Yesterday morning, a gunman entered Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas during Shabbat services, taking four hostages including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, and sparking a tense ten-hour standoff.

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is incredibly grateful to law enforcement and first responders for the safe rescue of the hostages. We are also thankful for the support and prayers of local faith communities during the crisis.

While it is a huge relief that the hostages escaped physically unharmed, we know there will be a tremendous emotional toll for the entire congregation, as well as for Jews and Jewish organizations throughout our community and across the nation. We hope that all faith communities will continue to offer support and stand in solidarity with their Jewish friends and neighbors to condemn actions that divide us and target individuals and organizations because of their faith. We must all work to denounce and fight the antisemitism which leads to the targeting of synagogues.

The mission of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. To learn more, visit www.dhhrm.org.

– Mary Pat Higgins, President and CEO

– Mark Zilbermann, Board Chair