As I’ve been hearing about the recent incidents of violence fueled by anti-Semitism in our country, I remembered the life and example of the late Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky.
I had the privilege of meeting the smiling, soft-spoken rabbi a number of times, primarily when he served as Chair of Jewish Learning while teaching at Edgewood College in Madison. He was a friend and colleague of the late Sr. Marie Stephen Regis, OP, a Dominican Sister who served on the faculty at Edgewood College.
The two of them promoted interfaith dialogue and showed how people from different faith backgrounds could build respect and understanding. In 1973, Rabbi Swarsensky received an honorary degree from Edgewood College recognizing his efforts to promote ecumenical understanding.
Rabbi’s life
Rabbi Swarsensky could have felt resentment and hatred for Christians. In 1938, the Nazis burned his synagogue in Berlin, Germany, and imprisoned him in a concentration camp. In 1939, he was released and made it to the United States, where his brother lived.
He first worked in Chicago, but during his six months there, he was invited to speak in Madison. He liked the city and agreed to become the founding rabbi of Temple Beth El in Madison, where he served for 36 years. He died in 1981.
A book on his life by Marvin Zolot, M.D., notes that many Madison hospitals, law firms, and social clubs were previously closed to Jews. Rabbi Swarsensky helped in the battle to remove those restrictions.
Condemning violence against Jews
I have to believe that Rabbi Swarsensky would be saddened by recent violence against Jews in the United States, including a knife attack at a rabbi’s home in New York.
He would agree with Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who said, “The rise of anti-Semitic violence in this country and around the world must be condemned along with the ongoing persecution of Christians. Protecting religious freedom and freedom of conscience should be among the highest priorities of every government.”
Archbishop Gomez noted that on the World Day of Peace, observed on January 1, the Catholic Church in the U.S. joined Pope Francis and the Church around the world in praying for peace. “We pray for peace in our hearts and peace in our world. We pray for the conversion of every heart that hates, and we pray for the courage to overcome evil with good and respond to hatred with love,” said Archbishop Gomez.
Look into our hearts
Another bishop, Bishop Robert P. Deeley of Portland, Maine, spoke about religious prejudice during a New Year’s Mass as reported by Catholic News Service. He called on people to look into their hearts and reflect on their thoughts and words to ensure that they are not contributing to prejudice. “We should be overcoming all prejudice,” Bishop Deeley said. “No one should be judged on his or her religion or race.”
He urged people to pray for people hurt in recent violence as well as those who lost friends or family members in the incidents. “And we ask the Lord to cleanse our hearts and minds of any form of prejudice by which we prejudge others.”
I think all of us should look carefully at our thoughts, words, and actions to make sure that we aren’t acting with prejudice against people of other faiths or races. Sometimes we may not even be aware of what we’re thinking or doing.
As we conclude the Christmas season on January 12, we might reflect on Christ’s birth and how he came into the world to bring God’s love to all people. How are we following his example? And how can we follow Rabbi Swarsensky’s example of love for people of all faiths?