Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut

Communities of Faith Stand Against Anti-Semitism and Racism

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Holding to the core teachings of our various religions regarding the sacrality of life and the gift of diversity given by God, The Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut denounces all acts of intolerance and racism occurring here in Southwestern CT as well as throughout the country and world. Particularly, we stand with the National Council of Churches in denouncing the recent anti-Semitic acts within our country, and we abhor the racist act against a family in our own community. We celebrate the acts of righteousness, courage, and solidarity among faith groups that work to end such intolerance and protect the innocent, while reminding us that we all have within us a place for interfaith action and the space for interfaith conversation.

     –The Board of Directors of The Interfaith Council of Southwestern CT 

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WASHINGTON: The National Council of Churches denounces recent anti-Semitic incidents and condemns rhetoric that has fueled such acts. We stand firmly with our Jewish brothers and sisters during this difficult time. As a community of 38 Christian communions in the United States, the National Council of Churches continues to pray and work for a nation in which all persons may freely worship as they wish without fear. In this, we are not alone.

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For months now there has been a sharp rise in threats made against synagogues and Jewish community centers.There have been at least 67 incidents at 56 Jewish Community Centers in 27 states and one Canadian province since the beginning of 2017. This week, bomb threats were called in to Jewish organizations across the nation, and a Jewish cemetery in University City, Missouri, was vandalized.

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We are encouraged to see acts of love, moral courage, and solidarity among faith groups in response to these hateful acts. When a mosque in Victoria, Texas, was destroyed by fire in an apparent arson, Jewish leaders from the community gave Muslim leaders the keys to their synagogue. In response to the Jewish cemetery vandalism, Muslims have launched acampaign to raise funds to repair it, more than tripling their goal of $20,000. We encourage churches to reach out to Jewish communities being threatened and offer similar acts of friendship and solidarity.

 

Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. Eradicating it requires keeping constant vigil. The National Council of Churches is committed to this effort.

 

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Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 38 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact: Steven D. Martin: 202.412.4323 or steven.martin@nationalcouncilofchurches.us.

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The Board of Directors of

The Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut

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Dr. Kareem Adeeb

Azra Asaduddin 

Inni Kaur Dhingra

Sara Hakim

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman 

Rev. Michael Hyman

Rev. Mark Lingle

Jack Penfield

Marie Orsini Rosen

Rev. ReBecca Sala

Rev. Dr. Frances Sink