The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona are heartbroken and horrified by the senseless act of violence on Saturday at Congregation Chabad in Poway, California. This act came on the exact six-month anniversary after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, on Shabbat and at the conclusion of Passover. We condemn all acts of hatred and bigotry against all faiths be it in Sri Lanka, Christchurch or San Diego.
We stand in support of those directly impacted by the shooting and pray for the recovery of those who were injured. We are reassured that our recently hired Jewish Community Security Director, Paul Patterson, immediately connected with our local law enforcement, national Jewish security community network (SCN) and with the JCC’s Todd Rockoff, along with Federation staff, reached out to our Jewish community’s synagogues and agencies, upon hearing of this most recent act of violence.
We are gratified for the outpouring of sympathy by people of good will, including the Islamic Center of Tucson and our Israeli partners in Kiryat Malachi and Hof Askelon.
We are stronger together.
Stuart Mellan
President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
Shelly Silverman
Chair of the Board
Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
Graham Hoffman
CEO
Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona
Jeff Katz
Chair
Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona
