Jews around the world mourn terror attack victims
As we go to press, events surrounding the terrorist attack at the synagogue in Jerusalem on Nov. 18 are still developing.
Three of the victims – Rabbi Moshe Twersky, 59, Rabbi Kalman Zeev Levine, 55, and Aryeh Kupinsky, 43, – held dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. Twersky was from a well-known Boston rabbinic family. Kupinsky was reportedly born in Rhode Island before moving to Detroit and then Israel in the early ’80s. The fourth victim, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, 68, was from Great Britain. And late Nov. 18, Zidan Saif, 30, a Druze police officer, died from injuries suffered in the attack.
The following are some reactions of American Jews.
Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, issued this statement on Nov. 18:
“In response to today’s horrific attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem, where Palestinian terrorists killed at least four Jewish worshippers, the Jewish Alliance, along with the Jewish Federations of North America call on the global community to join in condemning those responsible.
“The Jewish Alliance is shocked by the horrific attack on innocent worshippers that took place earlier today. We send condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. This despicable and reprehensible act of terrorism took the lives of at least four innocent civilians and injured many others.
The recent wave of Palestinian terror attacks and acts of violence in Israel is outrageous and completely unacceptable, but today’s attack on innocent people praying in a synagogue is incomprehensible. We call on the Rhode Island community to join the entire global community in condemning this attack in the strongest possible terms, immediately and unconditionally.”
Barry Shrage, president of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, said on Nov. 18, in part:
“Our community mourns and protests at the same time. We mourn the loss of these innocent people murdered in Jerusalem. We protest against the extremism that seems to be filling our world and we refuse to be silent in the face of murder and terrorism.”
The following exerpt from Shrage’s statement is on Rabbi Moshe Twersky, the victim who grew up in Boston.
“He was the son of Rabbi and Professor Yitzhak Twersky (z”l) and Dr. Atarah Twersky, and the grandson of our most beloved Rav, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (z”l) founder of the Maimonides School in Brookline, Rosh Yeshiva at the RIETS rabbinical school at Yeshiva University, and a respected rabbinic authority and philosopher who influenced religious thought in the Jewish community and well beyond.
“Rabbi and Dr. Twersky were important leaders within our Orthodox community and beyond. Dr. Atarah Twersky served as Chair of the Education Committee of the Maimonides School and is a widely respected educator. Rabbi Dr. Yitzhak Twersky was the Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University and the Rav of the Talner Shul in Brookline. He was also a deeply respected Jewish educator whose advice was sought whenever communities and philanthropists tried to understand and improve Jewish education in America. They were both friends to our community and to me, and they gave their advice and wisdom to us in good times and bad. Their advice was always given with affection and caring, and in complete accord with the most important traditions of our people.
“Rabbi Moshe Twersky was Dean of Torat Moshe Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He is survived by his wife Bashy and children Meshulam, Refoel, Rivka, Nechama and Avrohom, and by his sister Tzipporah Rosenblatt and his brother, Rabbi Mayer Twersky.”
The Voice staff along with everyone around the world mourns these acts of violence. We offer our condolences to the families.
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