The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Tucson is home to rich Jewish life, which has been true for generations. The first synagogue in Arizona is here — I encourage you to visit it along with the small but well-run Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center next door. We Tucsonan Jews, like many before us, have built a home in the desert. We are committed to growing this community. We are schoolteachers and educators, school and aftercare sponsors — the JCC offers care and subsidizes costs for all qualified Tucsonans, Jewish or not, did you know? — and we’ve even held high political office here somewhat recently. We are home to the Tucson Jewish Free Loan, a longstanding organization that gives interest-free loans to all Southern Arizonans, regardless of affiliation, because we are Jewish. We love our home.
A recent letter to the editor from Charles Sabalos suggests Tucson Jewish life should stop displaying its happiness and love for our community and the larger Jewish community because of events in Israel. This is, to say the least, a disappointing, hypocritical, and flawed stance to take. It’s disappointing because your Jewish community here was desperately wanting you and your human rights community to speak out against the brutal kidnapping and murder of Jews, including children (Google the Bibas Family) in the October 7 attacks in Israel.
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We missed you when Tucson synagogues were tagged with swastikas and had bricks thrown through their windows, and when a small Jewish law firm had rocks thrown through its window twice because it displayed a menorah. Many of us have recently begun paying increased security fees at our Jewish preschools, which are also home to Jewish and non-Jewish children alike. We do not need to imagine what it’s like to be near Neo-Nazis, as you asked us to do. We are reminded of Jew hatred regularly, unfortunately.
Your argument is hypocritical and flawed because you single out the Jewish community to behave a certain way. Reading your article doesn’t make me think you’re a Jew hater, just ignorant. You clearly view the world in a black-and-white vacuum. Your position, if applied to all communities here in Tucson, would be an unachievable and frankly un-American standard, as you are demanding the silence of others.
For example, by your principles, you must demand the Tucson Mexican community quiet down and cease all public celebrations because of high femicide rates in Mexico (one of the highest worldwide). You must ask the Catholic Church and its congregants to cease public displays of love and religion because of its history of sexual assault and child abuse. You must boycott all Syrian restaurants here because weeks ago, Syrians slaughtered their Druze neighbors. You must shut down the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center for offering youth Chinese dance lessons because China is accused of crimes against humanity and possible genocide of Uyghurs. I could go on.
Each example faced international condemnation and violates international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN after the Holocaust in 1948. For these reasons, your position could be considered antisemitic. My Jewish family refuses to live as you demand.
The hosting of the Maccabi Games was a beautiful display of Jewish love and sport, and a chance for Jewish children worldwide to come to our proud city. Jewish and non-Jewish kids from cities across the country and world — Moldova and Ukraine included — competed for their home communities. Jewish and non-Jewish families hosted these kids, proudly showed them Tucson, and built lifelong friendships and connections. It was inspiring. Should you want to meet to discuss the Maccabi Games’ history and what they truly stand for, instead of passing judgment and making the games about violence and weapons and hammers, I’d be happy to meet. Not only was I a volunteer this year, but also a participant long ago, playing for the Dallas JCC. Mr. Sabalos, I’m a Tucson Jew. I love my community. I will not stop celebrating our deep Mexican and Catholic heritage, attending Tucson-Chinese events, or eating Middle Eastern food at our many Syrian restaurants because of your virtuous guidelines. I’m proud we hosted the Maccabi Games here.
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Jordan Malka is a regular Tucsonan — a father, a husband, and a member of the Jewish community.
