Statement of the Coalition of Religious Leaders of NJ in Response to Hateful Acts of Violence Against Jewish Faith Communities

October 31, 2018 | GNJ News

At this tragic moment in time, an unconscionable act of hatred and evil against members of the Jewish Faith community, we as Religious leaders in the state of New Jersey wish to extend our heartfelt compassion and to stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters and the faith communities that they lead.

We strongly condemn the act of hatred that evoked this senseless act of violence.  We are particularly mindful that such acts toward the Jewish community underscore a long and unfortunate prejudice against a people of great faith.  This was the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States.  We too are mindful that incidents of anti-Semitism rose 57% in 2017, the largest single year increase on record, and here in New Jersey anti-Semitism incidents in 2017 increased 32%, New Jersey being the third highest in our nation of reported incidents in 2017.

We stand in solidarity with members of the Jewish faith communities, not only in this moment in time but in continuing to affirm that hate crimes toward our Jewish neighbors are hate crimes against all of humanity.  We are committed to fight anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric.

We call upon all people, especially our elected leaders, especially in this week before a national election, to tone down their divisive and hateful statements that create a tenor of fear and divisiveness in our nation.  We further call upon all federal and state legislators to address the ongoing issue of gun violence, one common denominator in several recent acts of identity-based behavior.  We call for stricter limits on gun possession safeguards, including limits on ammunition rounds, waiting periods, and assault rifle availability.

We call upon our faith communities that we represent to enter into sacred conversations with neighbors whose faith traditions are different than ours, yet ever so rich in seeking the Holy.  We need to embrace our religious diversity and celebrate our differences.  Hatred has no place anywhere and will not win out as we witness to our faith traditions that unite the human family.

We need to embrace our religious diversity, peacefully acknowledge our differences, and gratefully celebrate our unity.

 

Endorsers of the Statement in response to the hateful acts of violence against the Jewish Faith Communities by the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey

 

Rev. Darrell Armstrong

General Baptist Convention of New Jersey

 

Rev. Leslie Dobbs-Allsopp

Interim Executive of the Elizabeth Presbytery

 

  1. Rev. Peter A. Baktis

Orthodox Church of America

 

Bishop Tracie Bartholomew

NJ Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 

Imam Qareeb Bashir

Islamic Council of Greater Trenton

 

Rev. Dr. Tanya Bennett

Chair Bd. of Church & Society Greater NJ Annual Conference UMC, Drew Theological School

 

Very Reverend Archimandrite Ambrose

Ecumenical Officer, Greek Metropolis of New Jersey

 

Rev. Charles Boyer

Pastor, Bethel AME Church of Woodbury

 

Deacon Patrick Brannigan

NJ Catholic Conference

 

Rev. Dr. Debra Brincivalli

Presbytery Executive

West Jersey Presbytery

 

  1. Ali Chaudry, Ph.D.

Islamic Society of Basking Ridge

 

Imam Hamad Chebli

Islamic Center of Central NJ

 

The Most Reverend James F. Checchio

Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen

 

Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale

Reform Church of America, Synod of New Jersey

 

Rev. Dr. Harold Delhagen

Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast

 

Joan M. Diefenbach, Esq.

Director, NJ Council of Churches

 

Rabbi Menashe East

Mount Freedom Jewish Center, Interfaith Council of Morris County

 

Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

 

Rev. Dr. Elmo Familiaran

Interim Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of NJ

 

Rabbi Daniel Geretz

Maayan Shul

 

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun

 

Rabbi Arnold Gluck

Temple Beth El

 

Fr. Timoth Graff

Archdiocese of Newark

 

Rev. Derrick Green

Office of the Governor

 

Rev. Rob Gregson

Unitarian Universalist Faith Action

 

Bishop Carlye Hughes

Episcopal Diocese of Newark

 

Rev. Jack Johnson

Coordinator, Coalition of Religious Leaders

 

Rabbi David Levy

AJC-NJ Regional Director

 

Rev. Sara Lilja

Director of Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries

 

Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley

General Secretary Emeritus, American Baptist Churches, USA

 

Rev. David Popham

Associate Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ

 

Rev. Jeanne Radak

Presbytery Leader, Newton Presbytery

 

Rev. Louise Scott-Rountree

Clergy Affairs Manager, Office of the Mayor of Newark

 

Bishop John Schol

Greater NJ Conference of the United Methodist Church

 

Imam W. Deen Shareef

Convener of the Council of Imams in NJ.  Resident Imam at Masjid Waarith ud Deen

 

Rabbi Alan Silverstein

Rabbinical Assembly

 

Dr. Surjeet Singh – Sri Guru Singh Sabha

Sikh Community

 

 

Rev. Barbara Smith

Executive Presbyter, Newark Presbytery

 

Bishop Anthony Steinbronn

NJ District, Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod

 

Bishop Dennis Sullivan

Diocese of Camden

 

Bishop William Stokes

Episcopal Diocese of NJ

 

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin

Archdiocese of Newark

 

Rev. Bob Tomlinson

New Brunswick Presbyter

 

Rev. Dr. Robert Wade

Presiding Elder of Camden-Trenton District AME