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Janice and I traveled to Charleston, South Carolina last week, where I had been invited to offer the keynote address on the occasion of the tenth commemoration of the massacre in Mother Emanuel AME Church. I was humbled to have this honor bestowed upon me. I had been in Charleston by myself several years ago for a short program, staying overnight and heading back to Pittsburgh in the morning, but had little opportunity to experience the warmth of the city. It was just a bit on the warm side, with temperatures in the mid-90’s and the humidity around 80%. Despite that, we persevered and took in a bit of the charm of the city and enjoyed wonderful meals and world-renowned southern hospitality. 

The evening before the commemoration, Janice and I, Pastor Eric Manning and his wife Andretta, and Alan and Stacey Hausman enjoyed a delicious meal at Hyman’s Seafood, a fifth-generation establishment known throughout the region. It was a joy to have an incredible variety of fish to choose from. We met one of the descendants who now runs the restaurant, Tobias Hyman, who warmly welcomed us, and kept bringing southern specialties to the table: boiled peanuts; breaded, green fried tomatoes on a bed of grits; hush puppy balls; Brussel sprouts in a honey bourbon sauce; slices of grilled corn on the cob with an interesting sauce. During the meal, as I was sitting next to Pastor Manning, he asked me about the Tree of Life site. I responded that I usually avoid driving by the site; I just cannot. There are times when I must pull over and compose myself before continuing to drive. I concluded by stating “This is the life of a survivor.”. He paused for a moment and then said that the service had not included any reflections from survivors. Would I be willing to speak and share this? Although doing so is never easy, I responded that if you need me to do so, I will. At a hastily arranged Zoom meeting that evening, this added element was confirmed. 

We arrived early and met the morning’s surprise guests: Sen. Mark Kelly and his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords. I’d like to assume that you, dear reader, know her story. When I introduced myself, they both hugged me. 

I managed to get through my brief recounting of what it means to be a survivor from my perspective, and I’ve been told that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including me. As I turned to leave the altar, Pastor Manning hugged me. Not a brief, two-second hug, but a deep, thirty-second embrace, without words, as though he was saying “I’ve got you, my friend, and I’ll take your pain into me.”. He knew exactly what I needed at that moment. I took my seat and tried to compose myself, because I still had to give the keynote address. Before I did, Alan spoke beautifully, emotionally, and poignantly about our two congregations united in purpose. It was very moving. 

I had been asked to speak about shared trauma, something that both of our congregations share. It brought us together, but it is not what keeps us together. Both congregations have had a mission foisted on us, born out of (gun)fire. Simply put, we must strive to eliminate H, the root cause of both of our horrors. I quoted from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, specifically “the urgency of now”. He said these words at the Lincoln Memorial over 60 years ago. The urgency has grown. His now is now. Sadly, there are no Dr. Kings in the United States today to command the ears of those who must heed his prophetic words. It is up to we, the people. The collaboration between the Black and Jewish communities of the previous century has withered, and Pastor Manning and I are endeavoring to re-ignite that passion, for together we can accomplish much, as there is so much to do. Our two groups are collectively the greatest victims of H crimes in the United States year after year. When will the Dayenu moment that tips the scale come? When will justice flow like a mighty stream, washing away the pollutant of evil that threatens to overtake our nation? It is up to we, the people, to make that happen. As Rabbi Hillel said: If not now, when? 

May the memory of the Emanuel Nine always be for a blessing.