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Understanding Antisemitism Today and Protecting Your Community:A NC Jewish Community Workshop

Writer's picture: Rabbi Andy KorenRabbi Andy Koren


Opening Remarks, Rabbi Andy Koren, August 2, 2023 ~ 15 Av 5783


It is an honor to officially begin our program this morning, to welcome those from elsewhere to Greensboro, and especially to Temple Emanuel, the oldest of Greensboro’s many Jewish organizations. My name is Andy Koren and I am honored to be beginning my 21st year as Rabbi for this Temple and my third year as our congregation’s Senior Rabbi. I am also co-chair, together with Rabbi Judy Schindler, of the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association. Temple Emanuel is proud to be hosting today’s event; thank you to the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association for giving birth to the idea for today’s gathering, and a special thanks to all of today’s sponsors.

Please join me now in giving a big todah rabbah to all of today’s sponsors and to all who worked on organizing this event.

A few additional words about Temple Emanuel Greensboro. This Rosh Hashanah will mark the start of our 116th year. You are in the third home of our community, dedicated 21 years ago. We also have a 100-year-old historic campus located in downtown Greensboro, only ¾ mile from where the historic Civil Rights lunch counter sit-ins began in 1960, which is still used from time-to-time by our congregation.

The facilities here are not hard to navigate and we have put up signs for our restrooms. We have security today and there are many exits around the building in the event of an emergency. If you need assistance at any time, please see me or members of our community; we are happy to help.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Rabbi Libby Fisher who serves as Temple Emanuel Greensboro’s Rabbi and Director of Religious Education as well as Rabbi Fred Guttman who is our congregation’s Rabbi Emeritus and is joining us digitally today. To them, to the long list of clergy and congregational and civic leaders here today, thank you so much for being here for this critical day-long workshop focused on understanding antisemitism today and protecting our communities.

You do not need a long introduction or lecture from me or anyone else about why we have gathered. When I first came to North Carolina in 1993 to serve as the Rabbi and Director of North Carolina Hillel, it was right around the time that Eli Evans z”l had come out with his book of anecdotes about growing up Jewish in the South. The title of that book, if I remember correctly, was an answer he had once heard to the question posed by someone not from these parts – what was it like to be Jewish in the American South? The reply – and the title of the book – The Lonely Days Were Sundays. Not vulnerable. Just lonely.

Things seem so much more complicated these days. Back in 1993, the year I became a Rabbi, it would be considered passé to speak about antisemitism, especially in the US. Each of us here today knows that this is no longer the case. It hasn’t been for a while. It doesn’t only come from the usual suspects or from one place in the broader landscape around us.

The sources are the political Left and the political Right, privileged and marginalized communities, the young and the old; it comes from far away and it is also quite close to each of us. We all have our stories.

Again, this is anything but simple.

Consider for a moment the upcoming race for Governor here in North Carolina. If the election goes one way, North Carolina could have a Governor who is Jewish – a first for our state. If it goes another way, we could be served by a Governor who has trafficked in antisemitism, not to mention other groups he has targeted, and has done so openly and with no remorse.

We also know this…each of our communities and individual congregations and organizations has its strengths and its challenges. But, as the Jews of North Carolina, we cannot and should not rest on our laurels. One synagogue or community center might be taken care of, but God forbid something happens in another community, large or small. We need to work together. We are only as strong as our most vulnerable. As that famous passage from Rabbinic literature reminds us: Jews anywhere are responsible for Jews everywhere.

That is so true for us here in North Carolina as we meet today.

For we live in a world where we cannot afford to be Lonely, on Sunday or any day. Nor should we think that we are alone. Thank goodness that there are resources such as those we will hear from today. Thank goodness that we have each other to work with, learn from, discuss best principles and practices with, and to work with going forward.

On that note, welcome again to Greensboro and to this critical moment for Jewish communities throughout our state. We are not only blessed that you are here. We are truly grateful.

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