Tuesday April 13, 2004

The Hamilton Conference of The United Church of Canada unequivocally condemns the anti-Semitic violence against the Beth Jacob Cemetery in Kitchener as the Jewish community there prepared to celebrate the high holy days of Passover.

The fact that this act of desecration happened at a time when many communities across the country are experiencing similar anti-Semitic incidences is an ominous sign to all, including leaders of faith groups,
that they must recommit themselves to ending racism, anti-Semitism
and violence. Today, Hamilton Conference re-commits itself to this task.

While the despicable acts in Kitchener, along with those in Toronto, Montreal, London and elsewhere, diminish the whole community, they are particularly painful to our Jewish sisters and brothers who have suffered too much senseless violence over the centuries.

We stand with our Jewish friends in condemning all acts of anti-Semitism and with all people of good will in our communities who work for peace and reconciliation among neighbours of all faiths.

At the 38 th General Council of the United Church of Canada a statement on relations with the Jewish faith affirmed that anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism are affronts to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We encourage all in the United Church of Canada to continue to study this document, Bearing Faithful Witness, and to re-commit themselves to work and pray for a community that truly embraces all.

Hamilton Conference is one of 13 Conference of The United Church of Canada. It includes about 57,000 members in 250 pastoral charges from Tobermory to Lake Erie and from the Waterloo Region to Mississauga.

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