The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College/Jewish Reconstructionist Communities express horror at the violent shooting in Las Vegas that so far has ended 58 human lives and injured hundreds more. We mourn with those who lost loved ones and offer our prayers for speedy and full healing to the injured.Â
Our tradition calls on us to not stand idly by the blood of our neighbors (Lev. 19:16) and demands that we not engage in the complicity of silence—in the words of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra’s commentary, “that one not be joined with people of blood.” While raising our voices in prayer and condolences for the victims of last night’s violence, we also raise our voices to call for the enactment and enforcement of reasonable and effective gun laws throughout this country, including opposing pending legislation in the US Congress that would loosen, rather than tighten, restrictions on dangerous firearms.
