Message of Love and Solidarity on Israel/Gaza
October 11, 2023
Dear Beloved Beacon:
We write with shock and grief, extending to each one of you love and compassion.
The events of this past weekend are simply horrific. We denounce this human rights atrocity. It was the single largest murder of Jews since the Holocaust. As a multifaith community, we know our community includes Jewish-UUs and those whose families are Jewish for generations. We know that Beacon members have been personally affected by the attack by Hamas, having family and friends who live in Israel and Palestine. We know that many of us have stories where antisemitism and violence took beloved members of our families and friends. We also know that terrorist attacks will affect all of us in our global community now and for years to come. Together we hold the pain and anguish of this moment and the experienced echoes of trauma through our histories. While we understand and acknowledge the complexity of the situation, we remain committed to speaking against terrorism, which is what Hamas perpetrated.
As Unitarian Universalists, we are capable of complex truths and nuance. We understand that Palestinians in Gaza have also been under Hamas' terrifying control. We understand that Israel has engaged in oppression against Palestinians. We also know that there is no moral justification for the murder of civilians, violent acts against women, children, the elderly, and kidnapping of innocent hostages. All of these things are true.
Hamas targeted Israel during Shabbat and on a religious holiday, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah - days of unbridled joy. For the size and population of the country, 900 Israelis killed is like 30,000 Americans killed. Preceding the attack, our neighborhood synagogues have faced increasing anti semitic attacks; they have bullet-proof glass and ballasts around their playground to keep families and children safe. Attacking on holy days is truly heinous.
As a people of faith, we are called to keep hope, resolve, and compassion alive in times of senseless violence. Our beacon must be kept burning bright, particularly when its luminescence is in danger of being snuffed out. We can and must be in solidarity with those harmed so that we may together, remain committed to a peaceful and just world.
We invite you to join us on Thursday, October 13, at 7 PM in Beacon’s sanctuary to come together to hold each other in love with prayer and music. We have also been invited to attend Shabbat services at a local synagogue this Friday evening, October 13 (please check Spark for details and information to R.S.V.P.). We will also be attending the Summit Interfaith Council’s vigil on Sunday, October 15, at 6 PM at the Summit Green. And we will be sending our support to each of the three Jewish communities in Summit.
We are praying for the hostages and their safe return. We are praying for those now dead and all in mourning. We are extending our compassion and love to each of you shaken by this horrific attack. We are extending our love for Israelis and Palestinians. For those most impacted by these events directly, whether by relationship, identity, or history – we love you. Please take care and know we are here for you to call or reach out. For those who are less directly impacted, please reach out to colleagues, friends, Beacon members and friends, neighbors who you know are impacted. Share that you care. You are speaking out. You are with them.
With you in love and the light within us still,
Tuli, emilie, and Robin