Earlier this week two Jewish Community Centers (one in Tarrytown) received bomb threats. In recent weeks Anti Semitic graffiti has been found in communities all over Westchester (including Hastings). History has taught us that hateful graffiti leads to threats which eventually leads to violence. There is too much hate out there against different ethnic groups - against minority groups - people who are different. PAUL FEINER Today, we are in pain. We, clergy of many different religions and denominations, good and true neighbors, affirm our common love for every man, woman and child on this planet. As one, we condemn the bomb threats which were made against two Jewish Community Center facilities in Westchester. While we are grateful that no one was hurt, we denounce the hatred that has been unleashed on our neighbors. Sadly, this is only the most recent of aggressive, intolerant acts that have been perpetrated against different groups across our nation. In the polarized atmosphere that now pervades our country, we are not surprised such threats have arrived to Westchester. It was only a matter of time. As a community of diverse houses of worship, we embrace the highest ideals of respect and consideration for everyone. We call upon our local and national leaders to renew America’s promise as a nation that was built by people from every conceivable land and ethnicity. We implore those who have the ears of this nation’s citizens to affirm that bigotry will never be permitted to blot out tolerance, understanding and goodwill. America is so much better than this. We must all be better than this. How we treat those whose religion is different, whose skin color is different, whose nation of origin is different, whose sexual or gender identity is different — this will determine the stature of our humanity and our citizenship. What we see is unacceptable and we pledge to work with each other and within our communities to create bonds that are based upon mutual respect and love. America was founded on the principle that we could all build this nation together. Our shared religious perspective would put it this way: God wants us to reject intolerance. God longs for us to embrace each other. God waits for us to open our doors, and in one simple, loving gesture, to proclaim, “You will always be welcome here.” Signed (in alphabetical order), Rev. John F. Backe Rev. Dr. Deborah Blanks The Rev. Tami L. Burks Chappaqua Interfaith Council The Reverend Samuel T. Clover Rabbi Fredda Cohen The Rev. Susan Copley Rev. Dr. William P. Crawford Rev. Doris K. Dalton, UMC Deacon The Rev. Noelle Damico Rabbi Julie Danan Rev. Mashona Walston Davis Rabbi Billy Dreskin Cantor Ellen Dreskin The Rev. Lynn M. Dunn Rabbi Joan Glazer Farber Pastor Robert Freire The Rev. Carol D. Gadsden The Rev. Jeffrey Gargano Rev. Meredith Garmon The Rev. Jeffrey A. Geary Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg Cantor Jonathan Gordon Rev. Dr. Jane Ann Groom Rev. David R. Harkness The Rev. Sarah E. Henkel Rev. Robert P. Henry Cantor Randy Herman Rev. Stephen Holton Rabbi David Holtz The Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe The Rev. Dr. Carole Johannsen, BCC Cantor Robin Joseph Rabbi Steve Kane Linda M. Knapp, 2nd Reader Rabbi Lori Koffman The Rev. Richard Kunz Rev. Bruce Lamb The Rev. Dr. Gawain de Leeuw, OA Rev. Paul D. Lent Rabbi Maura Linzer The Rev. Claire Lofgren Rabbi Shira Milgrom Rabbi Bethie Miller Rev. Ted Miller The Rev. Canon Patricia Mitchell Pastor Linda Nealon Father Robert Norris Rev. Drew Paton The Rev. Anna Pearson, D.Min. The Reverend Yejide S. Peters Rev. Leroy Richards Pastor Torrey Robinson Ven. Tenku Ruff Rabbi Ed Schecter Dan J. Schoch, 1st Reader Rabbi Dina Shargel Rabbi Benjy Silverman Rabbi Jeffrey Sirkman Rev. Elizabeth Smith-Bartlett Rabbi Jay M. Stein Rabbi Joshua Strom Rev. Peter D. Surgenor Rev. Erwin Lee Trollinger Rabbi Gordon Tucker Upper Westchester Muslim Society Rev. Noel Vanek Rev. Julius Walls Jr Rev. Perry Wootten Bart Worden, Clergy Leader Rabbi Mara Young
Fortunately, our Westchester clergy has taken a stand. This is their statement.Westchester Interfaith Clergy Statement on Hate
“If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at all.” These are the words of Harbhajan Singh, a member of the Sikh religion from Pakistan. This message voices the universal declaration of all religions: We belong to one human family. When any of us experiences joy, all of us share in that joy. And when any of us experiences pain, all of us share in that pain.
