By now it should be common knowledge that Havurah, the worship, education,and community center for Jews in our area, was vandalized on Nov. 14. The swastikas scrawled on the door to the building can only be interpreted as an expression of hatred intended to arouse fear. The Middlebury Area Clergy Association, an interfaith organization representing ALL faith traditions in our area, is deeply saddened by this event — and similar events across our country springing from the spiteful tone of the election season.
More importantly, the attack against Havurah strengthens our resolve as faithleaders to stand with all persons experiencing actual or implied threats to their safety. We recognize a common humanity among us ALL — our varieties of skin color, sexualities, genders and places of origin enrich our humanity and our experiences of one another. As faith leaders, we encourage members of our communities to speak up on behalf of persons experiencing these threats.
We encourage members of our communities to be informed of thecommunity resources that provide assistance and advocacy for those feeling threatened. And we encourage members of our communities to engage in acts of compassion and solidarity as a public statement to our shared humanity. As faith leaders, we are called to stand with the oppressed and marginalized and are committed to being safe havens for such a time as this.
Spencer Putnam, Middlebury Friends Meeting
Rev. Susan McGarry, St. Stephens Episcopal Church
Rev. Mark Orten, Director, Scott Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Middlebury College
Rev. Barnaby Feder, Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society
Rev. Tim Franklin, Bridport Congregational Church
Rev. Daniel Cooperrider, Weybridge Congregational Church, UCC
Naila Baloch, Associate Chaplain and Muslim Adviser, Middlebury College
Beau Scurich, Associate Chaplain and Muslim Adviser, Middlebury College
Rev. Laurie Jordan, Chaplain of the College, Middlebury College
Rev. Stephanie Allen, Memorial Baptist Church
Fr. William Beaudin, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Rabbi Ira J. Schiffer, Assoc. Chaplain/Hillel Adviser, Middlebury College
Rev. Mary Kay Schueneman, 1st Congregational Church of Cornwall, UCC
Rev. Andrew Nagy-Benson, Congregational Church of Middlebury, UCC
Rev. Jill Colley Robinson, Middlebury United Methodist Church