Leaders of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, a West Village synagogue that caters to gays and lesbians, didn't want to ignore a planned visit by members of the rabidly anti-gay and anti-Semitic Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church so they did the only thing they knew how to do.
Turn it into a fundraiser!
They asked supporters to pledge a dollar or more for every minute that six protesters stood near their synagogue hurling epithets and holding signs that read "God Hates Fags" and "Jews Stole the Land."
The final haul after 50 minutes: $10,000.
"Their very presence will actually raise money for the mission of this community," said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of the synagogue, which now holds services in rented space. ""We're not intimidated by them. We're joining together today to show that we...simply reject their language, their violence, and we won't be scared away by them....The synagogue wants a building so we're hoping this will help us get a building."
And I hope they get a building, too, using the money they raised standing up to hate.
The old 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade'.
ReplyDeleteLOL I was just going to say that, FP!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea!