Ways in Which We are Responding to Gun Violence

It is with heavy hearts that we share these thoughts with you.

All of us are struggling in the wake of the horrific loss of life at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  We are devastated by the senseless destruction of the divine capacities of forty-nine human beings.  We are saddened by the continued suffering of the many who are injured.  We are horrified by the hate directed at the LGBTQ community.  We are disappointed that, despite the many Muslims in line to give blood in Orlando, this act of terror is itself being used to instill terror in our Muslim friends and neighbors.   And we are dumbfounded in confronting yet another mass shooting, the contemporary crisis that only afflicts us Americans.

We come together as a Jewish community in times of celebration and of crisis.  This week unfortunately unites us in a time of deep conflict.  In hopes that we can stand together as a congregation—to offer each other support and to stand in solidarity with our neighbors—we want to share with you the many ways in which we are responding to the Orlando murders.

• Communal Worship
  • Interfaith Vigil: Please join Rabbi Limmer for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil tomorrow, June 15th, at 3:00 at Fourth Presbyterian Church and with our partners from the Downtown Islamic Center.  This ceremony will commence with a tolling of the bells, and include the reading of the names of the victims.
  • Shabbat Services: This Friday night, June 17th, we will begin our Sabbath worship with words of consolation and special moments of remembrance.  Rabbi Greene will speak on the theme, “Building a World of Love”, and we will remember the names of the victims during the time of our Qaddish prayer.
• Alliance with LGBTQ Community
  • Please join Rabbi Greene, Susan Solomon and members of our congregation at the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26th.  You can look for the Chicago Sinai Congregation banner at noon at the intersection of Montrose Avenue and Broadway.
• Solidarity with Muslim Community
  • Members of our Interfaith Community and Rabbi Greene will be sharing in a special Iftar celebration with our partners at the Downtown Islamic Center on Thursday, June 23rd.  We have a few seats still available to us if you would like to help our neighbors celebrate this important part of their Ramadan observance.  Please email rabbigreene@chicagosinai.org if you would like to attend.
• Advocating Gun Safety
  • Join Chicago Sinai Congregation and our partners at United Power in the Do Not Stand Idly By campaign, which has already led to important outcomes (including Executive orders about gun safety): http://donotstandidlyby.org/
  • Sign the White House Petition to Ban the AR-15 from Civilian Ownership: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/ban-ar-15-civilian-ownership 
  • Reach out to your elected officials to share your thoughts on the epidemic of gun violence in America: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicole-silverberg/guide-elected-representatives-gun-control_b_8708154.html 

In an ancient time of national crisis, the prophet Isaiah called out: Comfort, oh Comfort My People!  Today we look for that comfort.  Tomorrow, we fulfill the second half of Isaiah’s mission, to serve as a Voice crying out from the wilderness, making a new—and Divine—way forward.

May that be our will,

Rabbi Seth M. Limmer Rabbi Amanda Greene
Bruce Miller, President Susan Solomon, Executive Director
Heidi Kon, Director of Religious Education Scott Kumer, Musical Director
Fern Katz, Director of Early Childhood Education