Following the shooting at the Chabad of Poway in California, Rabbi Jack Moline, president of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement expressing condolences for the victims and condemning the hate-motivated violence spurred the attack:

“My heart breaks for the Chabad synagogue in Poway, California, and especially for the victims of the assassin. My resolve to work against the forces of anti-Semitism and hatred was only been strengthened today.

“Just last week my family, friend and I discussed a claim recited each Passover Seder: in every generation, someone arises to destroy us. How I wish I had some indication that we could remove that cynical assertion from our liturgy! A mere six months to the day after the hate-fueled massacre at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, another violent anti-Semitic individual arose, murdering an innocent worshipper and injuring three others.

“Mosques, churches, synagogues and other houses of prayer and compassion should be places of safety and hope. Instead, they are targeted by angry and violent people with easy access to weapons. Those motivated to violence by hatred are encouraged in the echo chambers of the dark web and granted implicit permission in the halls of power by the denigration and scapegoating of minorities and political opponents.”

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.