Our Section has received letters of support after the horror in Pittsburgh. The Diversity Coalition of Morris County issued this public statement:
One Community
The Diversity Coalition of Morris County, which represents multiple faith-based and community organizations locally, holds close in thoughts and prayers our beloved brothers and sisters of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Please know that we surround you with our supportive love, and wish to express our most sincere sympathy for the loss of 11 innocent lives and pray for a speedy recovery for all those injured in this horrific attack on the Jewish community.
We believe that diversity within our community is a beautiful thing, and it is our mission to celebrate the diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic gifts of our neighbors by promoting mutual respect, peace, and understanding. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
The Bangalore family wrote this beautiful note. Sheetal Bangalore is our guest speaker on December 16 to tell us about the Romani people. She represented them at the Morristown Diversity Day.
Dear Members of NCJW,
We are deeply saddened by the shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue. We have spent the past few days contemplating about the continued agony and grief being experienced by the innocent victims who were killed and injured, their beloved ones, and the others present on that Shabat morning.
We have also reflected on what the community members of Squirrel Hill must be going through. We go to a house of worship to pray to become a better human and to pray for others, but the heartbroken community of Squirrel Hill and many like us in America will also be worried for safety whenever we go to such a sanctuary.
The dramatic increase of anti-semitic incidents along with the rise of other hate crimes and bigotry is deeply troubling. I worry about the chipping away at the humanity in some of our fellow citizens and about the type of United States of America that we are becoming.
We want you to know that our hearts are with you and the Jewish people.
Affectionately,
Purnima (Wife), Sheetal (Daughter), Srinivas (Husband), Milind (Son)