Rev. Jennifer Butler Condemns Attack at Congregation Beth Israel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sunday, January 16, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT

Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org, (540) 280-3393

National Faith Leader Condemns Attack at Congregation Beth Israel

Washington, DC – A Rabbi and three others from Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, were released on Saturday night after being held hostage for eleven hours by a man who claimed to have weapons and explosives.

“When four Jewish people were taken hostage in Congregation Beth Israel during shabbat, people of all faiths – but especially our Jewish family – felt the familiar gut punch of fear and desperation,” Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO of Faith in Public Life, said Sunday. “Right away, leaders of many faiths, in Texas, and across the country came together in solidarity, support, prayer and condemnation of anti-semitism. Thank God that all hostages survived this outbreak of anti-semitic violence.”

“Together, we affirm that we are all created in the divine image, we are all neighbors and our love for one another is our strength. We send a message when we come together at a much moment such as this: our unity and care for one another is much more powerful than those who use anti-semitism and all forms of bigotry to tear us apart.”

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