The North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association is horrified by the massacre of innocent Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, and foreign nationals by the terrorist group Hamas on Shabbat/Simhat Torah and the relentless war that has followed. The wanton killing of innocents, including numerous children and seniors, coupled with the kidnapping of at least 199 individuals, including many Americans, has shaken us to our core. Hamas’ actions are a war crime that are diametrically opposed to the teaching of every sacred scripture.
We stand in solidarity with the State of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of all who were murdered, and injured or kidnapped. We express our profound gratitude to President Biden and his administration, Governor Cooper, our North Carolina Congressional Delegation, and all North Carolina political, civic and religious leaders who have expressed their condemnation of Hamas as well as their unambiguous support for Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, and the right of Israel to defend itself. We call for the immediate and unconditional return of all hostages.
The State of Israel faces an extraordinarily complex military task. We echo President Biden’s call to Israel’s political and military leadership to do everything within their power to avoid civilian Palestinian casualties. The Torah teaches that every human being is made in the image of God – that includes every innocent Palestinian man, woman and child. We have never taught otherwise. This is why we also denounce the morally and legally unacceptable way that Hamas has placed civilians in harm's way by hiding behind and beneath them.
To our fellow North Carolinians who have expressed their concern for the Jewish community, we offer our profound gratitude. Your support and prayers give us comfort in our time of extraordinary pain.
Those looking to support Israel during this emergency should direct their donations to the Israel Emergency Campaign of the Jewish Federations of North America.
To those who express “justifications” for this horrific terrorist attack, we find your words to be morally repugnant and antisemitic. Whatever the politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is no excuse for the wanton killing and hostage-taking of innocents. Jewish institutions throughout the world, including here in North Carolina, are at threat. Your support of Hamas, an oppressor of innocent Palestinians, conveys that you do not believe Jewish lives matter. We are hurt by the lack of concern for the Jewish community’s welfare and feel abandoned by people we thought of as friends.
We are deeply pained by the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia that has flared up due to the current violence in the Middle East. We decry and mourn the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy and the seriously wounding of his mother in Chicago. At-home fighting and demonization does not make those in Israel and Gaza any safer and endangers all. We commit to combating both Islamophobia and antisemitism, not just now but always.
With every ounce of our souls, we pray that the rocket fire from Gaza and Lebanon will stop, that the hostages will be speedily and safely returned to their families, the State of Israel will successfully root out Hamas, innocent Israelis’ and Palestinians’ lives will be spared, and a new political reality will be born that will allow both Israelis and Palestinians to work towards a future of peace.
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