c. 1996 Religion News Service

(Rabbi Rudin is the national interreligious affairs director of the American Jewish Committee.)

(RNS)-“They have set your sanctuary on fire, and profanely demolished the dwelling place of God’s Name to the ground. … Determined to destroy us once and for all, they have burned down every meeting place of God in the country. … But do not forget your people!”… O God, pick your steps over these endless ruins; the enemy has evilly sacked everything in the sanctuary. … Your adversaries have roared into the midst of your sacred meeting placesâÂ?¦” This could be the cry of the pastor of a burned black church in the summer of 1996. But this powerful lament comes from Psalm 74, describing the anguish of the people of ancient Israel when their temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and burned to the ground.

What is happening in America today is yet another chapter in an old and bitter story.

Those who set fire to black churches are repeating the evil pattern of every bigot in history who believed that destroying a people’s house of worship will also destroy their spirit and their will to live.

Bigots may believe that a destroyed sanctuary means that children will not be taught their religion and that congregations will cease worshiping together. They may believe there will be no more sages, teachers, elders and prophets within the victimized community; no more choirs singing sweet songs of faith. They may believe that ultimately the people will disappear from the stage of history and the name of God will be forgotten.

Nothing is further from the truth.

Physical attacks on houses of worship always bring people closer together, as they stand in solidarity amid the ashes of their burned sanctuaries, holding each other’s hands.

The destruction of the holy temple in Jerusalem, first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and again by the Romans in 70 A.D., is vividly recounted in the Bible and is permanently remembered in the prayers and liturgy of the Jewish people. Although unable to rebuild their temple after the Roman devastation, Jews transferred their love and worship of God to thousands and thousands of assembly houses-synagogues-throughout the world.

Instead of succumbing to the despair that is so eloquently described in Psalm 74, the Jews made every synagogue a miniature and vibrant temple of the spirit.

Throughout history, when synagogues were burned by evil people, Jews transferred their prayers, teachings and rituals to their homes. And when Jewish homes were burned and family members brutally separated from one another as they were during the Holocaust, religious life resided in each individual.

Today’s racists who target black churches for destruction have something else in common with earlier evil-doers: They clearly understand that houses of worship play a central role in the life of a faith community.

The church represents the single most credible institution within the black community. It is the one place, the central address, where a realistic theology of hope is preached. The black church is the central political, cultural and social focus of the community.

A house of worship is more than brick and wood. Many black churches-especially in cities-provide a host of social service programs that its members cannot obtain anywhere else-prenatal counseling, day care for youngsters, tutorial and vocational training, soup kitchens, medical treatment, geriatric care and the fellowship that binds the community together.

The spiritual strength and religious fervor of black congregations will not be diminished by acts of racist arson.

Psalms and prayers are necessary during this tragic time of loss, but so, too, are vigorous police work and prosecutions to apprehend and convict those who have carried out criminal actions.

And while pleas and petitions for help also are necessary, so, too, is the need to rebuild.

To that end, the American Jewish Committee, the National Council of Churches, and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops have joined in a campaign of concern and have urged all Americans to contribute generously to the church rebuilding effort that is so desperately needed.

Contributions should be sent directly to the NCC Burned Churches Fund, Room 880, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y., 10115.

It is important that people of good will do more than just lament the tragedy of these destroyed churches. From the ashes of hatred we must rebuild the house of God.

MJP END RUDIN