Just over two weeks ago, members of our campus community gathered on the steps of Chapin Hall to mourn the loss of life and violence that had taken place in the preceding days in Israel and Gaza. At that vigil of lament and comfort, we shared readings and prayers from our different religious traditions and sought to remind ourselves of our shared humanity. We hoped to give voice to a shared vision that all human beings have dignity and are sacred, and that the death of anyone to violence is a devastating loss. We also hoped to remind ourselves, and the campus community more broadly, that each of us at Williams deserves to be supported as we process events around the world and here at home.
As the war continues, and as the rhetoric on online platforms, on campus, and in interpersonal conversations continues to heat up, we invite this community — our community — to continue to make an effort to know one another: by name, by face, by story. To know of our experiences and our journeys. Of our joys and our struggles. Of what matters most to each of us, and our continuing exploration of what it means to be human. To create a campus community that is not riven by conflict and fear, by apprehension and mistrust, but one that recognizes our humanity and pain while honoring one another in our complexities and differences.
We also wish to remind members of our community — as we seek to remind ourselves — of the importance of deepening our practice of compassion. We are inspired by those among us who seek to do this for us, for our friends and loved ones, and for those with whom we disagree. Compassion is rooted in the understanding that all beings suffer. When we recognize that the person with whom we are engaged is in pain, that recognition can serve to open our hearts. Too often in the discussions around Palestine and Israel, we are asked to simply, as a recent New York Times video put it, “pick a side.” As we sharpen our language and tone, seeking to assert our particular point of view, even while acknowledging our own perspectives, we may lose our capacity to treat our conversation partners with compassion in our desire to be “right.”
Our desire to be “right” is real, yet we believe that it is important to let go of the language of “sides.” This language is no longer useful. This is not a war between Jews and Muslims or a conflict between supporters of Israel and supporters of Palestine. Those simple and false binaries are insufficient, and they hamper our ability to see each other, to know each other, and to heal with each other.
Violence related to the war spills far beyond the boundaries of the battlefield. Jews and Muslims, as well as supporters of Palestine and supporters of Israel, find themselves increasingly in fear of bodily danger, of doxxing, and of harassment. We abhor any actions that seek to enact violence to individuals based on their identity, beliefs, or political positions. We condemn Islamophobia and antisemitism anywhere, and we specifically decry instances of them here on our campus. We hope to support a community that, despite vehement disagreements, nonetheless strives to hold up the highest regard for its members. To aim to remind ourselves and each other that each of us is human, doing what we can to figure out what we believe and how we might live in this world.
As a resource for the entire campus community, we reaffirm that each of us is here to support students through this difficult time. All four of us in the Chaplains’ Office are spiritual care providers who are trained to facilitate meaning-making in the face of life’s transitions, struggles, and joys. We seek to provide spiritual care and accompaniment to all those who seek it out or are in need of it. Part of our role is shepherding and providing guidance for our respective religious communities, but the biggest part of our job description is fostering an engaged and inclusive community on campus. We are already exploring ideas for building bridges and facilitating dialogue on campus, but we would also like to hear your ideas.
In the weeks and months to come, we hope to gather more groups of students in listening circles as we attempt to deepen our understanding across differences. We are encouraged by students who are already coming together for this purpose. In being with one another, we can strive to grieve, learn, and heal.
Bridget Power is the College’s Catholic Chaplain. Rabbi Seth Wax is the College’s Jewish Chaplain. Sidra Mahmood is the College’s Muslim Chaplain. Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer is Chaplain to the College and the Protestant Chaplain.
