A Christian Bishop, a Leader of Muslims in Victoria and a Progressive Rabbi from East Kew all address the heinous attack on the Adass Israel Mosque in Ripponlea, Melbourne. These faith leaders – together they declare, “We seek to stand together at times like this“.
Reflection after ‘A Suspicious fire on the Synagogue on Glen Eira Road around 4:15 am, Friday, 6 December. As faith leaders we seek to stand together at times like this.
We know, deep in our hearts, that places of worship mean everything to people of faith.
News of this fire, ahead of Friday’s Shabbat prayers, is heartbreaking for all people of faith but is especially so for those who know this synagogue as their spiritual home.
We just want to do all we can to show our support.
We are painfully aware of the traumatic effect on local people of faith of all the suffering in the Middle East. This fire will no doubt re-evoke in some people of Jewish faith a feeling of not really being safe here.
The sadness of this makes all our hearts ache.
Places of worship, for all of us, are where we seek illumination, belonging and comfort.
They gather the memories of our families and friends. They are the places where loved ones may be raised and taught their tradition, married, buried from..
Places of worship nurture our deepest yearnings and our highest hopes.
To be and feel safe in our place of worship is beautiful and is the essence of civilised living.
It accords with the purposes of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, specifically those Articles pertaining to religious freedom.
Some Australians have come originally from places where freedom to worship safely has been violated.
We have also seen the anguish overseas when people’s places of worship have been destroyed, whether by intention or as an accident.
This Sunday, in fact, many will gather in Notre Dame Paris to celebrate the beautiful restoration of that cherished place of worship.
We meditate and pray thus that this Synagogue will soon be beautifully restored.
In some measure, that intent and outcome will help with the healing that is now needed.
Our hearts go out to our Jewish friends and we assure them of our loving prayers and meditations.
Friendship is so vital at these times. Accordingly, while these are my spontaneous sentiments on hearing this news, I would like to invite two dear friends to share their thoughts as well.
We know each other through many involvements, including after other sad days.
Images: supplied [Photos above in Melbourne after a terrorist killed people in their NZ Mosque, March 2019.]
Our connection has also been through the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia and each of us has been its President, in time past.
These friends are Dr. Mohamed Mohideen and Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black.
Dr. Mohamed Mohideen, Vice-President, Islamic Council of Victoria:
As Muslims we consider all places of worship sacred. Any place of worship should be considered a sanctuary. All people need to be able to practice their faith freely and in safety. We are saddened by this attack on the Ripponlea Synagogue and our prayers are with their congregation and community during these tragic times. We join with all other faiths to wish them the very best and our support in rebuilding the synagogue.
Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, Leo Baeck Centre for Progressive Judaism:
I join you in condemning every attack on a place of worship, and indeed I was honoured and moved five years ago to participate in a memorial service after the attack on the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch, a tragedy that took 51 lives – and of course we believe that every innocent soul is itself a sacred sanctuary for the flame of God to dwell. I believe strongly that faiths are our human ways to try to better humanity – not only as individuals but as communities and as a whole. Whenever faiths are used as a justification to oppress or persecute others, to scare people or to take life, they lose their claim to authenticity. As Notre Dame is rededicated this weekend after its devastating fire, we hope that Adass Yisrael will soon be restored, and its community reassured, that all our faiths will preach kindness and understanding and mutual support, and stand up against hatred, violence and destruction in any form and in every place.
L’Shalom, Asalam Aleikum, Peace
– Rabbi Jonathan
