When pressed to comment on the terrorist car-bomb attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, MI, Abdul El-Sayed condemned the attack, saying, “Nothing justifies the heinous attack that we saw on Temple Israel.”

If he had stopped there, maybe there would be no controversy among American Jews. But how would American Palestinians have felt? Would they have felt that this Muslim had acknowledged the pain of Jewish-Americans but had ignored the pain of Palestinian-Americans? He continued with an exercise that Christians employ when grappling with an intractable cycle of violence: he said, “Hurt people do hurt people.”

Many Jews, who are rightfully concerned about a resurgence of anti-semitism that does appear to be rising and has in the past quickly metastasized with widespread deadly consequences, were quick to condemn the comment as providing justification for and condoning the terror attack—and even as calling for more violence against Jews. But I would urge them to take a step back.

Let’s look at the role that anti-semitism plays in our society. From one perspective, it serves a purpose similar to anti-Black racism: it divides the population that otherwise, if united, would oppose imposition of a government that serves only the rich and powerful. From this point of view, any enthusiastically pursued division serves the rich and powerful. This is a time to find common cause to fend off a tyrannical government—not a time aid the forces of tyranny by deepening divisions.

It is not speculation to observe that, like me, El-Sayed was born in the US. It is speculation to suppose that, like me, he has more interest in addressing important issues here in the US (Michigan for him) than in getting entangled in a far-off, intractable conflict. And further, as a Muslim son of Egyptian immigrants, he probably thought that commenting on the attack would be a no-win situation for him because acknowledging the pain of Jews while ignoring the pain of Palestinians is probably impolitic for an American-born Muslim.

However, he was wrong to delay, because the terrorist attack is a local repercussion of the far-off conflict that occurred within the area of his targeted political region—if he wishes to represent the state of Michigan, he should wish to represent Jews as well as Christians and Muslims—and also both rich and poor. He should be sensitive to the pain of the Jews in Michigan, even if his heritage gives him a pre-disposition to be sensitive to the pain of Palestinian Michiganders.

Israeli philosopher Yuval Harari has said that it is nearly impossible for each side of the Israel/Palestinian conflict to acknowledge the pain of the other—for most people, the pain of each is so great that there is no space to feel the pain of the other. But the cycle of violence will continue until that space can be found.

While history has taught Jews that they dare not be complacent to the signs of danger—and are understandably worried about any signs of toleration of anti-semitic behavior—it has also taught them to close their hearts to the suffering of others. Over-zealous condemnation of phantom anti-semitism divides as much as the anti-semitism itself.

Let us look at the Christian idea that “Hurting people hurt people.” This effort to recognize the pain that fueled an action that caused pain does not excuse the latest violent action—and it certainly does not encourage further acts to inflict pain. The purpose is to crack open the heart to experience the anguish of others just enough that maybe it will create room for the forgiveness that is prerequisite to breaking the chain of violence.

Here in America we will not solve the far-off conflict. But let us open our hearts to each other who are here so we may step past our divisions and claim the power bestowed upon a people who feel that we are all in the same boat. I implore American Jews not to fall victim to those who support the forces of tyranny by fomenting fear of danger where there is none.