On October 7, 2023 Hamas launched a brutal and devastating attack on Israel, murdering over 1,200 innocent people and taking over 250 hostages. Ever since that horrific day, there has been a significant increase in antisemitism and hatred towards Jews across America and the world.
Am Yisrael is under attack from both extremists on the political far left and the far right. At Valley Beit Midrash, we continue to combat antisemitism through education, outreach, activism, and empowering the next generation of Jewish change-makers to uplift our communities.
Now, more than ever, is a critical time for the Jewish people and our allies to come together and show public support for the land of Israel, the people who live there and the entire Jewish nation. We stand with Israel.
Additionally, we affirm the human dignity of all people. We are concerned for the innocent Palestinian people who have been hurt and killed from the war and families who are mourning are in our prayers. We must continue to work for peace and a two-state solution that brings safety and dignity to all people. Founding Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion once said: “The State of Israel will prove itself not by material wealth, not by military might or technical achievement, but by its moral character and human values.” While the state of Israel has the right and duty to protect its citizens, we also affirm the commitment to embracing the highest Jewish values in this conflict that represent the most noble parts of our tradition. Valley Beit Midrash is a learning center where we strive to hold multiple view points and explore complex ideas and texts to challenge us to think critically about pressing moral issues like this.
May we continue to build bridges and work for peace for all.