Robert W. Kubacki: Praise for column on Palestinian-Israeli event

Occasionally a masterpiece of writing is printed on the editorial page of the Recorder. Daniel Cantor Yalowitz’s July 23 column titled, “Challenges and benefits of witnessing testimony” is one such masterpiece. His column eloquently called to mind the visceral and physical experience of more than 150 individuals who recently witnessed a seminal event at Temple Israel of Greenfield. 

In a time when anger-fueled partisan sound bites and diatribes obfuscate the media-sphere, this sanctuary provided four Palestinians and five Israelis a sheltered place to speak their truth to an audience that was compelled to deeply listen by what they heard.

Yalowitz’s column recounts the pathos evoked in those present and in himself.  He does so with deep care, tenderness of heart and respect for those who spoke and those who listened to unfiltered truths of “wanton and unrestrained violence committed in public view against those they (the speakers) loved.” 

Yalowitz’s invitation for us to bear witness to what occurred at Temple Beth Israel of Greenfield by reading his column was an invaluable service to all Greenfield Recorder readers near and far. 

Robert W. Kubacki

Greenfield