Letter to the Editor, Greenfield Recorder, December 28, 2022

Antisemitism is in the news because it is increasing, causing harm and fear.

Karen Gardner of Haydenville wrote a stunning My Turn column about it in the Recorder on Dec. 16. And earlier in November, Rabbi Andrea Cohen Kiener wrote a letter to the editor sounding an alarm about this simmering pot of hatred.

Simmering pots often boil over when and where you least expect it. So we need to be ready to respond to defend our Jewish brothers and sisters — our neighbors — if they are attacked. But how will we know? Will someone call us and tell us to meet at Temple Israel, or City Hall, or where? Will we respond to this call? It did happen several years ago when some person(s) defaced Temple Israel’s wall, and the community came to help erase the hateful graffiti.

Let us be vigilant and also make it clear that antisemitism is not welcome in Franklin County. And let us be clear that we can support Palestinian liberation and criticize the state of Israel and embrace and protect Jews at the same time.

SHERRILL HOGEN, PATRICIA GREENE, SUZANNE CARLSON, ELLEN KAUFMANN, SANDY BROWN, AND LIZ KELNER 

Kairos/Franklin County Justice for Palestine