V Jewish communities from New Zealand, the US and Australia have handed over £500,000 to the victims who suffered loss in March when a lone gunman massacred 51 Muslims and injured 49 others.
Members of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, themselves victims of a similar attack in October 2018, were major donors.
“Our faith has a shared Abrahamic tradition, and Jews and Muslims have both suffered persecution and racism historically, and unfortunately still do today,” said Stephen Goodman of the New Zealand Jewish Council. “The Jewish community, both in New Zealand and overseas, wanted the victims of the mosque attacks to know that we see them, we empathise with them, and we support them.”
The money is being distributed by the Christchurch Foundation. Vic Alhadeff, the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive, travelled from Australia for the event and met members of the Christchurch Islamic community.
“The massacre occurred at a time when people were at their most vulnerable — at prayer in a house of worship,” he said. “All humanity is profoundly the poorer for this. We remember the attacks on the mosque in Quebec, the synagogue in Pittsburgh, the church in Charleston, and in March this year the mosques in Christchurch. An attack on one faith is an attack on us all. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the Christchurch massacre and we extend our hand in friendship in calling for an end to racism, an end to antisemitism, an end to Islamophobia and an end to bigotry in all its forms.”
Ibrar Sheikh from the Federation of Islamic Associations NZ (FIANZ) said: “The Jewish and Muslim community in New Zealand already have a long history of collaboration, but this wider gift of support from the global community is very gratefully received. To know that our Jewish brothers and sisters understand what we have gone through, and are still going through, and are there to help us in our recovery is very important to us.”
Part of the funds will be allocated to interfaith projects.
Visitors were taken on a tour to the mosques which were attacked in March.