Home > Blog > Clergy > A Joint Statement From Rabbi Lustig and Imam Magid
Yesterday, as millions of Jews gathered in solemn prayer on Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day, a heavily armed gunman attempted to carry out a massacre at a synagogue in Halle, Germany.
The gunman shot and killed two people, a woman walking in front of the synagogue and a man at a local kebab restaurant, and wounded two others before being captured.
We stand together, the more than 7,000 families of Washington Hebrew Congregation and the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center, to say enough.
It is not acceptable when our sacred spaces can no longer be our safe spaces.
It is not acceptable when extremist ideologies incite manifestos rife with vile hate speech and live-streamed terror attacks.
Our hearts are broken, and we grieve for the lives lost.
We are also grateful that many survived.
Our safety should not be dependent upon ever-increasing levels of security. We come together to say enough.
We must stop the cycle of violence, hatred, and bigotry and let all feel safe to worship, gather, and observe in peace.
With shalom and salaam,
Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation
Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive Imam of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center
