Stop. Before you read this article, please know the writer is crying as she types. Like many people around the world, I have been shaken by the recent attack and murder of queer youth in Israel. However, the notion that a small vigil held on the other side of the world Aug. 10 in Chicago, Ill., composed of approximately 80 Jews and gentiles alike gathered to pray, should require police protection is staggering.
Upon arriving at the doors of the Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan, I found myself greeted by the intimidating presence of a small wall of police who were assigned simply to be there. Once I realized I would gain entry without incident, I wondered, do they think there will be trouble because it’s Jews, Queers or both? Then I realized I was physically shaking from having had to pass through that gauntlet. This led to further pondering. How many Jews, Queers, both, live with the expectation of violence every day?
Thankfully, inside was a completely different story. After sharing a smile with many friendly and familiar faces I was immediately surrounded by the warmth and love in the room. For one hour Rabbi Laurence Edwards of the Congregation Or Chadash (Congregation of New Light) invited various participants to speak, pray, sing and help bond those in attendance in the declaration that they will remember the victims of the attack in Tel Aviv’s LGBT youth “Bar No’ar” drop-in center, pray for the wounded and help those in Tel Aviv heal physically and emotionally. Those voices included men and women, Conservative and Reform Jews, Rev. Kevin L. Downer from Metropolitan Community Church and Bishop James Wilkowski from the Evangelical Catholic Diocese NW.
Finally, The Honorable Orly Gil, consul general of Israel to the Midwest, offered the following perspective; She said, “In Israel youth are killed all the time. Of course, war, but also traffic accidents, etc. But, this one really shocked us. This murder put a big mirror in front of us and said you’re not quite there yet.” She further explained, “You see in Israel, we think we have all been educated and no one thinks like this, but this one made us pause and realize we’re not quite there yet.”