The following statement was released by the Conference of European Rabbis following the fatal shooting attack at France’s Otzar HaTorah School.
Brussels, March 19 – The Conference of European Rabbis has expressed its shock and sadness following the killing of three people including two children outside a Jewish school in Toulouse this morning. The shootings occurred at a Jewish secondary school in the French city.
“This horrific act is indicative of a society where intolerance is allowed to fester. We call upon the French authorities to take all steps to ensure that the perpetrator of this act is found and brought to justice,” CER President, Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said. “There is today an urgent need to ensure that appropriate security measures are put in place at all Jewish institutions in Europe to ensure that the safety of Jews on this continent is not placed in jeopardy,” Rabbi Goldschmidt added.
The Conference of European Rabbis federates Jewish religious leaders in over 40 European countries and includes all the continent’s chief rabbis and rabbinical judges. The CER holds consultancy status as a recognized international NGO in the institutions of the European Union and at the European Union.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
IMHO, European Rabbis should be calling for the exodus from that foul, bloodstained continent.
Is that all? A call for the French police to provide more protection?
What happened to the RAMBAM’S Halacha that, in the face of tragedy and danger, there is an obligation to proclaim a fast and do Teshuvah, as was done in the city of Nineveh?
“Im Hashem lo yishmor ir, shav shakad shomer”–If Hashem does not guard our city, then it’s a waste of time to hire guards to protect us.