Originally published June 6, 2024
By now, you have probably heard about the latest antisemitic incident in our region, this one hitting much closer to home than recent attacks against schools and synagogues in Toronto. A rock was thrown through the window of Beth Jacob in Kitchener earlier this week, luckily at a time when the building was empty. This rock shattered not only a window, but our sense of safety, stability, and at-home-ness in our community. However, just as windows can and will be repaired, so too can our sense of security, slowly but surely, be rebuilt and reaffirmed. Know that the Temple Shalom board is continuously reviewing our security protocols and is in touch with Waterloo police and elected officials, to ensure that our community remains physically safe.
Rocks cannot shatter our community’s care for each other, our commitment to living proud Jewish lives, to building a Jewish community that is open and welcoming, to raising the next generation of Jewish children to live out their Jewish values and make the world a better place. We’ve seen this before, and sadly, we will see it again, but just as Judaism has survived through over 3000 years of attempts to silence and erase us, we will continue not only to survive, but to thrive.
