Letter: Striar JCC thanks community for its support
By Carmela Caplain and Meody Howard Ritt
The Jewish Advocate
On behalf of the board and staff of the Striar Jewish Community Center (JCC), we want to thank the community for the outpouring of support that has flooded into our center since an act of anti-Semitic vandalism struck our facility.
Following the news that 11 large swastikas had been spray-painted on our building, offers of help and messages of hope have poured into the center. Within hours of receiving the news, the staffs of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Anti-Defamation League of New England mobilized into action and provided valuable resources and information.
At an Interfaith Solidarity Gathering at Striar that afternoon, representatives of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities joined together to "paint away the hate." This important showing was quickly followed by a personal visit of support by Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, D-9th District.
And on Thursday, March 9, just days after the incident occurred, the Stoughton "No Place for Hate" Committee held a meeting at our center to lay the groundwork for a community-wide response. Encouragement continues to pour into the JCC every day in the form of personal phone calls, e-mails and letters, generous financial contributions, and even a hand-lettered poster from a class of Catholic school students.
As an institution that is founded on Jewish pluralism and diversity, and respect for all, Striar JCC stands for the finest in Jewish and American values. We welcome Jews of every background and belief and people of different races and religions as members of our center.
The events we witnessed over the past week, although designed to frighten and intimidate, have instead served to strengthen our resolve to continue speaking out for is right. We invited members of the Jewish community and the community at large to stand with us in our effort by joining the Striar JCC and supporting its important community programs.
Out of sorrow comes joy and out of tragedy comes hope. As we emerge from our darkest hours, we look forward to working with the members of the local community to create a brighter, healthier and more vibrant future for all.
