Statement on London Ontario Family Killed

“This week while walking in their neighborhood, 4 members, three generations, of a Muslim family was killed by a man in a brutal and blatant act of hate. Just the 9-year-old boy survived. As a Canadian-American and as a rabbi new to serving as Shoulder to Shoulder’s Co-Chair, I am committed to stepping up and addressing this issue of anti-Muslim discrimination and violence head-on in solidarity with my Muslim neighbors and friends. I do this work for our children and the generations to come. My Jewish tradition teaches us not to stand idly by while my neighbor’s blood is shed. This week our neighbors’ blood was shed. Unlike the stories that convinced this man to hate Muslims, we know we are made stronger by the diversity of religions and cultures in America and Canada. Whether Islamophobia takes on the form of physical violence or structural violence, the work of pushing back against it in all forms is a choice that we must make today and every day. We have a lot of work to do addressing anti-Muslim discrimination and racism here, and I need you to join us.”

-Rabbi Esther Lederman is Co-Chair for the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign’s Executive Committee, Union for Reform Judaism’s Director of Congregational Innovation