Jerusalem Interfaith Center condemns San Diego mosque killings, calls for healing and shared humanity

The Jerusalem Interfaith Center has expressed deep sorrow over the reported murders at the San Diego Mosque, describing the attack as a violation of sacred space, sacred time, and the sanctity of human life.

In a statement signed by Rabbi Dr. Yakov Meir Nagen, President of the Jerusalem Interfaith Center, and Rabbi Dr. Aharon Ariel Lavi, Chief Executive Officer, the organization mourned the victims and offered prayers for their families.

“We are deeply sorrowed by, and mourn, the victims of the horrific murders at the San Diego Mosque,” the statement read. “We pray that the families of the victims will find a path toward consolation and healing.”
The Center said the attack was especially painful because it took place against the spiritual backdrop of the days leading to Eid al-Adha, a period of deep meaning for Muslims around the world. The statement described the violence as an assault not only on a Muslim house of worship, but also on the shared moral foundation of humanity.

“The sacred has been violated on every level in time, in space, and in soul,” the statement said.

In a powerful interfaith reflection, the Center cited the Qur’an, Surah al-Ma’idah 5:32, emphasizing that killing one soul is like killing all mankind, while saving one soul is like saving all mankind. The statement also connected the tragedy to the story of Abraham, which holds significance in both Islamic and biblical traditions.

According to the Center, the message of Eid al-Adha is not bloodshed, but faith, devotion, mercy, and the divine rejection of unnecessary killing.

“In both the Islamic and biblical traditions, the son of Abraham is spared and bloodshed avoided; this is the will of God,” the statement noted.

The Jerusalem Interfaith Center also honored the reported courage of a security guard who, according to initial accounts, stood in the path of violence to protect others.

“May his memory be a blessing,” the statement said.

The Center closed its message with a call for people of faith and conscience to stand together against hatred and violence.

“In the name of our shared and sacred humanity, and in the name of the God of mercy and compassion, we stand together against hatred and violence,” the statement said. “We pray and hope for a world cleansed of hatred, bloodshed, and fear, a world shaped instead by compassion, dignity, and peace.”

For New York’s diverse Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and interfaith communities, the statement carries a timely reminder: an attack on one house of worship threatens the peace and safety of all sacred spaces. In moments of grief, responsible leadership must reject revenge, protect vulnerable communities, support victims’ families, and deepen interfaith solidarity.

The Jerusalem Interfaith Center’s response reflects a restorative path forward. One that mourns the dead, honors courage, condemns hatred, and insists that faith communities must not allow violence to define their relationship with one another.