Haverim – Dear Friends:
We are filled with profound sadness, tremendous anger, outrage, and vulnerability as we grieve the loss of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, may their memory be a blessing. Each of them worked for the Israeli embassy and committed themselves to supporting Zionism, the Jewish State, and the Jewish people.
This blatantly antisemitic attack happened outside a museum dedicated to our Jewish heritage in our nation’s capital, at an event sponsored by our colleagues and friends at the American Jewish Committee. These murders come while our 58 hostages remain in Hamas captivity and global antisemitism continues to threaten our people.
After this horrific violence, we will continue to work closely with our communities and clergy throughout the world to grieve together, ensure our security, and strive for a world in which Jewish people no longer live in danger.
The Rabbinical Assembly and USCJ will develop appropriate resources for individuals and communities to allow us to mourn, provide care to our community members, and reinforce security measures.
פְּנֵ֣י ה׳ בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃
צָ֭עֲקוּ ה׳ שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃
קָר֣וֹב ה׳ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
God’s face is set against evildoers, to erase their names from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and God hears and saves them from all their troubles.
God stays close to the brokenhearted, providing salvation to those crushed in spirit.
In this moment of personal and communal vulnerability, we are reminded that indeed kol yisrael areivim zeh lazeh – we are one people, bound together by fate and in mutual responsibility and care.
Jacob Blumenthal, RA/USCJ CEO
Jay Kornsgold, RA President
Andy Schaer, USCJ President