„As members of the Atlanta chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, we were extremely disturbed by the racist and dehumanizing Rosh HaShanah sermon delivered by Rabbi Shalom Lewis of Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, Georgia. We were also dismayed by the lack of response from the rest of the Jewish community after the sermon became public.

Because we believe strongly that people of conscience must speak out to challenge bigotry in all its forms, we decided to send letters to Atlanta area Rabbis, to the Atlanta Jewish Federation, and to the board of trustees of Congregation Etz Chaim calling on them to repudiate Rabbi Lewis’s sentiments and to take a stand against anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism in their synagogues and organizations.“