Over 80 years ago, thousands of Jews fleeing antisemitism and genocide in the Second World War took refuge – alongside earlier Jewish communities – in the land of Israel. The State of Israel was authorized by a resolution of the United Nations passed on November 29, 1947. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of these Holocaust survivors, as well as Russian and Ethiopian Jews fleeing persecution and many others of all faiths, call Israel home.
As an organization devoted to fighting hate, antisemitism and all forms of prejudice, we decry and vehemently denounce the violent terrorist attack on Israeli citizens. We condemn the unspeakable, ongoing acts of cruelty by Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization. We express our deepest sympathy to those killed and to their families. We mourn the hundreds of innocent lives lost and send wishes for those injured. We particularly abhor the kidnapping of innocent persons, including many young people the same age as our college students.
We call upon international leaders to support Israel. We support Israel's inalienable right to security and safety.
— Profs. Lori Weintrob and Laura Morowitz on behalf of the Wagner College Holocaust Center, and Fern Zagor, Chairperson of the Wagner College Holocaust Center Advisory Committee
