Protest Koran-Burning-Christians---We'll Do A Public
Reading of Koran, Rabbi
09 September 2010By Rabbi Michael Lerner
On Saturday, September 11, a Florida minister, Terry
Jones, together with 50 of his followers, is planning
an act of religious hatred and intolerance, the public
burning of copies of the Qur'an (the Muslim holy
scriptures containing the words of the prophet
Muhammad). This hateful act has been widely condemned
around the world, and reminds many of us of the
infamous burning of Jewish books by the Catholic
Church in the Middle Ages (most existing copies of the
Talmud were burnt in the 13th century) and of the
burning of all Jewish books in Germany under Nazi rule
in the 1930s. Thank God both the Church and Germany
have evolved a long way since those infamous acts!!!
So now we have some extremist Protestants doing this
(and of course most Christians reject this kind of
hatred, just as most American Moslems reject the
hatred spread by some Muslim extremists in the Middle
East), and leaders of the Republican Party are
declining to condemn them, according to media reports
today Sept. 8th.
In response, NSP (our Network of Spiritual
Progressives) is calling on all our members and
friends to quickly organize sinterfaith public
readings of the Qur'an on the same day. Please reach
out to members of every religious community, and none,
to join with you in doing this act of solidarity with
our Muslim brothers and sisters. You may find that
other groups in your community have already planned
this--so then join with them and let them know that
the NSP stands with them. By the way, if you want to
know if you are a member of NSP, here's how you know:
you would have gotten the latest issue of Tikkun in
the mail in the past week with our proposed
Environmental and Social Reponsbility Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution that would not only overturn
Citizens United but also set serious requirements for
corporate environmental responsibility, plus it has an
amazing interview with economist Joseph Stiglitz,
speeches from our conference by Dennis Kucinich, Bill
McKibben, Keith Ellison, Jeremy Ben-Ami, Margaret
Flowers, Lester Brown, Arthur Waskow, Brian McLaren,
Marianne Williamson, Sharon Welch; plus two really
amazing articles you shouldn't miss--one by Phil
Wolfson on Castro's Cuba, the other by Peter Gabel
showng how the later Sartre developed a sensitivity in
his social theory that helps unravel contemporary 21st
century realities. And did I mention our High HOliday
supplement which anyone can use to deal with
repentance and atonement, or the article by the
translater of The New Testament (Willis Barnstone) who
makes the New Testament real by reconnecting it with
its Jewish roots. Anyway, if you have not updated your
membership, or have never joined but now want to
support us, do it NOW at www.SpiritualProgressives.org.
In the SF Bay Area, we will be reading Koran at an
event organized by many local groups which will take
place at Ohlone Park, in Berkeley on Saturday, Sept.
11, 2010 at 3:15 PM. Meet at the corner of Sacramento
and Delaware at 3:15. We shall all symbolically stand
with Muslim Americans and read aloud in English parts
of the Qur'an, affirming that we will not stand by
silently while others perpetrate un-American acts of
hate in the name of patriotism or religion.
Unfortunately, because it is Shabbat and I don't ride
on the Sabbath, I won't personally be able to be
there. But we will read from the Koran at our Rosh
Hashanah service as our act of public solidarity (www.beyttikkun.org).
All people -- of any faith or no faith -- are welcome
to join us. We will read and discuss the Qur'an for
about 30 - 45 minutes. The official event will then
end, but some of us may choose to stay and share our
thoughts and feelings.
The park has facilities to entertain children while
parents take part in the reading and discussion.
September 11 this year for Jews is Shabbat Shuvah, the
Sabbath of returning and renewal between Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur. September 11th this year is also just
after the last day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month
of fasting, prayer, purification, forgiveness and
renewal. Materials about Ramadan will also be
available for people to learn about this important
Muslim observance. Please join us in standing up for
religious coexistence and for the celebration of what
we all can learn from people of varied faiths.
Shana Tova u'metuka--a good and sweet year to all.
Mubarak Eid. Many blessings!
Rabbi Michael Lerner RabbiLerner@Tikkun.org
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