You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor; I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:16).
We are standing idly by. We are standing idle while the blood of our neighbors is being spilled in the streets of this country. We are the witnesses to the epidemic of mass shootings, horror after horror, totaling over 350 incidents already in 2015. We hear talk about gun laws, about supports for mental health, about anti-terrorism measures. But none of those ideas – from any side of the political spectrum – has been put into action. Instead, prayers are offered, memorials are constructed, and speeches are made. And the blood of our neighbors still pools in the streets as we stand by and watch.
The teachings of Torah do not allow us to be idle. The teachings of Torah demand that we act. The bloodshed won’t stop until we do. Do not stand idly by. Find a way to act. Now.