4 | NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 J N JCRC/AJC Statement Grateful for Allies Standing with Israel W e, the undersigned faith leaders in Michigan, say clearly and in no uncertain terms — we stand with Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorism. The Hamas terrorist attacks inten- tionally targeted the lives of innocent Israelis — men, women, the elderly and babies — and were carried out in the most brutal and barbaric ways. As people of faith, we pray for those kid- napped and still held as hostages and call on Hamas to immediately release them. We yearn for a day when nations shall not lift up swords against nations, neither shall they learn war anymore. We stand with Israel and the Jewish community in saying never again, and never forget. Because of Hamas’ terrorism and forcing Israel into a war where so many innocents will die, we now reach out to every mother and father — Israeli and Palestinian — who are grieving the loss of so many lives. We are hopeful Israel will protect as many innocent Palestinian lives as pos- sible — working with the U.N. to estab- lish a humanitarian zone and working with Egypt and the U.N. to keep the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian aid. We call on Hamas to immediate- ly surrender so not one more precious Israeli or Palestinian life is lost in this war. Hamas does not care about inno- cent Jews or Palestinians. Hamas is the enemy, not Palestinians. The future is bright only without Hamas holding every Palestinian hostage and seeking Israel’s destruction. We pray Israel will prevail in its fight against Hamas terror- ism. We also pray for as few innocent lives lost in this battle as humanly pos- sible. PURELY COMMENTARY guest column A Shared Multicultural Commitment Chandru Acharya - President, South Asian American Voices for Impact N. Charles Anderson - President, CEO - Detroit Urban League Rev. Katherine Lee Baker - Reformed Church in America Pastor Sterling Brewer - King David Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dennis Clanton - Woodland Church Rev. Dr. DeeDee Coleman - Russell Street Missionary Baptist Church Amer Hanna Fatuhi, Ph.D. - Visual artist and historian. Rev. Maurice Flaniken - Trinity Baptist Church Rev. Kenneth James Flowers - Greater New Moriah Baptist Church Pastor Aramis Hinds - Breakers Covenant Church International Rev. Kathy Hoop - First Presbyterian Church Rev. Linda Knieriemen - Retired Pastor Padma Kuppa - Hindu community leader Suril Patel - Hindu community leader Bishop Glenn Plummer - Bishop of Israel for the Church of God in Christ Dr. Ruth Pauline Plummer - President of Covenant Daughters International Ministry Jad Nabbouh - Arab American community member Pastor Kenneth C. Pierce - Hopewell Church Pastor CJ Sampson - Let Them Come Missionary Baptist Church Nasy Sankagiri - Hindu community leader Mike Sarafa - Chaldean community leader Fred Stella - West Michigan Hindu Temple Donnell White - Member- Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity Rev. Dr. Thomas Wooden - Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity LaShawn Young - Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity I Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel The list of signers is still in formation. Check facebook.com/JCRCAJC for the most recent list. W hen I started Life Remodeled, an important part of our vision was creating experiences to unite our diverse, local city and suburban communities around our shared mission of creating neighborhood revitalization that lasts in Detroit. That vision became reality in a new way just a few weeks ago — on Saturday, Oct. 7, as part of our annual Six Day Project. As always, there was strong volunteer support onsite from many in our local Jewish community. Saturday was Day Six of our project, and this was the very same day Hamas launched its vile and unprecedented assault on Israeli civilians, visiting Americans and tourists of other nationalities. The onslaught began that Saturday morning, yet these members of our local Jewish community, who were praying fervently for their loved ones experiencing complete chaos in Israel, still decided to join us that very same day to invest their hearts and their hands into improving the conditions of Detroit neighborhoods. The shared multicultural commitment to Life Remodeled’s mission, while living and working side-by-side, is worth remembering in our divided world. Therefore, I am profoundly saddened to see the myriad of ways antisemitism is rising sharply worldwide and how misinformation is fueling so much of its increase. I am grateful to have established very deep friendships and partnerships with numerous people and organizations within our local Jewish community. Many are passionately committed to Detroit children, families and neighborhoods through their ongoing relationship Chris Lambert