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December 16, 2019
Another shooting. Another act of anti-semitism. Another community in grief. More families sitting in mourning.
From a synagogue in Pittsburgh to a Chabad shul in California to the most recent horror – a homicide of three civilians at a kosher market in an emerging Satmar Chasidic community in Jersey City along with the murder of a police detective nearby – anti-Semitic acts are on the rise.
The Union for Traditional Judaism, a transdenominational organization, calls on all people to mourn the loss of Mindy Ferencz, Moshe Deutcsch and Miguel Rodriguez, all of whom were killed inside the JC Kosher Market, and police Det. Joseph Seals, who was murdered earlier by the same assailants.
The UTJ also expresses heartfelt gratitude to the brave law enforcement members of Jersey City, whose courage averted a greater tragedy. And we thank New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop for their support of the broader Jewish community and heightened police presence to protect synagogues and Jewish day schools.
The United States was founded on the principle of religious freedom. As hate-filled individuals intensify their attacks on this bedrock principle, it is urgent for people of all faiths to come together in condemning all crimes based on race, religion, and ethnicity. We call upon our political leaders to condemn these acts of violence and take whatever steps possible to help extinguish the embers of hate in our society, lest they continue to burn out of control.
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Founded in 1984, The Union for Traditional Judaism is a transdenominational religious Jewish organization that advocates an opened-minded, intellectually honest approach to traditional Jewish practice. To learn more about the UTJ, go to www.utj.org or on Facebook www.facebook.com/unionfortraditionaljudaism/.
Media contact:
Rabbi Gerald Sussman, Executive Vice President rabbisussman@gmail.com
Rabbi Noah Gradofsky, Vice President noah@e-ark.net
Mitch Morrison, Media Relations, mmorrison@winsightmedia.com