STRONGER THAN HATE Our responsibility at a time of crisis

The distance between Jewish communities is difficult to measure. It is equivalent to the gap between siblings, between best friends, between one Jew and another.

The attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh hits at the core of the Jewish community worldwide. Such rampant anti-Semitism rips at the fabric of America. Yet hate cannot tear us asunder.

In times such as the attack in Squirrel Hill, the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company has a particularly important job. As the major media outlet serving Ohio’s two largest Jewish communities, it is our role – our solemn duty – to provide information quickly and accurately, to report with context and sensitivity.

We seek to communicate the news reliably and convey how it affects our community on a number of levels. In the hours and days since this attack, we have:

• Reported the breaking news, based on national and regional sources, as well as local sources of our own.

• Covered the numerous local connections that are directly and indirectly impacted.

• Offered an outlet and a conduit for people to express themselves as a caring community.

• Helped our communities examine how events such as this impact American Jews.

After news broke of the attack on Tree of Life, the CJPC staff launched into action. Our policy is to avoid sending out news bulletins or updating our website on Shabbat unless extraordinary circumstances warrant it.