Stamping out racist and anti-Semitic displays in Manhattan Beach – Daily Breeze

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by Rabbi Joshua Kalev, contributing writer

Those of us who live and work in Manhattan Beach often think of this beautiful beach town as a bubble. But a rise in hateful anti-Semitic incidents highlighted in last week’s Daily Breee/Beach Reporter article reveals murky streaks on our bubble’s shiny exterior.

As the rabbi for Manhattan Beachs only Jewish synagogue, Congregation Tikvat Jacob BethTorah, I receive calls, e-mails and texts from congregants and community leaders all too often about the increasing number of anti-Semitic incidents in our schools and community.

As article pointed out, anti-Semitic incidents have risen 32% statewide compared to last year. Nationally, 2022 is on track to be an all-time high for anti-Semitic incidents.

In our beautiful bubble, we have seen anti-Semitic stickers placed throughout Manhattan Beach blaming COVID-19 on the Jews. Our elementary schools, the middle school and high school have all been the target of racist and anti-Jewish rants painted on playgrounds, bathrooms and lockers.

In July, at Meadows Elementary, students walked onto their playground to find spray painted racial slurs, graphic images and swastikas. How sad that our elementary students have to learn about such hate first hand here in Manhattan Beach.

Our synagogue has been a part of the Manhattan Beach community for nearly 50 years, and for the first time in our history, we have made the difficult decision to invest in security guards, capping years of steadily increasing expenditures on protective measures. These are funds that could be spent on childrens education or community service programs. Instead, we must protect ourselves.

Sadly, these days, the threat feels so real.

As a rabbi, I so appreciate the incredible relationship I have with the Manhattan Beach Police Department, the Superintendent of Schools, the City Council and especially my interfaith colleagues. They all do their very best in responding to these incidents.

However, since the vitriol seems to be doled out on a regular basis, the only way things will change is if the entire community moves from being concerned bystanders to actively engaged participants in rooting out this hatred.

Instead of having the kind janitors at Meadows Elementary cleaning up the graffiti, lets have 1,000 concerned South Bay residents come together to clean it up.

Instead of just our amazingly devoted teachers going to the Museum of Tolerance for professional development, lets invite every middle school and high school student and their families to visit the Museum.

I have no idea who is performing these cowardly acts and in some ways, it doesnt matter.

What does matter is where we place our resources and how we respond.

Please make this topic part of your family dinner table discussions. Let our city councilmembers and leaders know you are willing to help.

And, most importantly, lets remember hatred towards one or two groups will eventually spread towards everyone.

Rabbi Joshua Kalev ministers at Congregation Tikvat Jacob Beth Torah in Manhattan Beach

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