We, the members of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City, are heartsick regarding the spate of violence and senseless loss of life. The loss of life, whether in El Paso, Dayton, here in Kansas City (whether occurring in the Crossroads or east of Troost) begs for a response that goes beyond our thoughts and prayers. Both with recent events and throughout our history, we as Jews know the pain of being targets of violence.
We hold to the paramount Jewish value of pikuach nefesh — the sanctity of human life. We urge our political leaders to move beyond politics and beyond hate, division and the demonization of those not like us; to act as moral leaders. We, in the most desperate way, seek leadership that will lead to healing the moral wounds inflicting our country rather than exacerbate divisiveness, and that the bloodshed will stop.
Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City
