Unhappy anniversary

Some anniversaries are celebrated with fanfare and flourish. One that comes to mind is the 250th anniversary of Touro Synagogue in Newport, America’s oldest Jewish house of worship. In addition to the annual August ceremonial reading of George Washington’s 1790 letter to – then, Hebrew Congregation of Newport – Congregation Jeshuat Israel which affirms that those who fled religious persecution in Europe would find more than mere religious tolerance in our new nation – they would find religious freedom, many events have already been held and some are still to come.

In July, the Newport Music Festival held a concert at the synagogue featuring Czech cellist Jiri Barta. In August, several hundred members of the congregation and guests celebrated at the rebuilt Malbone Castle (see the Jewish Voice, Aug. 30); Washington dined at the original Malbone during his historic 1790 visit.

Later in August, the 350th anniversary of the granting of Rhode Island’s original charter by England’s King Charles II was memorialized at Touro.

A Dec. 1 Hanukkah party at Touro was the backdrop for the rededication of the synagogue and, as of this writing, the party concludes with a Klezmer workshop and concert, free and open to the public.

Temple Beth Shalom, of Milford, Mass., a spring chicken by Touro standards, celebrated its centennial in November (see this issue of The Voice). Among the 120 participants were current congregants and children and grandchildren of some of the original founders of the synagogue – then named Solomon’s Temple. Attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, reminisced about times, teachers and temple events of the past, and then slipped on their dancing shoes to swing and sway to the sometimes reverent, but often rowdy music of the internationally known klezmer band, Ezekiel’s Wheels, who initially plied their craft by playing in Boston’s subway stations.

Other anniversaries are distinguished by more somber notes. This year is the 75th remembrance of

Kristillnacht, the November 9, 1938 “Night of Broken Glass,” the onset of the organized German pogroms against the Jews. The Nov. 8 issue of The Voice shares survivor Alice Goldstein’s recollections of the horror of that time. She is a treasure, dedicating her time and talent to speak at colleges and community centers to help younger generations learn of the evil that man can do to man – and to not forget.

Ask anyone in their late 50s or older where they were, what they were doing and perhaps even what they were wearing at about 1:00 p.m., 50 years ago, on November 23, 1963. That time is indelibly seared into the memories of most Americans – President Kennedy assassinated! An eternal flame burns at Arlington National Cemetery – a spectral mirror to the suddenly extinguished flame of Camelot and the end, some say, of an age of innocence for our country.

There’s another anniversary to mention. No festivities. No fireworks. No parades, no speeches, no hoopla. Jonathan Pollard, a former United States Navy intelligence analyst has quietly begun his 29th year of a life sentence in prison, a few months shy of half his entire life, convicted of spying for Israel. He is the only American in U.S. history to be meted out a life sentence for spying on behalf of an American ally.

Judges and U.S. Appellate Courts have hindered Pollard’s attorneys’ ability to appeal his sentence or plead for his parole. Although they possess the necessary clearance to view classified documents, they have been denied that right. Alan Dershowitz claims that Pollard’s life sentence is more severe than the average sentence given to those convicted of spying for the Soviet Union or other enemies of the U.S.

Genug es genug!