Righteous Among the Neighbors is a project of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh that honors non-Jewish Pittsburghers who support the Jewish community and take action to uproot antisemitism. In partnership with the LIGHT Education Initiative and Mt. Lebanon High School, student journalists interview honorees and write profiles about their efforts.
Article by Scarlett Sweeney
More often than not, showing up is the most important thing an individual can do. Pastor Joel Benson, a Lutheran pastor from Butler County, has taken this message to the next level with his work to build meaningful relationships and hope among neighbors. Pastor Benson’s support of Congregation B’nai Abraham, a synagogue in Butler County, and his consistent commitment to reckoning with antisemitism in the Christian tradition have led to his recognition for the prestigious Righteous Among the Neighbors award.
After the October 27, 2018 synagogue shooting, the Butler Clergy Network was created to encourage interfaith cooperation and support among local religious leaders. Several weeks later, the network planned a vigil to send a public message of Christian support for the Jewish community.
Benson was especially moved by the silent candlelight walk down Main Street that followed the vigil.
“It was a powerful witness that we weren’t going to let what happened to Tree of Life define us,” he said. “A lot of people from the community I serve still talk about it as being one of those experiences that we will never forget.”
Following that gathering, the network asked how it could support Cantor Michal Gray-Schaffer, spiritual leader of B’nai Abraham, and her congregation. They decided that individual congregations would visit her congregation one at a time, attend a Friday night service and stay afterward for the oneg.
Pastor Benson brought almost 40 people from his congregation, which was far more than any other congregation. This moment stuck out to Cantor Gray-Schaffer, who nominated Benson for this award.
“Joel bringing almost 40 people showed to me that he really must have pushed it and marketed it and made it an important thing for his congregants to do,” Gray-Schaffer said. “They were so respectful, they stood when we stood, joined in on the English when they could. We almost had to kick them out two hours after the service ended because everybody was just having such a good time getting to know each other.”
Benson has been a Lutheran all his life and is a fourth-generation Lutheran pastor. He is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that made a formal declaration to Jewish communities renouncing Martin Luther’s anti-Jewish writings and affirming that antisemitism is contrary to the Christian teaching to love one’s neighbor.
More recently, Benson and Gray-Schaffer have been meeting once a month alongside other Lutheran pastors to study together and develop a deeper understanding of each other. Benson believes building this relationship is crucial, especially with the antisemitism across local counties, Pennsylvania, the country and world today.
“As a Christian, it is important to stand up and say this does not represent what we believe about loving our neighbors as God loves us,” Benson said. “You cannot, as a Christian, denounce our Jewish neighbors in any way, shape or form; they are our sisters and brothers.”
Benson incorporates small details in his congregation to remind people of the connections between the two religions.
“We share scriptures with our Jewish siblings, and in every worship we have that connection, we aren’t separate from them, and they aren’t separate from us,” Benson said. “We may not share the whole Bible, but we share a part of it. It’s a small reminder to always keep that in the front of people’s minds.”
For Benson, the most meaningful part of this journey has been learning from his Jewish siblings and the relationships he has built.
“The Jewish perspective, and learning about their tradition, has been a wonderful education that has broadened my horizons,” Benson said. “It has expanded my understanding of the whole people of God and what that means, and this connection has enhanced my sense of what it means to be a follower of Christ.”
In the future, Benson hopes that his congregation will continue to grow and develop a greater understanding with their Jewish neighbors. He plans to seek more opportunities that come his way to learn and grow.
When Benson was notified that he received this award, he described himself as being “dumbfounded.”
“I’ve never really received anything like this,” Benson said. “I was and still am struck. I don’t know what to say other than I’m humbled by it and honored.”
Since meeting Benson a few years ago, Gray-Schaffer remains amazed by Benson’s dedication and commitment to combating antisemitism.
“He really is leading by example for his congregants,” Gray-Schaffer said. “If you lead by example, you will see how important and rewarding this work is.”