One of the more beautiful buildings in southern Washington Heights is located on West 161st Street between Broadway and Fort Washington. Although I don’t know this to be a fact, my understanding — based on the columns, rounded arches and ornate, geometric motifs that date back to the golden age of Spain during the Middle Ages (before the Catholics slaughtered or expelled all the non-Catholics) — is that it was originally built as a Sephardic Temple, most likely 100 years ago or so, during the golden age of Washington Heights.
At some point during the intervening period, however, it was bought by another religion, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. As my friend D___ said, ‘they own s0 much property in New York City.’ I’m pretty sure that as a religion, however, they don’t have to pay taxes.
I tend to view most religions with a mix of skepticism and disdain — or perhaps it’s a reflection of the skepticism and disdain with which they view me — and the JWs are no exception. I feel like their treatment of this building symbolizes the relationship between the church and its congregants.
They neglect the individual details and nuances of life, the very things that give it meaning, and try to lock up your soul behind unsightly steel gates.
They ignore what’s beautiful in the present in favor of unproven things to come.
