Remembering young lives that have tragically been taken

Remembering young lives that have tragically been taken

Board President Vivian Wineman writes:
"This week we have sustained two terrible blows. The tragic and senseless murder of three teenagers, with their lives ahead of them, has rightly led to feelings of intense anger and deep sadness. And this morning the news that a Palestinian child was killed - in circumstances that are still being investigated, adds to the sadness that we all feel about another lost life.
 
In Judaism we value a life as if it counts for the whole universe and that will continue to be the Jewish way: The Talmud notes that taking a single life is like destroying an entire world, and saving a single life is like saving an entire world. Tragically we are this week mourning four universes of taken life.
 
On Wednesday July 2 at 6.45pmoutside the Israeli Embassy - 2 Palace Green, London W8 4QB - there will be a communal vigil. We encourage community members, to attend this service in order to be strengthened together at this saddest time.
 
We would also encourage Regional Representative Councils to hold their own vigil at the same time.
 
At this point, the most we can say is that the thoughts and prayers of the Jewish community are with the families and friends of Gilad Sha'ar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Fraenkel and Muhammad Abu Khdeir whom we mourn with great distress."