Dear Ner Tamid Families,
What follows is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's statement on the demonstrations, but first - us.
Ner Tamid has always been home to people of varying political beliefs. It is one thing I appreciate
about us: we can put aside so many differences to come together in our Judaism. One of our shared
experiences continues to be an ugly one - anti-Semitic sentiment. While watching the scene unfold in
Charlottesville, I explained to my 8 year old that there are people who hate Jews, people who are proud
to march through the streets of our country proclaiming their neo-Nazi beliefs. It broke my heart, and it
also gave me hope: that someone would hate another just because of religion was unconscionable to her.
I know you, the families of Ner Tamid, have raised or are raising your children with a tolerance for other religions,
and I know my non-Jewish friends are doing the same. I know that by knowing you and your families, you are
showing your neighbors and colleagues that Jews are "normal" Americans, just like they are. I am proud to be
Jewish, and I am proud to be part of this community that stands together to deny anti-Semitic hate. May we each
find a way to turn the recent demonstration into an opportunity to promote respect, understanding, and kindness.
L'shalom,
Marisa
Marisa Connell
President, Ner Tamid Synagogue
marisa.l.connell@gmail.com
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From the Rabbinical Assembly
Dear Colleagues,
In the aftermath of violent demonstrations by white supremacists and their sympathizers in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in 3 deaths and many injuries, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism issued the following statement:
The Rabbinical Assembly is shocked and horrified by the violent demonstrations of white supremacists, neo-Nazis and their sympathizers in Charlottesville, Virginia this past Saturday which resulted directly in the deaths of one civilian and two state police officers and in many other serious injuries. We applaud the swift and effective actions of Mayor Mike Signer of Charlottesville and Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, as well as their appropriate condemnations of the bigotry, antisemitism and hatred that inspired the rally itself. Many leaders have taken the indispensable step of naming the dangerous philosophies and movements that united these demonstrators. These events have been rightly labeled as incidents of domestic terror by both Democrats and Republicans.
We call upon United States officials including President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to condemn neo-Nazi, white supremacist and alt-right movements by name. The repeated failure to do so by top U.S. officials has fueled their growth and poses an imminent threat to all Americans as Saturday's violent rallies showed. History has demonstrated that where a country's leaders fail to condemn these philosophies, violence and hatred can quickly and exponentially consume the fabric of civil society. Our leaders must act now. Let us continue to pray for and to work for the day when all shall "sit under his/her vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid."
Rabbi Philip Scheim, President, The Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, CEO, The Rabbinical Assembly
Margo Gold, President, USCJ
Rabbi Steven Wernick, CEO, USCJ
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