A Statement from Our Clergy

Dear Emanu-El Community,

We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for the protection of our beloved State of Israel and for the safety and security of all peoples of the region.

We call upon the political leadership of Israelis and Palestinians to seek ways to solve conflict not through violence but through engagement and negotiation, seeing the holy in each other as they seek peace and pursue it.

We unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend its citizens. Our hearts go out to Israeli families, many of whom sit now in bomb shelters, fearing for their safety. While we condemn Jewish extremism and anti-Arab racism, absolutely nothing excuses the launching of rockets on a civilian population.

Images of Jews marching and shouting racist slogans and attacking Arabs are deeply disturbing. We reaffirm our commitment to religious pluralism and democracy in Israel, and to a political solution that provides for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

In Psalm 122 we find the words:

שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם יִ֝שְׁלָ֗יוּ אֹהֲבָֽיִךְ׃
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May those who love you be at peace.

Shalom,
Congregation Emanu-El Clergy