c. 1998 Religion News Service

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

UNDATED _ Recent newspaper photographs of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue ablaze with intense smoke and fire set off my internal alarm bells and provided a personal Rorschach test of how I view today’s world.

At first, I wondered whether the fire _ which raged out of control for more than three hours and involved more than 250 firefighters and 45 fire trucks _ was the work of terrorists.

Had some anti-American, anti-Jewish group struck at the 126-year-old national and city landmark just at the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath?

New York City is especially edgy these days because two suspects in the Aug. 7 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kenya are being held in Manhattan for trial.

Following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York and the public threats made by terrorists against innocent civilians traveling by car in the Lincoln Tunnel, an attack on one of the nation’s most revered synagogues seemed quite possible. It’s this fear of the possible that is terrorism’s psychic wound.

The sad picture of flames and smoke pouring from Central Synagogue’s roof also triggered some painful historic memories as well. The last time there were ominous front page pictures of synagogues aflame was 60 years ago, in November 1938.

At that time the Nazi leadership conducted a massive series of orchestrated attacks upon German and Austrian synagogues, Jewish-owned stores, and upon Jews themselves. These violent attacks marked the beginning of systemic anti-Jewish assaults in Europe, and because of the enormous amount of broken glass, the 1938 pogrom will forever be known as Kristallnacht or”Crystal Night.” Today, every book dealing with World War II and the Holocaust contains graphic photographs of synagogues burning during Kristallnacht.

But, of course, America 1998 is not Germany 1938 _ despite the persistent fear of many people that virulent anti-Semitism lies just below the surface, waiting to erupt violently at any moment. I was relieved when reports indicated that the fire was an accident apparently caused by a workman using a propane torch on the synagogue roof.

Even more reassuring were the immediate responses of both public officials and the religious communities. The firefighters arrived at the scene just six minutes after alarms were turned in, even though Central Synagogue is located in a highly congested part of mid-town Manhattan and it was rush hour.

Because the beloved 1872 house of worship was undergoing extensive renovations, many of the sacred Torah scrolls, congregational archives and other priceless religious objects had been removed. The two remaining Torah scrolls were safely rescued and no one was seriously injured.

Central Synagogue’s rabbi, Peter Rubinstein, rushed to the scene, where he was quickly joined by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Cardinal John O’Connor, New York’s Roman Catholic archbishop. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is just a few blocks from Central Synagogue, and one tearful synagogue member said he was not surprised by O’Connor’s speedy appearance:”St. Patrick’s is part of our (interfaith) network. He’s in the neighborhood. He’s a great guy.” During the fire, Rubinstein, O’Connor, Giuliani and others joined in a circle of solidarity. The combination of the fierce fire and the fervent prayers moved many synagogue members to tears.

The Central Synagogue fire has brought forth not only prayers and moral support from the religious community, but scores of churches and synagogues are offering vitally needed assistance, including the use of space for worship services while the venerable synagogue edifice is rebuilt.

And rebuilt it will be since reconstruction, renewal, and rebirth are integral to Judaism.

Said Rubinstein:”That building was built by 140 people who had no resources, who simply had a vision. … We will rebuild. … We will take our Torah scrolls, which we have, and we will wander for a time, and then in a great triumphal moment, we will return to that building.” And when that happens, you can be sure”the neighborhood”and”the network”will be in”that building”to rejoice with the members of the old/new Central Synagogue.

But it will take longer _ much longer _ to heal terrorism’s psychic wounds, which led me at first to think the worst about the Central Synagogue fire.

IR END RUDIN