One of the most beautiful ways I害羞草研究所檝e heard Shabbat described is as a period of time when a person can live 害羞草研究所渁s if all is right with the world.害羞草研究所�

Shabbat begins just before sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall Saturday.

Although I am by no means an expert, I have been told that Shabbat is a time when observant Jews can put away the work and troubles of the week and instead focus on togetherness, family and good food.

The common greeting, Shabbat shalom, means 害羞草研究所淪abbath peace害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所淧eace be on you this day of rest.害羞草研究所� One description states: 害羞草研究所淥n this day of worship and reflection, may you find God害羞草研究所檚 peace from anything that may be disturbing you from this passing week, and as you reflect may you find peace with God if you offended Him, so that you go into the next week in peace.害羞草研究所�

So it was during this time of peace that a man walked into the Tree of Life synagogue in the Jewish neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh and proceeded to take lives, many of them elderly 害羞草研究所� grandmothers, grandfathers, some of them survivors of the Holocaust.

Related: Pittsburgh synagogue suspect pleads not guilty

害羞草研究所淭his is the most horrific crime scene I害羞草研究所檝e seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,害羞草研究所� said a shaken FBI spokesperson. 害羞草研究所淢embers of the Tree of Life synagogue conducting a peaceful service in their place of worship were brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith.害羞草研究所�

Prior to the killings, the man was reported to have expressed his disgust with a Jewish group害羞草研究所檚 assistance to refugees.

Pittsburgh is a long way away and the relationship with guns here is hugely different. But that doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean the country, or the community, is immune to hatred.

Related: Canadians hold vigils in solidarity with Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

Anti-semitism has existed for hundreds of years and tends to be cyclical in nature. Jews have been used as scapegoats, usually when economic downturns are in place or imminent. The working class is encouraged to fear and blame Jews rather than look at the system which is impoverishing them.

It害羞草研究所檚 no secret that many people are working harder for less money now while the one per cent gets richer.

South of the border we have seen fear and hatred being instilled and supported against Muslims, new immigrants, refugees, blacks, Indigenous people, gays and more.

The mood does not stop at the border. In Canada last year, a lone gunman opened fire in a mosque in Quebec, killing six and injuring 19. A trip to Facebook shows all variety of nastiness.

And next comes blaming the Jews. Divide and conquer.

The biggest enemy of this trend is connectedness, people learning about and listening to each other, standing up boldly for each other, linking arms and hearts, refusing unequivocally to fall into the trap of hatred.

We will all benefit.

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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