The Central Conference of American Rabbis Grieves the Violent Loss of Life in Recent Days

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The Central Conference of American Rabbis grieves the violent loss of life in the Middle East in recent days, beginning with the July 14 terrorist murder of two Israeli police officers at the holy place known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

The murder of members of a Jewish family sitting down to Shabbat dinner is a horrific crime and an unspeakable tragedy, regardless of where they live.  We are saddened too by circumstances that result in the justified taking of life, such as the death of the assailant who sought to kill an Israeli Embassy guard in Amman, Jordan. Escalation of violence in Israel, the Occupied Territories, and Jordan endangers Jews and Arabs alike.

Reform rabbis call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to work with Muslim, Palestinian, and Jordanian authorities to deescalate the violent crisis. Israel must ensure the safety of all at the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary in a way that avoids unnecessary provocation.  We urge Jordan’s King Abdullah to permit the return to Israel of the Israeli Embassy guard who killed an assailant in self-defense. We call on the United States government to play an active role in striving to bring peace to Israel, the Palestinian people, and the Middle East.

We pray for a cessation of senseless bloodshed. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Rabbi David Stern                             Rabbi Steven A. Fox
President                                          Chief Executive

Central Conference of American Rabbis