The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis — joins the people of Santa Clarita, California in mourning victims of the school shooting leaving three people killed and four others injured which occurred on November 14, 2019.
Tragically, two students were killed and three were wounded in a shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita on November 14, 2019. Students arrived in school ready to learn but instead faced unimaginable horror.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America stated, “It is greatly troubling that a student would attack his fellow students in school, taking their lives. We live in uncertain times when violence and murder seems to be part of our school culture. Schools are institutions of learning where the next generation of Americans should be inculcated with a love for our country and a respect for our fellow Americans. As rabbis, educators and mentors, we have a sacred obligation to help stem the cultural cause of this unprecedented violence and prevent further school shootings. We call upon parents, educators, members of the faith-based community, as well as all concerned Americans to come together and to heal society. We further call upon on all who have influence with youth to emphasize the virtues of choosing life and respecting the living. Murder does not solve problems. Death is a mere sad tragic escape. The only solution lies in teaching our youth how to cope with the struggles and challenges they face in life. We must develop a school curriculum that respects the sanctity of life and which portrays the joys of living.”
The Rabbinical Alliance of America encourages its member rabbis to preach from their respective pulpits the need for the community to step up and intervene with love and companionship in order to prevent such tragedies from ever recurring, and to give of their time and patience, love and ministerial care, and comfort that with with the Almighty’s help we can prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
May He who makes peace in Heaven make peace in this world and may we not know of such sorrow ever again.