AJC Outraged By Synagogue Arson in Jerusalem

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 26 June 2000

American Jewish Committee President Bruce M. Ramer called the weekend attack on a Jerusalem synagogue an outrage, and urged "all who cherish Jewish peoplehood to stand up and be counted, and to work for greater respect of the diversity that has long enriched Judaism."

"This is a time neither for silence or passivity," said Mr. Ramer. "There can be no toleration of any form of vandalism against a synagogue or Jewish religious institution anywhere in the world. For this kind of despicable act to take place in the Jewish state is all the more shocking.

The full text AJC President Bruce M. Ramer's statement follows:

"The American Jewish Committee is outraged by the weekend arson attack on the Conservative synagogue, Kehilat Ya'ar Ramot, in Jerusalem.

"There can be no toleration of any form of vandalism against a synagogue or Jewish religious institution anywhere in the world. For this kind of despicable act to take place in the Jewish state is all the more shocking.

"But, to our deep dismay, it was not the first such incident.

"A year ago, the Reform kindergarten in Mevasseret Zion outside Jerusalem was destroyed in an arson attack. Only a week ago, the Conservative Eshel Avraham synagogue in Beersheva was vandalized.

"Though no perpetrator of any of these crimes has been identified or arrested, it appears circumstantially that other Jews committed these vicious acts. Even the appearance of Jews attacking Jews within Israel is deeply painful, and we urge all who cherish Jewish peoplehood to stand up and be counted, and to work for greater respect of the diversity that has long enriched Judaism. This is a time neither for silence or passivity.

"We welcome the firm condemnations of the latest attack issued by Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert. We are gratified that Rabbi Michael Melchior, Social and Diaspora Affairs Minister of the Government of Israel, and Rabbi Meir Israel Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, also have condemned the attack.

"We now call upon the Chief Rabbis of the City of Jerusalem to follow suit and, using their leadership positions, to condemn acts of violence against religious institutions.

"And, we call on Israel's police to provide protection for religious institutions, and leave no stone unturned in their investigation of these heinous deeds."

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