‘We have work to do’: Faith leaders on Highland Park shooting
Jamie Asaraf
It was supposed to be a day of celebration and fun, but it turned into sheer chaos, trauma, fear, and unimaginable heartache after a gunman opened fire on parade-goers in the Chicago community of Highland Park on the Fourth of July. Seven people were killed; dozens were wounded.
To bring the community words of solace, local and national faith leaders have offered prayers and words of healing and hope.
These are their words:“I think shell shock is the right phrase…There is no indication of antisemitism but any attack in Highland Park is felt very strongly by the Jewish community.” -Dan Elbaum, the Jewish Agency’s North American head and a resident of neighboring Deerfield
"This is a Jewish community that proudly matches its Judaism with patriotism so it wasn’t a question for me that there would be Jewish victims.”@dan_elbaum, our Head of North America reflects in @Haaretz about the horrific July 4th murders in Highland Park https://t.co/dMZl2eYN0P
— The Jewish Agency for Israel (@JewishAgency) July 6, 2022
“It [the Highland Park shooting] just drives home that we’re living in an imperfect world, and we have work to do.” -Rabbi Yosef Schanowitz, North Suburban Lubavitch Chabad
“We mourn the … lives taken today in Highland Park, IL and pray for all those injured, beloved members of our Reform Jewish community among them.” -Jewish Reform Movement leaders wrote in a press release
“It can be hard to find hope now, though we know our hope is in Jesus who is always near to us in suffering. We call on Catholics, lawmakers, community leaders, health care and social service providers, law enforcement, and families to keep pushing for change and offer prayers, support, and generous assistance to victims.” -United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in a statement
“People of faith must speak up, even when it’s easier not to. Gun violence is a life issue, and Catholics must address it.” -Father Marty O’Donovan, Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity Catholic Parish
“We don’t all pray the same. We don’t all believe that prayer does the same thing. But something in us knows we must be here now.” -Dale Susan Edmonds, United Church of Christ Deerfield
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