A Har Zion Moment from Rabbi Mirelman
In anticipation of the 75th Anniversary Celebration on November 15 (details and RSVP here), Temple member Michael Zmora has gathered a series of small vignettes of Har Zion’s history from various members of the community. This week’s Har Zion Moment was written by Rabbi Victor Mirelman, the Har Zion rabbi from 1990 to 2010.
Rabbi Mirelman speaking at the Declaration
In 1994, representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America came to our synagogue to present a declaration atoning for Martin Luther’s antisemitic writings. The event was widely covered in the international press (for example, Lutheran Church Formally Rejects Luther’s Anti-semitic Teachings – Jewish Telegraphic Agency and LUTHERANS PUBLICLY REPUDIATE FOUNDER – Chicago Tribune). Rabbi Mirelman tells the story of how and why our synagogue was chosen to host this historic event.
The text of the declaration is viewable here: Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Jewish Community.
ELCA Declaration to the Jewish Community
Declaration to the Jewish Community Plaque
A ceremony of national repercussion took place in the Goldstein sanctuary at West Suburban Temple Har Zion in April of 1994. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) issued a Declaration to the Jewish Community repudiating the troubling antisemitic legacy of Martin Luther (1483-1546) and its complicity in the unique horrors of the Holocaust, and in the ongoing scourge of anti-Jewish bias, bigotry, hatred, and violence. The Declaration added that this repudiation required more than intentions, but also acts of repentance and building trust with the Jewish neighbors.
Early on Luther wrote positively about Jews and their beliefs, probably hoping they would find his form of Christianity acceptable and eventually convert. However, towards the end of his life, disillusioned, he bitterly attacked the Jews, predominantly in his essay “On the Jews and Their Lies.”
Leon Rosenberg (first person on the left) and others participants at the Declaration
The Declaration came after decades of discussions between ELCA leaders and Jewish scholars throughout the country. How come we, in River Forest, were chosen to host the event? At the time I participated in the interreligious dialogue between Jews and Lutherans in the Chicagoland area, sponsored by the local chapter of the American Jewish Committee, AJC. Among the Lutherans in the group was Leon Rosenthal, the assistant minister at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, just across the street from our synagogue. Leon and I used to drive together to the monthly meetings downtown and developed a good and trusted friendship. One year Rosenthal and his wife joined our family for the Passover Seder.
Har Zion Goldstein Sanctuary during the Declaration
At one of the meetings of the dialogue, it was brought up that the Declaration was imminent and an issue was, where in the U.S. should it be publicly announced? I suggested why not in our area, and specifically in River Forest, since the local minister and rabbi are here are neighbors and friends. I offered to host the event at Har Zion. Lo and behold, after national deliberations to which I was not privy, my offer was accepted. We would host it on a Sunday evening in the Spring of 1994.
Leon Rosenthal added that he would conduct a service of confession and atonement at Grace an hour before the main event at Har Zion. Of course I also participated in the very meaningful service of atonement, and then all those present walked together over to our synagogue. Once there I was happy to warmly welcome large numbers of our members, as well as Grace members, and introduced the program, which included national and local leaders. It was a friendly and constructive ceremony, positively described by the press.
Aftermath Happenings:
- Since it was the time of the Intifadas, ELCA officially remained opposed to Israel, and endorsed Palestinian postures, even though many individual members, including Pastor Rosenthal, were supportive of Israel.
- Leon Rosenthal eventually moved to Wilmette to lead a congregation of his own, and later on to Nebraska. We have maintained sporadic contact.
- Throughout the U.S., there were a few additional services to mark the issuance of the Declaration. I was invited to be the keynote Jewish speaker at the synagogue in Iowa City, followed the next day by a interreligious symposium at the University of Iowa.
- I was asked to chair the Interreligious Activies committee of AJC, which I did for several years.
- By the time of the second Intifada, circa 2000, the local dialogue between Jews and Lutherans had dissolved.
West Suburban Temple Har ZIon Rabbi Emeritus Dr. Victor Mirelman
November, 2025