Just four months after the Christchurch massacre, an Australian Jewish delegation has joined others in visiting the mosques where 51 Muslim worshippers lost their lives.
SBS: Jewish communities around the world donate $1m to survivors of Christchurch attack
Demonstrating that religion is no barrier, Jewish delegations from around the world have been warmly welcomed by New Zealand’s Muslim community to make a generous offering – just months after the Christchurch terror attacks.
US, Sydney and New Zealand Jewish communities handed over more than $1 million at a ceremony at Christchurch City Council on Wednesday afternoon.
The money will go towards ongoing education, counselling and health care for those affected after a white supremacist gunned down 51 Muslim worshippers at two separate mosques in March.
“An attack on one (faith) is an attack on us all,” NSW Jewish Board of Deputies’ chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff said, reminiscing attacks on their own community.
“All humanity was and is profoundly the poorer, we remember the attacks on the mosque in Quebec, the synagogue in Pittsburgh, the church in Charleston, the mosques here in Christchurch.”
Jewish and Muslim leaders visited the Christchurch synagogue and two mosques attacked.
Christchurch Foundation deputy chair Paul Deavoll said it was an important and generous donation.
“We are grateful to all the communities that have donated and are looking forward to overseeing a fund that will contribute to further collaboration and understanding between these faiths,” he said.
Sheikh Ibrar Sheikh from New Zealand’s Federation of Islamic Associations said support from the global Jewish community sent a strong message.
“To know that our Jewish brothers and sisters understand what we have gone through, and are still going through, and are there to help us in our recovery is very important to us,” he said.
