This month’s letter comes from Rev Steve:
This season of Remembrance begins with the memory of a month that will resonate for many years. When I first heard of the terrible attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation on 2nd October, Yom Kippur, I knew I had to get there as quick as I could. But I knew I was also facing into the unknown. Fear walked with faith. What would I meet? Would the police turn me away? Were there dangers unrevealed? When I reached the Police Line, I met someone whom I recognised. He stood there, a little shell-shocked, but shook my hand warmly. He said, simply: “I’m so glad you’re here… that it mattered to you.” And I realised that this was all that was needed – no clever words, plans or strategies, but simply a human presence.
In the stories that unfolded around this lethal antisemitic attack, a phrase was quoted which was also quoted on the Gaza hostages’ release on 13th October: “Anybody who destroys a single life, it is counted as if they destroyed an entire world, and, for anybody who preserves a single life, it is counted as if they preserved an entire world.” It comes from the oral Jewish tradition, the Mishnah, written down as the Jerusalem Talmud some 400 years after Jesus of Nazareth (4:9.1). Its context is quite startling. It sums up a discussion about the first taking-of-life in the Bible – the story of Cain and Abel. It refers to the descendants of Abel that would never be born because of Cain’s action.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain cries to God when challenged over the disappearance of Abel, before the truth comes out. The message of the story is clear. We are created in order to be “keepers” of one another – a “keeper” in this story means someone who guards, watches over and protects someone – a cross between a park-keeper and a shepherd.
“Love one another as I have loved you”, says Jesus. (John 13.34)
“Whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity”, says the Quran (5.32), a little later.
That comes into sharp focus this Remembrance season – to thank God for those who have been our “keepers”, for those who have heroically protected us with no thought of their own safety, and to remind us that we are called to “keep” one another, and especially those who are vulnerable within our community – whether through debt, economic disadvantage, loneliness, exile, discrimination or whatever may make someone feel isolated or alone.
Our first role is to be there, to be present, to keep company.
With love and prayers, Rev Steve
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 