JCRC Statement
September 8, 2025
The following is a statement from Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
“The slaughter of six people at a bus stop in Jerusalem is a horrific reminder that Israel’s enemies have no regard for innocent human life. The cold-blooded murders of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Pash, Yaakov Pinto, Israel Metzner, Rabbi Yosef David, Rabbi Mordechai Steintzag, and Sarah Mendelson are beyond reprehensible.
"Terrorism will never stop Israelis from living open and proud Jewish lives. We fully support the Israeli government and military’s efforts to bring to justice those who planned and carried out this massacre. No nation on earth would tolerate such unprovoked bloodshed against its citizens. Israel has both the right and responsibility to protect its citizens from terrorism.
"True to form, Hamas has wasted no time glorifying this atrocity, applauding the carnage even as families mourn their dead and the wounded fight for their lives. This is a fitting response for a terrorist organization that continues to hold dozens of people hostage nearly two years after perpetrating the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas continues to present a clear and present danger to Israelis and Palestinians alike.
"As we grieve for the victims of this heinous attack, we reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Israel. Terrorism and hatred will never extinguish the Jewish people’s right to live safely and peacefully in their ancestral homeland.”