The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom® is deeply saddened and sickened by the unfolding news in Paris over the past few days. This most recent tragedy makes us confront, yet again, how helpless many of us feel in the face of this seemingly relentless violence.
When terrorists attack any one of us—as Journalists, as Policemen and women, as Jews, as Muslims–we are all under attack. It is at times like these that our work is more important than ever. No sooner had news of the deaths reached us, than news outlets in the US and elsewhere already began to speak of inherent violence in Islam and the alarming rise in French anti-Semitism.
This is not about Muslims and Jews. This is about terrorism born out of a violent ideology bent on silencing all who value the freedoms of speech and of religious practice.
We Jewish and Muslim women of Sisterhood Salaam Shalom will continue to stand up for each other and to support each other; especially in the face of those who wish us harm. We will continue our struggle until our shouts for friendship and for freedom are the only ones heard.
Today we are all French. Tomorrow may we all live peace. #noussommesensemble
Symi Rom Rymer is on the Board of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom®.