In Solidarity and Prayer…

with Jewish friends in Australia after the Bondi Beach massacre

Dear Friends and People of Faith,

As President of the Nevada Interfaith Association, I write today with profound grief and rising compassion in the wake of the horrifying attack at Bondi Beach. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and all those whose lives have been forever altered by this act of senseless violence.

In moments such as these – when sacred gatherings are shattered by cruelty – our shared humanity calls us to stand together with our Jewish brothers and sisters, united in sorrow and steadfast in hope. We denounce this brutal assault and all expressions of hatred against the Jewish people – seeking to divide, harm, or diminish the light that Judaism brings to the world and to life. 

We are called to comfort the afflicted and to protect the innocent. We rise above fear with courage and love. We honor the memory of those lost, the resilience of survivors, and the compassion of neighbors and first responders who came together in the face of tragedy.

As a community of faith, we renew our prayer for peace – peace that begins in the human heart and extends to the world we share. Let us turn our mourning into a renewed commitment to understanding and solidarity, reaching across lines of belief and culture to sow the seeds of compassion wherever hatred has roots.

To all affected in Australia and beyond: please know that you are not alone. The Nevada Interfaith Association stands beside you in spirit and prayer. May the twin lights of healing and grace guide every step forward from this difficult day. Love is always stronger than fear.

In unity and hope,
Matthew

Rev. Matthew Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center 
President of the Nevada Interfaith Association

Signed by the Coordinating Council of the Nevada Interfaith Association

Fr. Chuck Durante – Roman Catholic

Rabbi Benjamin Zober – Judaism

Rev Toni King – Unity Church

Rajan Zed – Hinduism

Bradley Corbin -Baha’i

Elder Chadd Watson – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Rev Dawn Blundell – Methodist

Pamela Kellerstraus – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Ch. Sherman Baker Chaplain, VA Medical Center – Baptist

Ashraf Azim – Islam