS meeting the 1st Thur of the Month 6 PM
PENDLETON — In preparation of
the Advent season, the Pendleton First
Presbyterian is hosting an event that features
making ornaments, decorating a tree and a
Mexican potluck.
The Advent Celebration is Sunday from
4-6 p.m. in the church’s Rogers Fellowship
Room, 201 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton.
People are invited to bring main or side
dishes — such as tacos, enchiladas, rice,
beans, salsa, chips — to share.
For more information, contact fpcp@
pendletonpresbyterian.com or 541-276-7681.
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
Grace and Mercy church
to move in Hermiston
FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM
SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM
712 SW 27 TH ST.
541-276-1894
www.fcogpendleton.com
HERMISTON — Local musician Dallin
Puzey, the Hermiston Community Choir and
others will kick off the holiday season in
song.
The Community Christmas Concert is
Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 850 S.W.
11th St., Hermiston. There is no admission
charge.
For more information, contact ilene.
curtis@a1ind.com.
———
Send information about local faith-related
news and events, including concerts, special
speakers and activities to community@
eastoregonian.com or drop off to the
attention of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main
St., Hermiston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E.
Byers Ave., Pendleton. Call 541-564-4539 or
541-966-0818 with questions.
pendletonfaithcenter.org
Come meet Jesus at
Presbyterian church
holds Advent celebration
Community Christmas
Concert features local talent
Loving People
108 S. Main • 276-9569
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Sr. Pastor,
Ray O’Grady
PENDLETON BAPTIST
CHURCH
BRIEFLY
HERMISTON — Grace and Mercy
Lutheran Church will be moving.
Beginning Thursday, Dec. 1, the
Hermiston church will share space at the
First United Methodist Church, 191 E.
Gladys Ave., Hermiston. Sunday services
include worship at 8:45 a.m. and Sunday
school at 10 a.m. The public is invited to
worship with them and enjoy a time of
fellowship and refreshments. A nursery is
provided.
For more information, contact Rev. Tom
Inch at 541-289-4535, marksr@eotnet.net
or search Facebook for “Grace and Mercy
Lutheran Church ELCA Hermiston.”
Worshiping God
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Bible Study.........9:00 AM
Sunday Worship......10:30 AM
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
www.faithpendleton.org
First United
Methodist Church
Pendleton/Hermiston
352 SE 2nd Street, Pendleton
Sunday Worship 9am
541-276-2616
Worship Broadcast on
KUMA 1290 @ 11am
191 E. Gladys Ave,Hermiston
Sunday Worship 11am
541-567-3002
Worship Livestream at
herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
Sunday Worship
10:00am
Wednesday Bible Study
6:00pm
Youth Classes:
Nursery - 6th grade Sun & Wed
Jr & Sr High Discipleship Program Wed
Overcomer’s Outreach
Tuesday at 6:00pm - Annex
A Christ-centered, 12-Step
Recovery Support Group
Pastor Sharon Miller
401 Northgate, Pendleton
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
To share your worship times
call Terri Briggs 541-278-2678