I don’t know if you’re afraid or indifferent, but regardless of your emotion, I cannot understand how my fellow Jews in Henderson and Las Vegas can stay silent…or even worse, invisible.
Let me first say that you will not find a more “unJewish” person than yours truly. My Bar Mitzvah many decades ago ended my Jewish studies, and no doubt many of you share this feeling.
But what occurred in Israel nearly two years ago has haunted me. How over 1,200 innocent Israel citizens (including women and children) could be raped, tortured, slaughtered and/or taken prisoner is and remains incomprehensible.
How there can still be approximately 50 hostages (a majority of them reportedly now dead) is nothing short of a crime against all Jews… and all humanity. How any Jew cannot react to this atrocity is beyond my understanding.
Toward this end, an international coalition of individuals with over 200 groups across the globe has been formed. They are determined to remind the world that there are still hostages and they must not be forgotten.
Called Run For Their Lives, it is a non-political and non-confrontational group that walk/march every week. There are 2 chapters in southern Nevada, one in Summerlin and the other in Henderson. The Henderson chapter is led by our Vegas Voice columnist Liz Breier.
I am at a loss as to “why” my fellow Jews, various so-call Jewish community organizations and our Temples (and believe me they know who they are) are not supporting this cause. Are they being silent in the hope that this will simply go away?
Are they afraid of reprisals or just don’t care? If so, how do you explain this to your children or (to our various Sun City Jewish clubs) grandchildren?
YOU NEED TO STAND UP AND SAY THIS IS WRONG AND YOU SUPPORT THE RELEASE OF THE HOSTAGES.
Call To Action: To sadly commemorate the two-year anniversary, Run for Their Lives will join the Jewish Federation on October 16th at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin.
From beginning to end, it will be no more than 45 minutes. Will you be there?
I get it, I really do. Of course, you support the cause but “cannot” attend. For those individuals, I only ask that you follow the advice of basketball coach Pat Reilly: “Every now and then there comes a time and a place where you simply have to stand firm, plant your feet and make a point as to who you are and what you believe in.”
We are asking for your support now: Attend the Jewish Federation event (see page 44) a walk if you can (in Henderson or Summerlin, see info on previous page) or at the very minimum complete and return the attached petition of support with your name and email address.
Show the world that you care.
