Tag: anti-Semitism

JCRC/AJC Response to Attack in Monsey

December 29, 2019 – Late last night, following the conclusion of a Hanukkah candle-lighting in a Chasidic rabbi’s home in Monsey, in upstate New York, a masked man entered the residence and stabbed five people with a machete. Those in attendance then began throwing tables and chairs to fend off the attacker who then ran to the adjacent synagogue where congregants had barricaded themselves inside.

He fled the scene but was arrested in his car about two hours later. He now faces five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. Visiting the site of the attack, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling the rampage “an act of domestic terrorism.”

This attack is preceded by a week of antisemitic attacks in New York including: a Jewish man being punched in the back of the head while another filmed the attack on Tuesday, a man wearing a yarmulke being punched in the face on Wednesday and a woman being hit in the head while walking with her son on Thursday.

The verbal and physical attacks on Jews is increasingly distressing and, in the face of such hate, we must remember that we need to continue to work together, and with other communities, to fight antisemitism and stop such acts before they happen. In metropolitan Detroit, we at the JCRC/AJC continue our work expanding our Muslim Jewish Advisory Council and our Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity to foster positive relationships and partnerships against hate. Our friends in both communities have already reached out to us today and the Coalition will shortly be issuing a statement expressing our African American allies solidarity with us against such terrible acts of terror. 

Together, we must understand the importance of taking the strongest stand possible fighting hatred and showing zero tolerance towards it. 

For coverage on the attack, click on any of the following: AJC Statement Times of Israel CNN NBC News The Jerusalem Post

Update: Community Solidarity Events in Honor of Pittsburgh

October 28, 2018 – As a follow up to our email this afternoon, we are writing to share an update about community solidarity gatherings taking place this week.

A list of vigils confirmed to take place throughout the community can be found below.

Monday, October 29

6 p.m.: Community-Wide Vigil in Capitol Park – JCRC/AJC is one of the numerous co-sponsors.

6:30 p.m.: Teen Vigil at Temple Israel

Tuesday, October 30

6:30 p.m.: Interfaith Vigil at Temple Beth El

7:30 p.m.: Interfaith Vigil at Congregation Beth Shalom (hosted with Temple Emanu-El)

Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3

Solidarity Shabbat Service at Congregations throughout the community

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has set up a web page for information about solidarity events. We encourage you to check this page for updates:  http://jewishdetroit.org/news/stronger-than-hate/

We Mourn the Victims in Pittsburgh and Stand in Solidarity

October 28, 2018 – JCRC/AJC mourns the 11 Jews murdered at Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh yesterday. We pray for those wounded, including the police officers who were injured in the line of duty. The horror of a synagogue being targeted on Shabbat, on the morning of a bris, is the worst nightmares of our community come to fruition. We are shaken to our core. This hate crime not only inflicts immense pain on those who were attacked, but also terrorizes the entire Jewish community. We are strong and resilient. We will not cower in the face of such evil.

We are grateful for the many expressions of support and sympathy from the diverse communities of metropolitan Detroit. Community leaders and individuals have raised their voices publicly and privately to let us know that we do not stand alone in our pain and grief. These expressions of solidarity strengthen us in this dark time.

As the tragedy unfolded yesterday, JCRC/AJC’s first focus was to fulfill our role as the media spokesperson for the Jewish community. We worked closely with local news outlets to make sure that the voice of the local Jewish community was represented in their stories. Some of our published and recorded comments can be found at the bottom of this e-mail.

We commend the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit for their eloquent community message, which can be read here, and thank them for their partnership with JCRC/AJC as we work together to respond to this tragedy.

JCRC/AJC and our partners are working now on opportunities for the community to mourn together. We will share updates as soon as the details are available. Please follow our Facebook page for updates and when plans are confirmed, we will email you again.

We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and communities nationwide. May those who are injured find complete healing and may the memories of those lost forever be a blessing.

Detroit Free Press

WJBK-FOX 2 News

WDIV- NBC 4

WXYZ- ABC 7