“We commend Great Neck Synagogue for listening to the numerous individuals, organizations and religious leaders who voiced serious concerns about Pamela Geller’s planned speaking appearance, and urged the synagogue not to allow its venue to be used as a platform for hate speech from someone with a long record of defaming the Muslim community. We fully support the right to free political speech. However, Geller’s rhetoric crosses the line into hate speech, which does not belong in our synagogues.
“We stand with the Long Island faith communities who spoke out about this issue, including T’ruah Advisory Board Member, Rabbi Jerome Davidson and T’ruah Rabbinic Chaver, Rabbi Michael White, who made their case in aJewish Week op-ed. They wrote in part:
“The local Muslim community adds immeasurably to Long Island’s vitality, and we are blessed by their commitment to the betterment of our society. Their presence among us affirms the essence of America’s greatness, a nation founded on the principles of democratic pluralism.
“We state unequivocally that Geller’s inflammatory rhetoric does not represent us or the great majority of Jews in Great Neck and on Long Island. Hate speech has no place in synagogues. Synagogues should be places for worship, positive dialogue and reasoned political debate. The right of free speech is vitally important, but Geller crosses the line from political to hate speech. In sharp contrast, Judaism teaches us to respect the traditions and values of other faiths.
“Last fall the group T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (formerly Rabbis For Human Rights-North America) echoed that sentiment with its effective New York City subway ad campaign that countered Geller’s offensive anti-Muslim subway posters. T’ruah’s message challenged: ‘In the choice between love and hate, choose love. Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors.’
“We share T’ruah’s vision, reflecting our faith’s mandate to work for understanding, unity and peace among all humanity. Geller’s messages seek to divide peoples, and fail to acknowledge that even with significant political differences, Jews and Muslims are working to build the world of justice and compassion that both faiths demand. Rather than trying to denigrate a diverse community and rich tradition, we must find ways of respecting one another and working together on shared concerns.”