FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 9, 2023

Today, the leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (“Orthodox Union”) issued the following statement:

On the sacred Shabbat and Chag of Simchat Torah, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel in an unprovoked assault that has left hundreds of Israeli men, women, and children dead and wounded. In addition, terrorists have kidnapped Israelis and taken them into Gaza. The nightmare unfolding across Israel is horrifying.

The Iranian-backed terrorists burst through the security perimeter and began a rampage across Israeli communities, going door to door killing and injuring innocent Israelis.

The Orthodox Union unequivocally supports the government of Israel’s declaration of war against Hamas. We appreciate the clear condemnation of this heinous terrorist attack by the President of the United States and many other senior American officials and world leaders. We urge them to remain resolute as Israel acts in the defense of her innocent civilians.

No country would tolerate its citizens being under constant assault from terror groups. All nations and people of goodwill must stand with Israel as it exercises its sovereign rights to self-defense.

What can we say? What can we do? We must act in the ways our Torah tradition has taught us to in response to challenges and tragedies.

We must pray to God. We must support our brothers and sisters in Israel with charitable contributions. We must support our friends and family in Israel with emotional support and empathy.

And we must maintain our faith in the Almighty that He is the Rock of Israel and will ultimately provide deliverance and peace to our people in the Holy Land of Israel. May that reality come soon.

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