As we watch the increasing and frightening conflict and violence in Israel and Gaza, we are profoundly concerned and feel deep sorrow for the loss of life, injuries and trauma.

We wish to express our deepest sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones in these past few days and refu’ah sh’lemah (get well soon) to those suffering on account of their wounds.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel, who are enduring a constant barrage of rockets, indiscriminately and illegally fired at them by Hamas and other militant extremists who wish to wreak destruction upon Jews and the Jewish State, and who have no care for the consequences for the people they govern.

We are deeply pained by the huge loss of life in Gaza and the suffering of the civilian population and are acutely aware that a war in Gaza pushes the possibility of peace even further away.

We are also appalled at the Jewish extremism we have witnessed and are clear that racism and incitement to violence against Palestinians does not happen in our name or relate to the Judaism we know and love.

At home, we must continue to fight against a rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, hate and division. If you are not sure how to do this, then Solutions Not Sides are offering support.

We send love to our friends and family in Israel and show solidarity to our sister movement (the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism), who campaign and work tirelessly for human rights and civility society. You can watch their recent briefing by clicking here.

Many Progressive synagogues in Israel – including The Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism, Kehilat Kol HaNeshama and Kehillat Mevasseret Zion – will be live streaming their services due to the current situation and would appreciate seeing people join from abroad and leaving messages of support.  You can support their work here.

Additionally some of you may want to support the initiative of the Abraham Fund to spread messages of hope and peace to stop the violence. You can do so here.

We pray for peace and the restoration of calm and safety for all. We can raise our voices up and urge both our community and those surrounding us to talk and listen to each other, and to model peaceful dialogue for the sake of heaven.