Religious leaders express ‘moral revulsion’ at shootings
ISRAELI PRIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the world leaders who condemned the terror attack at agaynightclubinOrlando,whichleft49 people dead and 53 injured in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Speaking after the mass-shooting at the Pulse club, which was carried out by self-radicalised Islamist Omar Mateen, Mr Netanyahu called the attack a “horrific massacre”.
Vigils in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem saw rainbow flags flown in solidarity with the Florida victims.
David Quarrey, Britain’s ambassador to Israel, who is gay, tweeted that his thoughts were with the United States.
International Jewish LGBT groups expressed their shock and condemnation in the days after the killings.
Idit Klein, the executive director of Keshet, an organisation which supports LGBT Jews, said: “It is sickening that the deadliest mass shooting in American history targeted LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) people during Pride month.
“Whentheshooteropenedfire,many Jews were observing Shavuot, which commemorated when the Jewish people stood together at Mount Sinai.
“We stand together in solidarity with the people of Orlando and with the LGBTQ people and allies everywhere.”
Keshet’s UK branch said it was “devastated”. Co-director Benjamin Ellis said: “Our thoughts are with those who are injured and the families and loved ones of all those who were attacked.
“We must all do more to combat hatred and violence in our world, and to fight for equality, inclusion and love.”
A spokesman for the Movement for Reform Judaism said: “The worst mass shooting in US history is horrific in itself. Butwemustacknowledgetheapparent deliberate targeting of the LGBT community.
“The victims and their families are in our prayers. But prayer must lead to action. We must challenge homophobia and transphobia wherever it manifests itself, not only in extremist acts and statements of hatred but in institutional prejudices and casual acts of disdain.”
Mark Gardn e r, C o mmunity Security Trust director of communications, said: “This is a time for all communities to stand together in solidarity. We at CST will continue to work with LGBT and other communities to defend our shared values against those who try to undermine our diverse and tolerant societies.”
Board of Deputies senior vice-president Richard Verber said: “This horrific act of cold-blooded murder, which specifically targeted the LGBT community, is deeply shocking.
“Whatever the affiliations of the ter- rorist, this attack was clearly motivated by deep-rooted hatred and likely Islamist extremism.
“We know that our Jewish community colleagues in the United States are at the forefront of tackling hatred in all forms, including homophobia.
“HereintheUK,wetoomustcontinue to work diligently to ensure that hatred is unable to take root in a modern, pluralistic society.”
Simon Benscher, Liberal Judaism chair, echoed the comments of Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and said: “On behalf of Liberal Judaism I join Rabbi Mirvis in expressing our moral revulsion for the hatred that led to the massacre in Orlando.
“It is important to understand that many religious Jews — Progressive and Orthodox — do not share the view that adherencetoJudaismneedleadtotreating homosexuality and heterosexuality any differently from one another.
“We are proud to stand with LGBTQ people at this difficult time and to count so many as rabbis, leaders and friends within Liberal Jewish communities.”
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, said: “The last messages to their loved ones of the 49 people murdered wring our hearts.
“This outrage was cruelly and viciously aimed at a group which already feels vulnerable.
“It reminds us of how essential it is to oppose all forms of terror and to show our solidarity with all our fellow human beings, irrespective of colour, creed and sexual orientation, and to strive for a society which respects and celebrates inclusion.”
Daniel Gilroy, who worked with 29-year-old terrorist Omar Mateen as a security guard, described him as “angry” and “loud”.
“He had a lot of hatred for people. Black people, women, he did not like Jews, he did not like Hispanics, nor did he like gay or lesbian people,” Mr Gilroy said. “He talked about killing people all the time.”