Columbus rabbi stands up against neo-Nazi – The Forward

A group of neo-Nazis marched through downtown Columbus, Ohio, waving swastika flags and using anti-Semitic language, November 16, 2024. (Screenshot via CBS News)

Nazis wave swastika flags. Masked thugs shout anti-Semitic slogans on the city streets. Until last Saturday, I had relegated grotesque scenes like this to the dustbin of history. My deceased fatherwho witnessed the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and survived seven concentration camps, has described such marches since his youth. Although I know that neo-Nazis once marched in Skokie and later Charlottesville, I never really thought this could happen in Columbus, the city I have proudly called home for 33 years.

The march last Saturday afternoon Only a dozen men were involved and it lasted less than an hour, but it had a chilling effect. A small group of neo-Nazis marched through the Short North, a trendy arts and culture district less than a mile away where my son, Rabbi Yitzhak Kaltmann, visits his congregants every Friday to pack tefillin, hand out candles and wish them a happy Shabbat. This is the heart of our growing Jewish community of young professionals, where they live, shop and socialize.

Fortunately, local, state and federal officials quickly and unequivocally condemned the march. Governor Mike DeWine, with whom we light the menorah at the Governor’s Mansion each year and who has visited our Chabad House three times over the years, declared publicly via X: “We will not tolerate hate in Ohio. There is no place for hate, bigotry, anti-Semitism or violence in this state and we must denounce it wherever we see it.”

We should not assume that we live in a country where leadership at all levels recognizes the importance of confronting anti-Semitism head-on. By President Joe Biden National strategy to combat anti-Semitismadopted in 2023 strong statements From President-elect Donald Trump, Jews know that politicians on both sides will work to protect us.

These institutional responses are crucial. However, they only address part of the challenge. The reality is that the voices of hate—while far outnumbering the voices of love and support—have an outsized impact. My phone rings nonstop with community members telling me that they have never felt so unsafe as Jews in America. One of our Hebrew students, a 12-year-old girl, came up to me with tears in her eyes and confided that she didn’t want to tell her best friend that she was Jewish.

“What if she doesn’t eat lunch with me anymore?” she asked.

The question for me as a church leader is how can I help my community heal and find strength in the midst of hate.

I believe the answer lies in the teachings of my mentor and spiritual teacher Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory. Known simply as the Rebbe, he experienced significant anti-Semitism in Europe – from hiding from pogroms in Tsarist Russia, persecution under Soviet rule, and even Nazi oppression while studying in Berlin, where his brother and sister-in-law were murdered during the Holocaust.

Despite his personal experience, his Teach on the subject of anti-Semitism were characteristically non-combative. He preached that the most effective way to combat darkness – physical, spiritual or social – was to transform it into light. While fear and anger are often the first response to hateful events, the Rebbe encouraged Jews to turn these dark moments into opportunities to more meaningfully engage with their Jewish identity.

After the devastating Tree of Life shooting in 2018, Carly Pildis, community engagement director for the Anti-Defamation League, advocated for this approach she said“To all those seeking comfort: Do something Jewish this week.” Study the Torah. Deepen (or begin) your commitment to kashrut. Go to synagogue – join a synagogue. Fight hate with love for your culture.”

This approach – countering hate with positive action – not only strengthens us, but also inspires others. While we can and should condemn anti-Semitism, we must also nourish and strengthen ourselves through connection to our heritage.

Being a Jew is not just about resisting hate; It’s about connecting deeply with our traditions and spreading our values ​​of kindness and compassion.

The Rebbe often emphasized that each of us has a unique mission to improve the world through good deeds. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, supporting a community initiative, providing our children with a Jewish education, or simply attending synagogue with pride, every positive action helps drive away the shadows of hate and lift our spirits lift.

One question I have received repeatedly this week is whether Columbus Chabad will have a smaller audience Hanukkah celebration and menorah lighting in view of the neo-Nazi march. My answer is: “Absolutely not”. We owe it to our children to make the celebration bigger, happier and full of Jewish pride than ever before.

The neo-Nazis who marched in Columbus sought to stoke fear and division. Instead, they showed the resilience and strength of our community. For every voice of hate, there are thousands more rising up in love and support. This is our message to those waving the swastika on the streets of Columbus: Judaism is not a burden to be borne, but a light to be shared with the world.