By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

I thought about opening this column with an inflammatory statement, but decided that would get me into trouble, even though I planned to explain why I didn’t really believe that statement a sentence or two later. In fact, I was trying to avoid this whole discussion because the United States is so polarized now that no one is going to change their minds by reading my words. However, after unsuccessfully thinking about several other ideas for this column, I realized there was no way I could write about anything else.
The inflammatory statement: “Since most murders are committed by white, heterosexual men, it’s time to do something to stop these beasts from killing.” Yes, that is pretty inflammatory, but why do we never hear anyone say that, even though that group commits the majority of murders? The answer is easy: If a white, heterosexual man commits a crime, all other white, heterosexual men are never held responsible for his actions.
How many of you were also holding your breath praying that the person who murdered Charlie Kirk wasn’t Jewish? I certainly was. I’d bet the Black, Latino, Asian and the immigrant communities were doing the same: praying it wasn’t one of them because then all of them would be blamed. The fears of a backlash – of members of their community being attacked – are real and terrifying. If you are Jewish and were not worried, then it’s great that you didn’t have to face that fear, but too many times our leaders and citizens have lashed out against a whole community for what one member of that group has done. 
Every crime by a member of the minority community reflects on that community the way a crime committed by someone who belongs to the majority group does not. If you know anything about Jewish American history, you’ll be familiar with the accusations of criminal behavior committed by our immigrant ancestors, many of whom were described as animals, as subhuman. They are our grandparents, our great-grandparents and our great-great-grandparents. Think about that for a moment. Yes, some of them did commit crimes – the recent influx of books about Jewish criminals from that time period proves that – but far more were hardworking people trying to get ahead in a strange, new land. 
Should we not fear becoming like those who accused our ancestors of being animals? How can we face this holiday season if we paint others with the slanders with which we were once painted? When did the U.S. stop being proud of being a great nation of immigrants? We are the children of those immigrants, some of whom came here illegally. Don’t forget that many Jews died in the hell of World War II because countries – white Christian countries – refused them entry to their shores.
After learning the identity of Kirk’s accused shooter, I said a heartfelt “thank God” to myself that maybe this time no innocents would suffer because of what one man did. However, remember this the next time one of our leaders condemns a group because of what one person did. Remember and think about what might happen if that person were Jewish. Then count your blessings if it’s not; the bullet we dodged as a community means that this time all Jews won’t be held responsible for one Jew’s sins.