Over 100 Buddhist leaders have signed an open letter addressing antisemitism following the January 15 synagogue attack at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, in which a gunman held four people hostage for 10 hours. Penned by Zen teacher Koshin Paley Ellison of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, the letter was shared via Google Doc for Buddhist leaders to sign.
The letter serves to address the larger Buddhist community’s silence around acts of antisemitism, and acknowledges that the community has “not always been a refuge for Jewish people.” The letter urges Buddhist practitioners to “dig deeply into our own roles in our collective silence in the face of antisemitism and all forms of hatred.” It also includes a list of ways to take action against antisemitism both individually and as a sangha from the Anti Defamation League.
Read the letter in full below:
Source: Buddhist leaders share open letter addressing antisemitism following Texas synagogue attack