As members of the international community we can only extend
our hearts to the six victims who were wounded at the Jerusalem March for Pride
and Tolerance.
It is an unspeakable tragedy that on a day that intended to
be of positivity and acceptance that the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual,
trans, and queer/questioning) Jewish community is once again mourning an act of
senseless violence against LGBTQ people.
We were than informed the tragic news. Sixteen-year-old
Shira Banki has died.
As a member of the international LGBTQ Jewish
community, my thoughts and prayers are with Shira's family and friends at this
devastating time.
In a statement issued today, her family said:
"Our magical Shira was murdered because she was a happy 16-year-old – full
of life and love – who came to express her support for her friends' rights to
live as they choose. For no good reason and because of evil, stupidity and
negligence, the life of our beautiful flower was cut short. Bad things happen
to good people, and a very bad thing happened to our amazing girl. The family
expresses hope for a less hatred and more tolerance."
There are no words to express what the Banki Family
is going through.
The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgender Jews issued a statement, announcing, "Ignorance and fear will
not discourage our uncompromising demand to live our lives as we are. Knives
will not stop us. With pride and pain, with broken hearts and tearful eyes,
with Shira's memory and our unanswered prayers, we will continue to march in
Jerusalem."
Shira's tragic death is a cogent reminder of how
much work still needs to be done in our communities to educate people
about the acceptance of diversity, and the importance of inclusion and
respect for difference.
I will close on this note; there is a tradition in Judaism
of Refuah Shlema. It is a prayer of healing. And it goes as follows:
Mi-sheberakh avoteinu v'imoteinu, Avraham v'Sarah, Yitzhak
v'Rivkah, Ya'akov, Rachel v'Leah hu y'varekh et (recite the Hebrew name) v'yavi
aleihem refuat hanefesh u'refuat haguf yachad im kol cholei amo Yisrael. Barukh
atah Adonai, rofeh ha'cholim.
In English: May the One who was a source of blessing for our ancestors, bring blessings of healing upon (recite the name), a healing of body and a healing of spirit. May those in whose care they are entrusted, be gifted with wisdom and skill, and those who surround them, be gifted with love and trust, openness and support in their care. And may they be healed along with all those who are in need. Blessed are You, Source of healing. Amen
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