Hate is a religious issue, especially when it is couched in religious terms.
When anti-gay protesters stand outside the funeral of a murdered young gay man holding signs reading “God hates fags,” it is the responsibility of religious communities to counter such statements — strongly and unequivocally.
But even when God is not invoked, people of faith must stand up against hate. Religion, at its very best, is about compassion and acceptance, not judgment.
The brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student killed because he was gay, attracted widespread attention. Something about a gentle-faced 21-year-old, tied to a fence post with his skull bashed in, captured the national consciousness in a way few hate crimes have.
But we must remember that hate violence happens in our country regularly — not only to gays, but to Jews, African Americans and other minorities.
Not long ago, a black man was tied to the rear bumper of a truck and dragged to his death because of his race.
Here in the Bay Area, Jewish homes and businesses have been defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.
Numerous other hate crimes escape media attention. Nonetheless, they tear at the fabric of our multicultural society, leaving segments of our citizenry feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
Now is the time to fight for tough hate-crimes legislation in those states that do not already have them. And now is the time to do all we can to challenge hateful sentiments that lead to such acts. As Jews, we cannot remain silent.
Since Shepard’s death, a number of Jewish groups — among them the American Jewish Congress and the Reform movement’s Central Conference of American Rabbis — have made strong statements on those issues.
It is crucial that Jewish voices continue to be heard.