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Newton residents unite after vandalism

E-mail|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Michael Paulson November 24, 2008 01:47 PM

A week after vandals defaced Temple Shalom in Newton with a swastika, about 200 people yesterday gathered in a show of solidarity with the synagogue. In today's Globe, John S. Forrester reports:

"We've wiped away the hateful symbol, but it is our presence here as one community that enables us to say no to hate," said Rabbi Eric Gurvis of Temple Shalom, as he began yesterday's rally.
Gurvis thanked the Newton Police Department, residents, and community leaders for their support after the vandalism.

"I know that out of something very bad, we're going to make something good," said Newton Mayor David Cohen. Addressing residents' potential safety concerns, Cohen urged the crowd not to be afraid and "to be whoever you are."

"We have to reaffirm our commitment to diversity," he said.

(Photo by Yoon S. Byun of the Globe staff.)

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1 comments so far...

Hats off to the great people of Newton who banded together to show their support.
It reminds me of the scene in SNOW IN AUGUST by Pete Hamill when the priest and his parishoners march down to the synagogue to help the Jews erase the swastika some bigots painted on it.

Posted by Jake November 26, 08 02:10 AM

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Michael Paulson covers religion for The Boston Globe. He shared in the Pulitzer Prize in 2003, won the Mike Berger, Templeton and Supple awards in 2008, and is a four-time winner of the Wilbur Award.
E-mail mpaulson@globe.com.

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