Trinity Lutheran Church
White Plains NY
Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church
White Plains, NY
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Mamaroneck, NY
Chappaqua, NY
The Reformed Church of Bronxville
Bronxville, NY
White Plains, NY
Christ Episcopal Church & San Marcos
Tarrytown, NY
Larchmont Avenue Church
Larchmont, NY
Westchester Martin Luther King, Jr. Institute of Nonviolence
White Plains, NY
United Church of Christ, Metro Association
White Plains, NY
Pleasantville Community Synagogue
Pleasantville, NY
Reformed Church of Cortlandtown
Montrose, NY
Woodlands Community Temple
Greenburgh, NY
Ardsley, NY
White Plains Presbyterian Church
White Plains, NY
Tarrytown, NY
New Hope Fellowship
Tarrytown, NY
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Mamaroneck, NY
Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns
Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow
Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, NY
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
White Plains, NY
White Plains Presbyterian Church
White Plains, NY
Temple Beth Abraham
Tarrytown, NY
Woodlands Community Temple
Greenburgh, NY
All Souls Parish
Port Chester, NY
Irvington Presbyterian Church
Irvington, NY
White Plains Presbyterian Church
White Plains, NY
St. Matthew & Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Hastings and Ardsley, NY
Bet Torah
Mt Kisco, NY
St. James Episcopal Church
North Salem, NY
Temple Beth Abraham
Tarrytown, NY
First Congregational Church
Chappaqua, NY
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Chappaqua, NY
Phelps Hospital / Northwell Health
Sleepy Hollow, NY
Temple Beth Shalom
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Congregation Sons of Israel
Briarcliff Manor, NY
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Tarrytown, NY
Bet Torah
Mt Kisco, NY
Grace/La Gracia Episcopal Church
White Plains, NY
Ardsley United Methodist Church
Ardsley, NY
St. Bartholomew's Church
White Plains, NY
Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church
Lagrangeville, NY
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Chappaqua, NY
St. Joseph of Arimathea Episcopal Church
White Plains, NY
Congregation Kol Ami
White Plains, NY
Larchmont Temple
Larchmont, NY
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Salt Point, NY
Church of the Ascension
Church of Sts. John, Paul and Clement
Mt Vernon, NY
United Methodist Church of the Tarrytowns
Tarrytown, NY
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Elmsford, NY
South Presbyterian Church
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Grace Episcopal Church
Hastings on Hudson, NY
All Saints' Episcopal Church
Briarcliff Manor, NY
First Community Church of the Nazarene
Greenburgh, NY
First Baptist Church
Tarrytown, NY
Soto Zen Buddhist Priest
Chappaqua, NY
Temple Beth Shalom
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Tarrytown, NY
Temple Israel Center
White Plains, NY
Chabad of the Rivertowns
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Larchmont Temple
Larchmont, NY
Larchmont Avenue Church
Larchmont, NY
Greenburgh Hebrew Center
Dobbs Ferry, NY
Congregation B'nai Yisrael
Armonk, NY
Holmes Presbyterian Camp
Holmes, NY
Calvary Baptist Church
White Plains, NY
Temple Israel Center
White Plains, NY
Thornwood, NY
Community Church of the Pelhams
Pelham, NY
Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church
Yonkers, NY
Old First Church (Newark, NJ)
Mt. Kisco, NY
Ethical Culture Society of Westchester
White Plains, NY
Woodlands Community Temple
Greenburgh, NYWestchester UN Association is sponsoring...
International Women’s Day 2017
"Women's Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work"
Sunday, 5 March 2017
Registration at 2:00 PM
2:30 to 4:00 PM
Greenburgh Public Library
300 Tarrytown Rd.
Elmsford, NY 10523Keynote Speaker
Michaela WalshPanelists
Kecia Palmer-Cousins
Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc, a career training company; board member, Benefit Committee for Girls, Inc. and Mary J. Blige Center for Women.Antoinette Klatzky
Panel Moderator
Judith Beville