By the rivers of Babylon—
there we sat down and there we wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
we hung up our harps.
For there our captors
asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’
How could we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?-Psalm 137:1-4
This Sunday, June 23, a group of folks from Pilgrim Church will head to Boston…
Are we anxious? A little. But we’re grateful to be able to experience in community but deeper understanding of the legacy of Auschwitz. For all the atrocities that are committed around the world today, most pale in comparison with the genocide of the holocaust. It’s important that we reflect on such things to ensure understanding and to prevent them from ever happening again.
If you haven’t signed up and still want to join us, here is the link:
Click here to learn more and to sign up for the 1 PM slot on June 23.
It’s especially important for us as we seek to understand the suffering of our Jewish sisters and brothers during this challenging time. If churches are unwilling to contend with this legacy, then we are less prepared to stand against the rise of antisemitism and anti-Judaism in our societies. Christians often appropriate Judaism with whimsical phrases like, “my boss was a Jewish carpenter.” We read Jewish scriptures in a vacuum and act as if every single word is about Jesus.
I don’t deny that there are things in the Old Testament that can inspire your understanding of Jesus. But I also am unwilling to fathom a world without the Jewish people, without their God, and without our debt to them. Without Judaism, there is no Christianity. The terrors of the holocaust occurred because so many non-Jewish folks allowed them to happen.
A few important things to consider:
If you’re planning to attend the exhibition with children, please note that they don’t recommend kids under 12 attend this exhibit. Obviously, you should choose what’s best for you and your family. If you’d like to have discussion time with Pastor Charley after you view this exhibit, he’ll be happy to set up an appointment. There may also be time for us to grab a bite to eat after we’re done and we can talk more there before we head home.
Once you signed up, please send Pastor Charley an email so he knows you’re coming. We will meet right outside the exhibit at 12:50 and head in together.
If you’re driving in here are some instructions from their website about parking: “The Castle at Park Plaza is located on 130 Columbus Avenue. Parking is available at Laz Parking approximately two minutes away, and metered parking can also be found in the near vicinity. Here’s a link to a Google map display of the various parking options in the area.”