Published November 01, 2018 by Rebecca Goldfine

By Candlelight, Students Vow to 'Repair the World'

On Tuesday night, many people gathered at the Museum of Art steps to reflect on the recent violence at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and to reaffirm our responsibility to make the world more just and compassionate.

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Photo by Sarah Laurence

Hillel, Bowdoin's Jewish student group, organized the Tuesday gathering, which attracted students, staff, faculty, and townspeople from all faiths and backgrounds.

"We held the vigil to give Jewish students a place at Bowdoin to mourn in a distinctly Jewish way, through familiar Jewish song and prayers, while inviting our peers to share in these traditions of remembrance that are so important to us," said Annie Rose ’20, a Hillel leader.

Several students, including Rose, shared their thoughts with the assembled group. Rose spoke about growing up hearing stories from family members about persecution and anti-Semitism. “Although we might define the Holocaust within a fixed timeline, the legacy of such violence undoubtedly lives on,” she said.

She added that the Torah urges people to be welcoming and open, to treat no one like a stranger. "The Jewish people have sustained these values for thousands of years," she said. This teaching, she continued, explains why she and many other Jewish people “strongly believe in open doors, open borders, open minds, and open hearts.” Read her full remarks.

Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor, who advises Hillel, said that for many of her students, the murders of Jewish people in their Pittsburgh House of Worship was a painful reminder of a long history of anti-Semitism. The vigil was a way to honor people that the students felt connected to—people who, she added, "were the backbone of their community. The people who came in early to turn on lights and set up chairs. We have people on campus like that, too."

Associate Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures Margaret Boyle said she was proud of Hillel students for drawing together the Bowdoin community in a dark time. “Students spoke eloquently about anti-Semitism and all forms of hate. They created a thoughtful and reflective space both for grieving and considering our individual responsibilities to make the world more just,” she added.

After attending the ceremony, Michael Reed, who is Bowdoin’s senior vice president for inclusion and diversity, said he, too, felt proud of Bowdoin students. “The community response from students, faculty, staff, and community members reassured me that we are not complacent and have not been lulled to sleep by a supposed new normal,” he said. "What I'm most left with is reassurance that evil will never triumph."