“You shall not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at risk. I am the Lord.” — Leviticus 19:16
As we approach October 7th, during the Jewish High Holy Days, we also mark the somber one-year anniversary of the tragic events in the Holy Land. The loss of life, which the United Nations estimates to be nearly 50,000, deeply grieves my heart. Without a lasting resolution, this number will only rise. The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has endorsed a call for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza. Unfortunately, the situation has since deteriorated, with escalating violence, more deaths, and increased tensions.
Amid the ongoing conflict, we also witness the quiet exodus of approximately 2,000 indigenous Palestinian Christians annually—a community that plays a vital role in peacebuilding alongside their Jewish and Muslim neighbors. I urge all citizens to work and pray fervently for peace.
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Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer
Grand Canyon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Deborah Hutterer
Phoenix
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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