opinion
Remember the Hope,
Focus on the Positives
BY STEVE ROSENBERG
I t is hard to believe we will observe
the fourth anniversary of the
slaughter of 11 innocent Jews gunned
down in Pittsburgh while praying on
a Saturday morning Shabbat service
at Tree of Life Or L’Simcha in my
hometown of Squirrel Hill.

By now, we all know the sickening
story of a deranged psychopath
looking to kill Jews. It’s a tired story
we see repeated time and again.

After every occurrence of
antisemitism, we are outraged and
upset and vow to do more and to
do better, but as the song says,
the “beat goes on.” Incident after
incident, beating after beating. It’s a
maddening cycle and one that often
leaves us wondering if it can ever be
stopped. But what are we really to do?
After the Holocaust, we said
NEVER AGAIN and, just 27 years
Tree of Life Synagogue - Memorials to Victims on Oct. 30, 2018
later, 11 Israelis were murdered
on the world’s biggest stage in
Germany, home of the greatest Jew
hatred ever.

These incidents continue to
occur, and there is nothing to sug-
gest an end is forthcoming. We
can spend millions of dollars secur-
ing our Jewish institutions, paying
for armed security guards to stand
watch while we are inside praying and learning, base commander. As they played “Hatikvah,” I
but there are still vulnerable and innocent people began to think of Tree of Life and the Squirrel Hill
being attacked by far too many.

community and the resolve of the people from
I just returned from Israel where I was exactly there. The common themes from both are hope
four years ago when I fi rst heard the words, and faith.

“active shooter Tree of Life” in my ongoing group
“Hatikvah” means “the hope.” The fi rst two lines
text from my friends I grew up with back in read “As long as within our hearts, the Jewish soul
Squirrel Hill.

sings.” This is what we all need to rely upon as we
As I walked the streets of Tel Aviv, Netivot, push forward as Jews.

Jerusalem, Sderot and the other places I visited,
Antisemitism is as old as time, but we need to
I was inspired by the Israelis and resolved to focus on the positives. Shine the light on the great
make their lives better. They work hard each day achievements of the Jewish people — actors,
to determine the best path forward on matters athletes, scholars, creators of all sorts. Help to
around security, food supply, irrigation and water change the narrative and get the paradigm to
resources, along with many other areas.

shift in our direction. The men I take to Israel
They give me hope, and they should give all every year return with a glow in their eyes as they
Jews hope. One of my visits was to an air force see the incredible fortitude and gusto with which
base as a guest to watch the ceremony for a new Israelis live. They have hope and are an inspiration
12 OCTOBER 20, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
because of this hope.

“Hatikvah” should be the rallying cry for each
of us as we think of those 11 murdered in Squirrel
Hill on that awful day in late October. “The Star-
Spangled Banner” ends with the land of the free
and home of the brave … unfortunately, Jews have
had to be brave too often in the past, even while
living free.

Let’s use “the hope” — let us all continue to have
hope. We are less than 16 million people world-
wide — hope is a tiny piece of what we all need,
but it is a crucial piece. Let us not forget the names
of those 11 innocent lives, and may their memories
continue to be a blessing. JE
Steve Rosenberg is a former Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia executive and the chair of
The Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Offi cial White House Photo by Andrea Hanks
“Hatikvah” should be the rallying cry for each of us as we
think of those 11 murdered in Squirrel Hill on that awful day
in late October.