A group of interfaith leaders from Boston, including Jews, Muslims, and Christians, issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “We call upon Hamas immediately to end all rocket attacks on Israel, and upon Israel immediately to end its military campaign in Gaza,” the statement said. The Jewish signatories of the statement included several rabbis as well as members of Hebrew College, the Jewish community Relations Council, and the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis. “It’s easy for people to misunderstand our goal. They don’t realize the careful wording, and think it’s another attack on Israel, when the intention is to focus on what we can share and how we can build peaceful bridges together,” said Rabbi Barbara Penzner, the former president of the board of rabbis and the spiritual leader of Temple Hillel B’nai Torah. “We want to expose the big lie that if you love Israel you must hate Palestinians, or if you support basic human rights of Palestinians you are endorsing terrorism,” said Dr. Abdul Cader Asmal, a past president of the Islamic Council of New England. All signatories of the statement affirmed their common humanity and common belief that there is not military or violent solution to this conflict, and everyone must cooperate towards peace.
