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Presbyterians for Center East Peace condemns remarks by Said Clerk

On Saturday, January 15, the American Jewish neighborhood was assaulted as soon as once more as a terrorist entered a synagogue throughout a time of worship and took the rabbi and several other congregants hostage, believing that he might persuade authorities to launch prisoners held in jail. This extremist, with companions within the UK, believed the anti-Semitic trope that Jews run the world and if jews have been taken hostage, he might pursue his agenda. This assault is but simply one other instance of the violent rise of anti-Semitism in our nation and on the planet.

Our prayers exit to the Jewish neighborhood in Colleyville and the nation, who as soon as once more have been reminded that there’s a section of humanity who needs hurt to befall Jews, irrespective of the place they stay. We’ve seen the violent actions of white supremacists and of progressive activists who’ve attacked Jews for simply being Jewish. How rather more abuse will the Jewish neighborhood endure earlier than all of us say “by no means once more”?

As Presbyterians, we’re deeply saddened that the Jewish neighborhood has as soon as once more been focused and we’re deeply embarrassed that even after 4 days, our denomination, PCUSA, has made no assertion about this atrocity. Nonetheless, on Martin Luther King Jr Day, Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II, the Said Clerk of our denomination, took time to extol the have to be vigilant in opposition to injustice on the planet in addition to pursue the unity that MLK sought. Sadly, with all of the injustices on the planet (China, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and many others) he wrote solely of the persevering with battle between Israelis and Palestinians. Whereas extolling Dr. King’s name for unity on one hand, with the opposite, he described the connection between Israelis and Palestinians as “twenty first Century slavery.” Extremely, he blamed all Jews because the wrongdoer, ignoring the various the reason why Individuals help Israel. He dared to assert that Jews have forgotten their very own historical past. That is working for unity?

Rev. Dr. Nelson, lashing out on the US and the worldwide Jewish neighborhood is past the pale, Gratefully his actions and phrases don’t match the work of native PCUSA congregations and Jewish synagogues in communities throughout the nation. On the grassroots, Presbyterians work for justice alongside Jews quite than partaking in polarizing polemics. If  Rev. Dr. Nelson frolicked with the American Jewish neighborhood as domestically based mostly Presbyterians do, he would know that the American Jews are various and intensely involved about what is going on in Israel and Palestine. He would additionally know that many stay in concern of violence – and that phrases matter. We hope the Said Clerk will spend extra time speaking and dealing with American Jewish leaders and fewer time writing blasts crammed with reprehensible misrepresentations of our Jewish neighbors.

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Contact:
Rev. Todd Stavrakos
Presbyterians for Center East Peace
2672510459
[email protected]

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this article are these of the authors and don’t essentially mirror the official coverage or place of Faith Information Service or Faith Information Basis.

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