Last Sunday, at the 23rd Annual Connie Spear Birnbaum Memorial Lecture, there was a moving rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” echoing the words etched on the Statue of Liberty. The musical performance was introduced with the story of Emma Lazarus, whose poem The New Colossus gave us those enduring lines as an expression of America’s ideals.

In that same spirit, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik reflected recently on Irving Berlin, whose family fled violence in Russia for refuge in the U.S. and later wrote “God Bless America.”

“This song,” Rabbi Soloveichik shared, “was carried by American soldiers who defeated the evils of Nazism, and it is a reminder that antisemitism is utterly anti-American […] To sing this song is to be reminded that America’s story is unique.”

In spite of the resurgence of antisemitism and the many other challenges we face, this continues to be an extraordinary, blessed country in which to live and thrive as Jews.

This is why I was proud to attend an event last night celebrating the Vilna Shul’s inclusion as a historic marker in Embrace Boston’s Everyone250 project. By shining a light on historic landmarks across the Commonwealth, Embrace Boston is telling our shared story and reminding us that the individuals and groups who built this region, including the Jewish community, remain an essential part of the diverse tapestry of who we are.

You can read or view my remarks, including what this moment means, from last night’s celebration below.

Each of us, individuals and communities, has unique stories that are and always will be part of the collective story of this city and our country.

I’m grateful to the Embrace Boston leadership, my colleagues at CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism, and the Vilna Shul for the partnership. Promoting education about our past through programs like this is critical to a strong democracy and a healthy society.

As a fourth-generation Bostonian myself, I am grateful to live here and so proud of all the ways the Jewish community has helped build the civic, cultural, and philanthropic fabric of Greater Boston. May we continue to do so for generations to come.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Marc Baker

President and CEO