CJP is saddened and angered by yet another mass shooting in our country. Twelve people were killed and more than 20 injured last night at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. The shooter chose the bar’s “college night,” when large numbers of young adults, most under 25, would be present.

This is the fourth shooting in as many weeks. Among the dozens of victims are people of color, women, Jews, police officers and other first responders, the elderly, people with disabilities, and young adults.

Despite the frequency and relentlessness of gun violence, we will not become numb or complacent. In the aftermath of the Pittsburgh shooting, Rabbi Naomi Levy wrote a powerful prayer. Here is an excerpt:

Work through us, God.
Turn our helplessness into action.
Teach us to believe that we can
rise up from this tragedy
And banish the hate
that is tearing our world apart.
We must never be indifferent
to the plight of any who suffer.
We must learn to care,
To open our hearts
and open our hands.
Innocent blood is calling out to us.

The full prayer can be found here.

The Talmud teaches us that to save one life is to save the entire world. As our nation wrestles with the plague of violence, we can do our small part here, today: teaching tolerance and mutual respect and standing up to division and fear.

We offer our condolences to the many who last night lost friends, family, and colleagues. May their memories be a blessing.