Contact: Lauren Theodore at 212-650-4154
December 3, 2015
21 Kislev 5776
As you know, yesterday’s brutal slaughter of 14 people in San Bernardino is, to our great national shame, only the latest mass shooting. There is certainly room for disagreement about the best way to end gun violence. But I hope we can all agree that there is no room for disagreement that the status quo is flatly unacceptable.
Today, there is one question which the Jewish community and all Americans needs to hear every presidential candidate answer:
What specific steps do you support to end the epidemic of gun violence in America?
I ask this question today of all the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. At the same time, I urge President Obama to prioritize executive and legislative action to end gun violence in the U.S.
Steps must be taken – urgently – to make guns less accessible, especially to those who have already been identified as possible threats to public safety. How can it be that someone who is on the “no fly” list can, nevertheless, purchase weapons capable of the type of massacre we witnessed yesterday?
As Reform Jews, we are serious about our commitment to live our lives reflective of our beliefs that all people were created in the Divine image, that the spark of the divine glows in every single person, and that “one who saves one life it is as though they have saved the world." As Americans, we are serious about our commitment to live our lives reflective of our belief in the principle that all are created equal and entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - none of which are achievable under the daily threat of gun violence.
Let not another day pass without taking a stand about what can be done to stem this bloody tide.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Rick Jacobs
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The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) builds community at every level—from the way we collaborate with congregations, organizations, and individuals to how we make connections across North America to advance contemporary and inclusive Jewish life. Providing vision and voice to transform the way people connect to Judaism, we help congregations stay adept and agile, motivate more young Jews to embrace Jewish living, agitate for a more progressive society, and foster meaningful connections to Israel.
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