Valley Interfaith Group Condemns Swastika Vandalism

The Interfaith Solidarity Network (ISN), a group comprised of L.A. faith-based leaders and their communities committed to interfaith dialogue, unity and peace – condemns the continued violence and expression of ant-Semitism against Jewish communities across the country, the most recent incident in southern California being the painting of a red swastika at Calabasas High School.

Jewish communities know too well that symbols can be powerful harbingers of danger. The swastika is a symbol of hate used by one of the most evil campaigns in our history, which sought to annihilate the existence of the Jewish people. It is a symbol used to intimidate and create fear. The ISN believes that the most effective and lasting response to the hurtful painting of swastikas is condemnation and education. This is why we urge Calabasas High School and schools across the nation to spend time in class explaining the history of the swastika, and the hate and tragedy that it represents. In addition, schools should encourage conversations, and call on students to do a healing circle to help them understand that when one is hurt all of us are hurt. Hurting one Jew is hurting all Jews, hurting a community is hurting all communities.

These conversations are now more important than ever, particularly in our schools and places of worship, as divisive and dehumanizing rhetoric continues to permeate at all levels of society and is legitimized for political expediency.

The ISN recently held an Interfaith Solidarity March to foster understanding, interfaith support, collaboration, and unity through shared values. Part of the march was walked in silence to honor the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.

For more information about the Interfaith Solidarity Network (ISN) visit the ISN website at www.interfaithsolidaritynetwork.org, and social media at https://www.facebook.com/ISN.SFV/, https://twitter.com/ISN_SFV, and https://www.instagram.com/interfaithsolidarity/