Statmement of Unity from Melrose Clergy

Dec. 23, 2023

We, the faith leaders of the Melrose Clergy Association, come from many different faiths, backgrounds, and traditions. However, we are unified in our shared belief that all people should be able to worship and practice their faith without hindrance or threat of danger.

Recently, multiple synagogues and Jewish centers across Massachusetts have received bomb threats. They join the more than 100 across the nation that received these threats on Dec. 17, aimed to intimidate and stoke fear. With thanks that should not be needed, we are grateful that our local Temple Beth Shalom was not among them.

No one should fear for their physical, emotional, or spiritual safety when it comes to practicing their faith. We know that these threats come at a time of growing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia around the country, including right here in the Boston area. As leaders of faith, we call those who wish violence upon anyone based on their religion to repent: to turn back to your God and remember that all people were made in the image of the Holy One, all of us are God’s children.

We know that this escalation of bigotry is caused in part by the violence in Israel and Palestine. Many people have many different and many strong opinions on what is happening there—even among the Melrose Clergy Association, we are not in agreement over how to address this tragic conflict or how to bring peace. But that disagreement over policies and operations sponsored by governments does not reflect a disagreement over our strong belief that all people are worthy of dignity, respect, and the right to worship freely.

As a group of Christian and UU and Jewish clergy, we unequivocally denounce any anti-Semitism that puts our Jewish neighbors at risk, just as we denounce any Islamophobia that hurts our Muslim neighbors. During this season where our traditions share a hope for light in the darkest of days in the celebration of Hanukkah, Solstice and Christmas, we share a hope that the Spirit of Life may bring about the light of peace in the midst of hatred.

Signed by the below members of the Melrose Clergy Association:

Rev. Travis Bonnette-Kim, First United Methodist Church
Rev. Susanne Intriligator, Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church
Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal, Temple Beth Shalom
Rev. Katie Omberg, Melrose Highlands Congregational Church
Rev. Dominic Taranowski, First Congregational Church, UCC