Dear Ismaili Council of BC and Az-Zaharaa Islamic Centre and the communities that you represent.  

We wish to express our deepest condolences on the loss of the broader members of the Muslim community.  At the same time we wish to condemn this act of violence against both Muslims and against humanity.  Such action is repugnant and destructive to people of all faiths, it is an affront to Gd and to all human values. Unfortunately, purveyors of hate and terrorism have preyed on peaceful houses of worship of late from the Quebec City Mosque, to Charleston Emanuel AME Massacre  to the Tree of life Synagogue shooting. 

We stand together with many other political religious and social leaders in affirming the right to peaceful worship, for the right to safely practice religion both in the house of worship and on the street. 

We wish comfort to the families of the victims and to the Muslim community of New Zealand, and to those of Muslim community who feel the pain of this tragedy across the globe. Our community felt great comfort from the visits and well wishes of members of the Muslim community and among many other faith communities after the violence at the Tree of Life Synagogue and we wish, at the very least, to return the same sentiment to your community. 

Sincerely,

Rabbi Hannah Dresner on Behalf of the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver

CC: Nicolas Slobinsky
Director, Pacific Region
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)