The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust stands in solidarity with the Chabad House in Poway, and the greater San Diego community, whose Passover celebration was tragically interrupted by an antisemitic attack that claimed the life of Lori Gilbert-Kaye and injured several others.
This fatal attack was not an aberration. As many have noted, it occurred exactly six months after the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. These and other acts—acts of violence, vandalism, and Holocaust denial—are startling reminders of a rising tide of antisemitism. It is against this rising tide that we recommit ourselves to our work against intolerance, and our insistence that American Jewish communities continue to have secure places to gather and worship.
We echo the statement of Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters that “we call upon leaders from across all political divides to stop the dangerous, downward spiral of antisemitism.”
Against the destructive racist influences in our society, we hold aloft the heroic example of Lori Gilbert-Kaye, who sacrificed her life by stepping between the rabbi and the shooter. We pray for the full recovery of the wounded, and we remain steadfast in welcoming all to the Museum to gather, learn, and remember. Through our focused work of preserving the historical record of the Holocaust and documenting its human dimension, we offer a vigilant reminder of where hate can lead.
Bruce C. Ratner
Chairman
Jack Kliger
President & CEO