Zoe Klein, senior rabbi at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles, delivered the following remarks at a memorial service June 18 at First A.M.E. Church fin Los Angeles honoring the victims of the shooting at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Klein addressed her remarks to a 5 year old girl whom some news reports, still unconfirmed, said survived the massacre by lying on the floor pretending she was dead. To hear a recorded excerpt of the rabbi’s remarks click play below.
I want to speak with that 5-year-old girl who had to play dead while her church family was slaughtered around her. I want to speak with that 5-year-old girl who had to play dead while shots were fired, while the gun was reloaded, while blood and tears ran through the pews.
Little girl, you are full of nightmares now. You have a story that is full of terror and tragedy. And we are sorry.
We are sorry that we have not uprooted racism after all this time.
We are sorry that we whitewash the problem in our media.
We are sorry that we have been deaf to the voice of the suffering.
We are sorry that you live in fear of brutality.
We are sorry that we have not figured out responsible gun legislation in this country.
We are sorry.
And I want to share with you, little girl, that you are also part of a different story. You are part of a much bigger prayer family.
An attack against any house of worship is an attack against every house of worship. An attack against one faith is an attack against all faiths.
We are a tree of life whose roots run deep down into the Earth that is our mother. Our roots are fed from the same rains. Our seeds sprout under the same sun. And we sing our songs, to Jesus, to Adonai, to many different names, and there are as many sanctuaries thrumming with bloodrush and heartsong as there are stars in the sky, and you belong to them all.
An attack against one is an attack against all, an ax swung into the trunk of the tree of life.
Temple Isaiah and First A.M.E. Church have been in loving partnership for over 30 years. We created a unique, precious relationship in Los Angeles, a multifaith family serving God through worship and social action toward all humankind. Thirty years of music, text, food, activism and dreams, and I want to tell you, little girl, you are part of that story.
Your prayer circle, led by Pastor Pinckney, may his memory be a blessing, intersects with millions of prayer circles around the world.
Sweet little sister, you need not play dead anymore. Rise up and find your power, and sing out loud! For we promise, in your name, we will triple our efforts, strengthen our bonds to one another and write a different story. One that will make you proud. A story in which no child trembles under a church pew, and no child is afraid to go to synagogue or temple. A story in which our houses shall be houses of prayer for all people, and none shall be afraid.
We are sorry for what you have witnessed, and we want you to witness this. Witness this tapestry of faces, each one made in God’s image, shining with beauty. We are your royal family. And we put out our hand to you and lift you up off that floor, and sing to you: Hallelujah, little girl, we love you. Hallelujah.
