At least 49 people were killed and 20 more were injured when a man in New Zealand opened fire on two mosques in the country. Now, in what is being called an “unprecedented move” Jewish leaders have announced that synagogues in the country will remain closed Saturday, their Sabbath.
New Zealand’s synagogues, in a unprecedented move, will be closed for the Sabbath, in solidarity with the country’s Muslims following the mass shootings at the two Christchurch mosques. https://t.co/Cz2FzbyNsV
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 15, 2019
It is the first time in history that synagogues will not be opened on Shabbat.
The president of The New Zealand Jewish Council, Stephen Goodman, told The Jewish Chronicle, “The New Zealand Jewish Council has no adequate words to describe how sickened and devastated we are by the coordinated attacks on Christchurch mosques today.”
He continued, “We offer our full assistance and support to the Muslim community and stand united with it against the scourge of terrorism and racism, which we must do all we can to banish from New Zealand. We are praying for those all those affected and their families.”
