Leaders in Chicago Jewish community react to Washington D.C. shooting of 2 Israeli embassy workers – ABC7 Chicago

Chicago Arab American organizations also calling for action
CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago leaders from the Jewish community and the Anti-Defamation League shared their reactions Friday to the recent attack in Washington D.C.
They are calling out antisemitism after the violence and are encouraging local leaders to do the same.

"Now, in case you can't tell, I'm tired," ADL Midwest Regional Director David Goldenberg said. "There are no two sides to Wednesday's hate-fueled murders in Washington, D.C. The Capital Jewish Museum attack was an act of pure, unadulterated antisemitism, full stop."
The Anti-Defamation League, along with other Jewish officials, city and faith leaders are sharing their pain, heartache and frustration after a Jewish couple was killed leaving an event Wednesday night at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C.
The victims were identified by officials as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy staff members who were soon planning on getting engaged.
"It was an attack targeting Jews simply because they're Jewish," 50th Ward Alderman Debra Silverstein said. "My heart goes out to the victims, their families and to the entire Jewish and Israeli communities, who once again must confront the pain of hate-fueled violence."
The suspect is Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago man now facing murder charges in this case that's being investigated as a hate crime and act of terrorism.
The group is sounding the alarm on the real-life implications of antisemitism.
"My three young children will never walk into a synagogue where the door is not opened by an armed guard," Goldenberg said.
The Anti-Defamation League reports more than 9,300 incidents of antisemitism just last year across the country, a 5% increase from 2023.
That includes an October shootout between a hate crime suspect and Chicago police after he allegedly shot and injured a Jewish man walking to synagogue in Rogers Park and the campus attack on two Jewish DePaul students in November.
"We must all stand together against violence, antisemitism and racism in all forms to the Jewish community. You are not alone, not in your sorrow and not in your struggle. And together, we will shine the light of love, justice and truth in these dark times," Bright Star Church Pastor Chris Harris said.
The Anti-Defamation League is now urging people to remember their calls for change, heading into Memorial Day weekend and beyond.
"The response to this has to be continuous," Goldenberg said. "The response of this can't just be somebody said 'hearts and minds.' Then we move on to the next issue, just can't."
The deadly shooting has put yet another spotlight on how Americans can bridge the divide that comes with the Israel-Hamas war.
Jewish community leaders spoke out on the impact that protests and social media may have had on the suspected shooter, and Arab American organizations are also calling for more action.
Goldenberg said the battle in the U.S. begins with inflammatory rhetoric seen on social media and within community protests.
"The chants you hear in the streets: the excuses under the guise of social and political activism, really what it's doing is leaving a can of gasoline and handing them the matches because that's what we're seeing on social media," Goldenberg said.
Cardinal Blase Cupich is now also responding to the violence in Washington, D.C., saying in a statement that he's calling on the faithful to pray for the two victims.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations' Chicago Chapter released a statement condemning the deadly D.C. attack, while also urging people to pay attention to the war in Gaza.
They write in part, "Such violence only undermines the pursuit of justice. Peaceful protest, civil disobedience and political engagement are the only appropriate and acceptable tools to advocate for policy change in our nation."
"What we're seeing is a weaponization of antisemitism to shut down freedom of speech and freedom of expression," CAIR Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said.
Rehab says many of the local protests have been organized by Jewish students and people of other backgrounds, and he believes it's important to keep doing so as a united front.
"We all stand on the same side of clearly and unequivocally condemning these atrocious acts that happened in D.C. We do not stand on the same side when it comes to condemning violence that is targeting innocent human beings including thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of families in Gaza," Rehab said.
Leaders from both communities say they're open to more conversation that could lead to peace in Chicago and across the U.S.
"The only solution is for us to coalesce, for us to build understanding, overcome our differences," said Beth Ida Stern, with the American Jewish Committee.
FBI Chicago said in a statement, "In response to Wednesday evening's tragic shooting in Washington, D.C., the FBI's Chicago Field Office, Chicago Police Department, and law enforcement partners have been aggressively supporting the FBI's Washington Field Office investigation. Targeted violence against the Jewish community, or any members of the community, will not be tolerated. Locally, there has not been any specific and credible intelligence indicating a threat to our area stemming from this incident. We remain alert and continue to work around the clock. As always, we ask the public to immediately report any suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement by calling 9-1-1, to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or online at tips.fbi.gov."

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