The Symbols Behind the Hate
Tabby Refael (on Twitter @RefaelTabby) is a Los Angeles based writer, speaker and activist.
I’m getting dizzy. A string of anti-Semitic attacks is putting all of us on edge. I’m on information overload the horrible facts, statistics, “thoughts and prayers,” condemnations, defiant responses, etc. What can I add to the conversation?
Perhaps just one thing: some reflections on symbolism.
I guess I’m obsessed with symbols. I want to believe that life is more than what we see, that there’s some mystery and meaning behind the dry facts, even dry facts about terrifying hate crimes.
‘A miracle happened here’: Table smashed while stopping Monsey synagogue attack suspect finds new life as Chanukah menorah stand
MONSEY, N.Y. (WCBS) We all remember last year’s deadly Chanukah attack at the home of a Rockland County rabbi.
The congregation vowed to overcome the terror of that night. This year, they celebrate the holiday with a unique memento that symbolizes resilience, and light shining through the darkness.
As CBS2’s Tony Aiello reports, it’s a one-of-a-kind stand for a Chanukah menorah, fashioned from pieces of a broken table. The shattered marble and cracked wood are visible.
It’s quite a story how it found a place of prominence at Congregation Netzach Yisroel in Rockland County.