Members of Brooklyn Hasidic Community Image by Getty Images

By Cantor Ayelet Porzecanski, Cantor Lisa B. Segal, Cantor Sam Levine, Cantor Sarah Myerson, Rabbi Alexis Pinksy, Rabbi Heidi Hoover, Rabbi Joe Schwartz, Rabbi Jonathan Leener, Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson, Rabbi Matt Green, Rabbi Miriam Grossman, Rabbi Rachel Timoner, Rabbi Samuel Weintraub, Rabbi Serge Lippe, Rabbi Stephanie Kolin and Rabbi Susan OrenAugust 19, 2019

To the Jewish Community of Williamsburg,

We are appalled by the recent violent attacks on the Chasidic community of Williamsburg. These attacks on the Jewish community are unconscionable acts of cruelty. We reach out with love and support to our Jewish brothers and sisters as they find themselves the most current target in the uptick in anti-Semitic acts in our country. Not only do assaults like this affect the person attacked and their family, but they terrorize a community.

If the intention here is to terrorize, we wish to send a message of comfort and solidarity.

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You are not alone: We stand with you as you confront this pain.

Last week, our people’s story turned from destruction and mourning to hope and comfort. The Prophet Isaiah records God’s words to a grieving nation: Nachamu nachamu Ami, Comfort, O comfort, My people.

It is an extension of this divine comfort that we pray reaches those who are afraid in this community and throughout the world, to these, our sisters and brothers, and to all who have come under attack for who they are, what they believe, how they pray, or what they look like.

We ask Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to call together faith leaders from diverse communities of Brooklyn to talk about what is happening here and to build relationships across our lines of difference.

In Friendship,

Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, Union Temple

Rabbi Rachel Timoner, Congregation Beth Elohim

Rabbi Jonathan Leener, The Prospect Heights Shul

Rabbi Miriam Grossman, Kolot Chayeinu

Cantor Josh Breitzer, Congregation Beth Elohim

Rabbi Alexis Pinksy, Beth Shalom V’Emeth Reform Temple

Rabbi Samuel Weintraub, Kane Street Synagogue

Cantor Ayelet Porzecanski, Brooklyn Heights Synagogue

Rabbi Joe Schwartz, IDRA

Cantor Lisa B. Segal, Kolot Chayeinu

Rabbi Susan Oren

Rabbi Heidi Hoover, Beth Shalom V’Emeth Reform Temple

Rabbi Lev Meirowitz Nelson, Flatbush Jewish Center

Rabbi Matt Green, Congregation Beth Elohim

Rabbi Serge Lippe, Brooklyn Heights Synagogue

Cantor Sarah Myerson, Kane Street Synagogue

Cantor Sam Levine, East Midwood Jewish Center

This letter was sent to the Forward by Rabbi Rachel Timoner, a renowned rabbi, author and activist. She currently serves as Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. It was originally authored by Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, the associate rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, and a contributing author to the Reform Movement’s new book on social justice, Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Social Justice.

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