October 10, 2023
Amidst the current horrors in what millions of people of faith refer to as “the Holy Land,” we at Brite Divinity School heed the Psalmist’s exhortation to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (122:6) and all who are suffering. We abhor the brutal terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, joining with the World Council of Churches in its urgent appeal “for an immediate cessation of this deadly violence, for Hamas to cease their attacks” and for an immediate “de-escalation of the situation” by all parties.
Listening to leaders of Christian denominations in Jerusalem, we join them “to raise our voices . . . echoing the divine message of peace and love for all humanity, and to advocate for the cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians.” With those local religious leaders, “we implore political leaders and authorities to engage in sincere dialogue, seeking lasting solutions that promote justice, peace and reconciliation for the people of this land, who have endured the burdens of conflict for far too long.”
Just as we denounce violence, we also decry anti-Semitism. We stand with persons in our own country who may now be targeted anew with hate because of their ethnic heritage and religious identities. We share the concern of rabbis in Fort Worth: “Our hearts and prayers go out to those in danger’s path, and those who wait for news about the fate of their loves ones.”
The Hamas-Israel war continues with frightening violence, traumatizing loss of life, devastating dislocation of communities, and seemingly irreparable destruction of infrastructure. We at Brite, with varied interpretations of immediate and historical causes, continue to struggle for well-grounded understandings of what justice, mercy and humane existence should look like in the present and future for both Israelis and Palestinians. As people of faith, we join with others in the Holy Land and around the world in calling for a cessation to the violence, as evidenced in a statement issued recently (attached).
October 30 Statement
The Hamas-Israel war continues with frightening violence, traumatizing loss of life, devastating dislocation of communities, and seemingly irreparable destruction of infrastructure. We at Brite, with varied interpretations of immediate and historical causes, continue to struggle for well-grounded understandings of what justice, mercy and humane existence should look like in the present and future for both Israelis and Palestinians. As people of faith, we join with others in the Holy Land and around the world in calling for a cessation to the violence, as evidenced in the statement issued on October 10.
We realize many of you are being called upon to engage in and facilitate conversations in various communities, often involving persons who hold conflicting views. Together with some members of the Brite faculty with whom we have consulted, we commend these resources:
As we engage within Brite and in broader circles about the Hamas-Israel tragedy and other pressing concerns, let us be ever mindful of the awesome burden associated with being part of a community that is fueled by the ultimate vision of a world transformed by God’s love, mercy, and justice.