Shocking title, right? I don’t usually write 3 blog posts in three days. But this is important. And it is not a joke, but the beginning sounds like it. So many jokes start, “A rabbi, a priest and a minister walk into a bar.”

What happens if they all show up 4^th of July Weekend? A little bit of hope. Not a joke.

Let me set the stage. On July 3^rd, just after writing a post about Elie Wiesel and his legacy for Elgin. (Footnote: Did you know he actually spoke at my synagogue? Long before I was here!) I was called because a Nazi flag had appeared in Kane County. “Do something” the caller urged. So I did. I contacted the business by email and requested, firmly and calmly the removal of the flag. It was. Maybe that should be the end of the story.

But actually it is the beginning. And it is what makes Elgin great. A Lutheran pastor wrote an impassioned letter. An Episcopal priest showed up at my house and held my hand while we painstakingly researched white supremacists in Kane County. A Catholic chaplain wasted no time and called his contact at the landlord of the business and reported back that the landlord was aghast. The Muslim leader who spoke at our recent vigil for the victims of Orlando sent a simple note, “Repression, Suppression and  Oppression can’t be tolerated. May God give guidance to those who are misguided.” A Brethren pastor showed up with raspberry pie and the message delivered with tears in her eyes, that she would lay down her life to protect me and my congregants.

And lest you think this was just the religious leaders of Elgin, it was not. Our Resident Police officer told me when he saw me at the parade that he was already aware and had stepped up patrols. Our mayor and his wife, seeing it on Facebook and having been called by others, contacted me. Our elected officials, and their staff workers, all reached out.

Keep in mind, this was in a very short time period, less than 24 hours, over a holiday weekend, filled with parades, picnics, barbecues, fireworks, family time. Celebrating this great nation. No one needed to do so because it was in their job description. They did it because it is the right thing to do. And each one had an important role to play.

The flag is down. And thanks for the business establishment for doing the right thing. Quickly and expediently. That’s a good thing. I don’t want to dwell on the flag. I don’t want to create other repercussions or copycats.

Instead, I want to focus on the positive. That in less than a day, we handled a situation that could have been much worse. That people are basically good at heart. They understand the ramificaitons and rise to the occasion.

That a synagogue can walk in the Elgin Fourth of July parade and not worry about safety. Together with a Lao temple, a Hispanic horse troupe, a Unitarian Church, the Boy Scouts, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Club, high school marching bands. The Democrats and the Republicans running for office. The Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice. 12,000 in the parade. 12,000 watching. As diverse a crowd as you can imagine, reflecting the diversity of Elgin and what is great about this nation.

I wish the story ends there.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t quite end there either. There is much work still to be done, as a quick glance at Facebook and social media will tell you. This flag was not just as was suggested war memorabilia being sold but something more sinister if you scratched the surface.

We need to continue building bridges. To continue to combat hate. Wherever it is. Be it social media or the news media. Or the political climate. We need to speak out wherever there is hate speech. Whether it is a political candidate or from a local business. Whether it is against Jews, Muslims, Blacks, Hispanics, the LGBTQ community. We need to conquer fear with love. Fear with hope. This is the legacy of Elie Wiesel. He said,

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

This quick response, of my religious leaders and officials, by the community of Elgin, is precisely the story that needs to be told. It offers us hope, not fear. This is precisely what makes Elgin great. And why Elgin is a model for the rest of the country.