TEARING
In the Jewish tradition of Kriah, mourners tear their clothing when grieving. Eleven American, Jewish members of a synagogue in Pittsburgh and two American, Black citizens of Jeffersontown, Kentucky were murdered during a period of several days during October, 2018. The killers were motivated by anti-Semitism and racial hatred. I tore a shirt to grieve each person and to express my despair about the murders of people whose deaths are caused by hate.
shirt #1 Vickie Lee Jones
shirt #2 Maurice E. Stallard
shirt #3 Bernice Simon
shirt #4 Sylvan Simon
shirt #5 Melvin Wax
shirt #6 Daniel Stein
shirt #7 Irving Younger
shirt #8 Rose Mallinger
shirt #9 Jerry Rabinowitz
shirt #10 Joyce Fienberg
shirt #11 Richard Gottfried
shirt #12 Cecil Rosenthal
shirt #13 David Rosenthal
I am deeply aware of the long history of racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism that exists in the United States. Violence is pervasive and politicized. And yet, at the same time, there are voices seeking peace and justice in an effort to connect all of us to one another. Perhaps while we seem so divided these days, the forces of compassion will unite and help us create stronger communities of belonging.