Beloved friends, Our hearts are shattered alongside yours.

We are grieving with you in the wake of the horrific shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, an attack that claimed lives, including a security guard who acted with profound courage to protect others.

We know that no community should ever have to endure this terror, especially in a sacred space meant for prayer, learning, and safety. We also know that when violence targets one faith community, it wounds all of us. Our liberation and our safety are bound together.

As Jewish progressives committed to justice, dignity, and a multifaith democracy, we want you to feel our presence beside you, not only in grief, but in steadfast commitment. We hold your community in prayer, in love, and in the fierce conviction that every person deserves to worship without fear.

As Rabbi Mike Rothbaum writes, “This poisonous hate is a threat not just to Muslims, or to Jews, but to all of those targeted by bigotry and deadly bias. In the face of terror, we still affirm our belief that we are safest when all marginalized groups stand in solidarity with each other.”

We honor the lives stolen. We honor the bravery of those who protected others. And we honor the resilience of your community in the face of continued trauma no one should ever have to bear.

Please know: We see you. We mourn with you. We will not look away. And we will continue to stand with you.

May the memories of those lost be a blessing. May healing surround every child, every family, every congregant, and every neighbor impacted. And may we, together, build a California where hate finds no shelter and where every community can breathe freely and safely.

With love, solidarity, and unshakeable commitment,

Bend the Arc: Jewish Action California