By Ann Kuffner
Although 78 years have passed since the Holocaust, antisemitism is still pervasive. In recent years, anti-Jewish incidents have increased around the world. The Antidefamation League and Simon Wiesenthal Center—organizations dedicated to combating antisemitism and bigotry—report a rise in the number of violent antisemitic assaults taking place in the United States. They warn of increased antisemitic attitudes across Europe.
“Jews will not replace us,” was a prominent chant at a Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. The Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, was attacked during sabbath services in October 2018. In January 2022, four people were held hostage at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. Recently, rap artist Ye (Kanye West), spewed antisemitic verbiage in media appearances. These are just a few examples.
At this service, Dr. Daniel Neuspiel will review antisemitism: its history, current spread, and how we UUs can respond. The son of a Holocaust survivor, he grew up in Newark, New Jersey, completed medical school at Rutgers University, and trained in pediatrics and epidemiology in Pittsburgh. He practiced general pediatrics in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina, for 33 years serving poor and immigrant families. He has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1997 and lives in San Miguel de Allende.
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal faith inviting its community to gather around a set of harmonizing values and principles for living. Our UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Belief in a divinity is not the central issue around which we gather for worship and generous action. Rather, we come together with a belief in community, love, compassion, social justice, reverence for nature, and the spirituality of music, all within the interconnected web of existence.
UUFSMA donates generously to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button.
To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25am. Enjoy previous services at https://www.youtube.com/UUFSMA.
In addition to continuing live Zoom services, UUFSMA has returned to in-person Sunday services. Masks are optional, but a distanced area will be reserved for those preferring. UUFSMA meets at the Hotel Posada de la Aldea on Ancha San Antonio 15.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday Service
“Responding to Antisemitism”
Speaker: Dr. Daniel Neuspiel
Sun., Apr.16, 10:30am
Posada de la Aldea
Ancha San Antonio 15
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040
Password: 294513
