A Jewish response to recent shootings in the U.S.

It is the role of Jewish community relations to reach out to the various ethnic and religious communities and speak out with a Jewish perspective on the issues of the day.

In the U.S., the week earlier this month which began with the July 4^th holiday quickly became a week of tragedy, with fatal shootings of African American males during police actions in a St. Paul suburb and in Baton Rouge, followed by the killing of five police officers and the wounding of several others by a sniper in Dallas. How should the Jewish community respond?

First, with compassion and understanding.

Second, with a loud voice, as we are a people which knows about suffering, about the struggle for minority rights, and has witnessed the horrible result when silence and inaction are the only responses to injustice.

Third, with action. We should pledge our support and involvement in working to improve race relations, police – community relations, and to combat the rising levels of violence in American society.