Rabbi Spector’s Statement on the Conflict in Israel
We have watched with distress over the past week as fighting has escalated between the Palestinians and Israelis. Sadly, the conflict has hit particularly close to home with Anti-Semitic vandalism occurring at Chabad of Salt Lake City. We stand with our brothers and sisters at Chabad during this scary time. During this time, I have also reached out to the Muslim community and made clear to them that we believe that any attack on the local Jewish or Muslim communities is an attack on all of us, and that whether or not we agree or disagree about the Middle East, that we stand in solidarity with one another. Our leadership has also been in touch with Chief Mike Brown of the Salt Lake City Police Department and are grateful to him and his officers for the additional security measures that they are lending to our community at this time.
While the conflict is complex and evokes complicated feelings within our community, there are a couple of unwavering truths for us with this conflict. Each Hamas rocket fired into Israel is a crime against humanity, and we will continue to stand with the State of Israel always, not necessarily uncritically, but unconditionally. Unequivocally, Israel and her citizens have a right to live in peace and the right to self-defense. We pray for the innocents on all sides and recognize that the situation that we see in Israel and the Palestinian Territories today is not what anyone, Palestinian, Israeli, Jew, Christian, or Muslim, want. We watch with distress as Arab mobs in Israel attack innocent Jews, and Jewish mobs attack innocent Arab civilians. We pray for peace and recall the words of the theologian Edmond Fleg, “I am a Jew because in all places where there are tears and suffering, the Jew weeps.”
Israel Discussion on Zoom
Wednesday, May 19th • 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Join Rabbi Samuel L. Spector for a virtual meeting where he will explain what is currently happening in Israel, share his opinions, and welcome yours. This will be a safe place to share our feelings as we go through this challenge.
Click here to join the conversation.
Teen Israel Discussion on Zoom
Sunday, May 23rd • 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Our post-b'nai mitzvah students are invited to join Rabbi Samuel L. Spector for a similar session to discuss their feelings and to provide some context to the most recent conflict.
Click here to join the conversation.
May we all join in the hope that we will one day see the vision of Isaiah fulfilled, when nations “will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor know war anymore.” —Isaiah 2:4
Tue, May 13 2025
15 Iyyar 5785
