NCJW Section president decries gun violence

By SUSAN KIERR

The fear engendered by gun attacks on civilians spiked Sunday when we learned of the mass shooting in Orlando. It occurred on Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah, the laws intended to help people live together in peace.

The deadly attack on people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer is a contradiction of our basic Jewish values and the Talmudic teaching that taking a life is like destroying the universe and saving a life is like saving the universe.

NCJW volunteers and advocates try to turn ideas into action. So now we join all who deplore gun violence and hate crimes. The National office of NCJW is calling out, again, in the name of all of us, for the end of gun violence. We in New Orleans are proud to be included in that call.

(Susan Kierr is the president of the Greater New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women.)