wfn.org | Jews shed tears of joy for United Methodist support

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

June 28, 1999 News media contact: Tom McAnally*(615)742-5470*Nashville,
Tenn.  10-21-71B{353}

By Charles Lerrigo*

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (UMNS)  -- The California-Nevada Annual Conference
interrupted its meeting here to leap to the aid of three Sacramento
synagogues which were struck by arson Friday, June 18.  Their action led the
city's Jewish community to heartfelt tears of appreciation.

The pre-dawn arson attack destroyed the extensive library and damaged the
sanctuary of the oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi, and caused damage
to two other local synagogues.  Damage is more than $1 million.

Hate literature left at the crime scene identified the perpetrators as
"Slavs" who said they "would never allow the international Jew World Order
to take our land."  The flier featured a cartoon of bombs raining on
President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeline Albright.  The local 
Serbian Orthodox church quickly condemned "this act of terror."  

More than 1200 United Methodists in town for their annual meeting passed a
resolution  supporting the Jewish community and condemning the action.  A
free will offering topped $5,000 and has since passed $6,200. 

Hundreds of the lay and clergy members attended the Friday night Sabbath
service held by the largest and hardest hit of the synagogues. The worship
was held in the Convention Center theater, as the sanctuary of the largest
synagogue was damaged by fire.  Bishop Melvin G. Talbert left a reception
being held in his honor to join the worship.

Other denominations and secular supporters of the Jewish congregations
packed the hall, but it was the Methodist action which deeply moved the
approximately 1,500 people that turned up to show their solidarity against
what national Jewish leaders called one of the worst acts of 
anti-Semitism in recent American history.

Alan Cantan, a Sacramento publisher who is a member of Congregation B'nai
Israel, reflected on what happened when the Rev. Faith Whitmore stood up
during the worship to share the United Methodist concern.

"We've heard it before," he said, "from the Pope on down, all through the
years: 'Gee, sorry for the Holocaust but there's nothing I could have done
about it.'"

But when Whitmore, pastor of Florin United Methodist Church, Sacramento,
presented the check of more than $5,000, Cantan reported: "For two seconds
there was absolute dead quiet.  We were astounded.  Did we hear this
correctly?"

"On the third second, the hall shook with a thunderous applause. I've never
heard applause like that before. And it went on for two minutes. And then
people broke into tears. Me too.  It was like all the emotion of the day and
evening poured out in those few minutes.

"Those in my parent's generation were dumbfounded.  Who ever heard of
gentiles caring about Jews?  In my entire lifetime, I've never known an
organized Christian denomination to officially do anything nice for a Jewish
congregation.  Our congregation, some 1,100 of us, stood with tears in our
eyes."

B'nai Israel celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and is the oldest
synagogue west of the Mississippi.  It was the first of the three hit by
arson.  The fire damaged the sanctuary, administrative offices, and
destroyed its valuable library of 5,000 books.  The burning of the books was
devastating, said Rabbi Brad Bloom.  "To take the memory away from Jews --
who 
are people of the Book -- never!"  B'nai Israel represents Reform Judaism.

When Rabbi Bloom arrived at the still smoking synagogue, he reported, "it
was like my soul had been burned."  But he referred also to a Jewish
teaching that on the Sabbath, God's people are given an "extra soul."  

"This is the paradox," the rabbi said.  "In the midst of mourning, God
commands us to celebrate the Sabbath."

Also burned were Congregation Beth Shalom in nearby Carmichael and the
Orthodox  Kenesset Israel Torah Center in Sacramento. An army of more than
100 federal, state and local law enforcement agents have descended on the
scene to investigate. 

The following Monday night, even more of the interfaith community --
including Muslims, Buddhists and Christians --  turned out for another show
of support and worship.
					# # #

*Lerrigo is a freelance correspondence based in Berkeley,  Calif.  
 

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