Remembering Victims of Gun Violence: Join the National Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat

December 14, 2017, will mark the fifth anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In the years since, 500,000 Americans have been killed or injured by gun violence.

From December 6-17, please join the Reform Jewish community and our allies across the country to commemorate the tragedy in Sandy Hook, to remember all innocent victims and survivors of gun violence, and to call for an #EndGunViolence once and for all.

So far, 188 events are being planned in 40 states as part of a nationwide vigil, organized in partnership with the Newtown Foundation, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown Survivor Network, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence (a coalition of more than 50 faith-based organizations including the Union for Reform Judaism), Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and many more organizations.

It is our hope that your community will join with hundreds of others to stand against gun violence.

As part of the nationwide vigil, faith communities are organizing a National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend from December 15-17. Congregations are encouraged to join by incorporating songs, readings, prayers, and/or sermons into worship services. If you plan to participate, please sign up on the Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence website. The site also includes various Jewish resources such as sample sermons, prayers and readings, and potential ideas for events focused on gun violence prevention.

Tragically, 2017 has been a particularly deadly year for gun violence. In just the last two months, we witnessed two of the five most lethal mass shootings in modern American history. Partner with us in the struggle to prevent gun violence – join the National Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat.

To learn more about the Reform Jewish community's work to prevent gun violence, visit www.rac.org/gvp.

Matt Fidel is a 2017-2018 Eisendrath Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Matt is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.