Ossoff sworn in on Hebrew Bible from synagogue bombed by white supremacists in the 1950s

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) used a Hebrew Bible from a historic Atlanta synagogue active in the Civil Rights movement during his Senate swearing-in ceremony Wednesday afternoon, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The newly-seated senator told the newspaper that his use of a Hebrew Bible from the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Temple was a nod to the southern Jewish community's ties to the civil rights movement. The bible was once owned by Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, who forged close ties with Black leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. during his time as leader of the synagogue. White supremacists bombed the Temple in 1958, though no one was injured.

Ossoff, who is Jewish, has pointed to his win as well as fellow Georgian Sen. Raphael Warnock's (D-Ga.) win in Georgia's Senate runoff elections as evidence of Georgia's progress on the issue of racial equality. The senator earned his Bar Mitzvah at the Temple, according to the AJC.

“That book isn’t just about the synagogue and my Jewish background,” Ossoff told the newspaper before his swearing in this week. “It’s also about the necessity of reanimating the spirit of the civil rights movement and building alliances to pass landmark civil rights legislation.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535284-ossoff-sworn-in-on-hebrew-bible-from-synagogue-bombed-by-white-supremacists

[Stallion]

1. Wasn't There an Atlanta Synagouge Bombing in the movie Driving Mrs. Daisy?

[rickyhall]

2. That would be The Torah.

[mopinko]

3. gmta. wtf, ppl.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. No, it isn't. The Torah is part of the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh.

[IronLionZion]

8. Didn't know that. Thanks

[Behind the Aegis]

9. You're welcome!

It's a common mistake. Also, because some of my tribe are notorious for using the terms interchangeably, it isn't surprising that the mistake is made.

[electric_blue68]

15. Didn't know either. Thanks.

[Sgent]

13. The Torah scrolls like you see in a synagogue

only contain the Pentateuch-- the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

The Tanakh contains the rough equivalent of the Protestant Old Testament (in a different order) and is commonly referred to as the Hebrew Bible.

Torah is really indeterminant. It could mean the first five books, the entire Hebrew testament, and even all of Jewish law including the Talmud (encyclopedia sized commentary on Tanakh), commentaries on the commentaries, etc.

[electric_blue68]

14. depending on...

Reform, Conservative, Orthodox?

The Torah is such a beautiful physical presentation.

[Sgent]

17. Not really

Keep in mind that Torah literally translates as "Law"

they all agree with the Tanakh and Talmud are Law, and the Zohar, Mishneh Torah, and Shulchan Aruch are precedent. Where they disagree is how binding it is and its interpretative meaning. Even Reform have Responsa from the last 150 years which would be part of the expansive meaning of Torah (for Reform Jews).

Given works can also cross denominations easily. Herchshal's (who marched with MLK) works on the sabbath are regularly used in all three denominations, although he was Conservative. The Zohar and Menachem Schneerson (Chassidic Orthodox) are used by a lot of Reform and Reconstructionist Jews to explore Kaballah or in other areas.

[electric_blue68]

18. Thank you Interesting...

I've heard Herchshal's name.

I grew up in a 2/3rd NYC Jewish neighborhood. Mostly Observant, maybe some Reform, and some non-believer cultural Jews. So I know a little bit of customs my favorite being the Sukkah holiday.

Anyway when I remember to check on line I see what
Rabbi Michael Letner and Tikkun Magazine is up to. I think I first heard of him through Thom Hartman on (then) Air America.

[MosheFeingold]

19. I believe

It was the Tanakh.

The Torah is “just” the books of Moshe.

[Cha]

4. KR for Sen Jon Ossoff!

[abqtommy]

11. Nice move, Jon!

Last edited Thu Jan 21, 2021, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)

[frazzled]

6. I'm not sure many people know

how deeply involved many Jewish congregations, clergy, and community members were during the Civil Rights movement.

I know that my Reform temple was, though I was a kid and adolescent then. Our rabbi was one of the clergy who surrounded Dr. King to support and protect him during his 1965 march in Selma. Social justice was a major part of my religious education, and remains the basic foundation of whatever purely religious philosophy I have left.

[Collimator]

7. "Praying with my feet"

is how one rabbi put it, when speaking of his involvement in the Civil Rights marches.

[IronLionZion]

10. The people who attack synagogues and black churches are often the same people

that's been an issue in my neighborhood where there was racist vandalization of both synagogues and black churches this year over BLM signs. I get mistaken for both since my Biblical name sounds Jewish and my dark brown face looks black.

[MosheFeingold]

20. Except in Crown Heights

Where the antisemitic attackers were overwhelmingly black.

Al Sharpton comes to mind.

And when that scum is held up as some sort of civil rights icon, I spit.

And think of our front door that was smashed in by his henchmen.

[GulfCoast66]

24. I'm not sure many people know the influence Jewish folks had in the South

Because of the evangelical influence Jews, while often facing hostility, were common even in smaller cities and towns. They faced less hostility than they often did in the North.

Many small towns have lost all their Jewish population as they move to large cities.

[frazzled]

25. What is the evangelical influence?

[GulfCoast66]

26. They thought and still think Jews play a role in their crazy end-times fantasy

Because of that they tolerated them.

Lots of Southern Universities allowed Jews even when schools up north did not.

You still see it in the evangelical love for Israel. Although they think the Jews will accept Jesus before the second coming.

I know it sounds crazy, but I was taught this shit in church as a kid.

[Gothmog]

12. copies of the ships' manifests recorded at Ellis Island

Link to tweet

[JudyM]

22. Ok, that got me.

Lump in my throat. Powerful statement, powerful symbol. And Ossoff being not just a senator, but the senator whose vote tally tipped the balance from evil to justice prevailing.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. .."but the senator whose vote tally tipped the balance from evil to justice prevailing."

AND created another historic first, the first Jew to ever be the Majority Leader of the Senate.

[JudyM]

27. Ha, right!

[RussellCattle]

16. "Reanimating the spirit of the civil rights movement" - Now we're talking.

[Nitram]

21. Totally appropriate!