This past week has been one of grief and horror for so many of us as we saw yet another massacre bring unspeakable heartbreak to a loving community. We at the Hebrew Center offer our love and solidarity to the Tree of Life Synagogue, the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community and the brave police officers and first responders who answered the call without a thought for their own lives.

A week before the massacre, the Hebrew Center was one of the many synagogues across the country that held a special service for National Refugee Shabbat. This Shabbat is organized by HIAS, the Jewish organization that comes to the aid of immigrants, migrants and refugees of all nations and religions. For Judaism, like so many religious traditions, compassion is a primary value. Our sacred text, the Torah, teaches us to “love the stranger as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Sadly, during the week that led up to that Shabbat, the political context was such that hateful and fear-inducing rhetoric and tweets were used against refugees from Central America. As we know from newspaper reporting, the perpetrator of the attack wrote on social media that one of the reasons he targeted Tree of Life Synagogue was that they participated in HIAS’s National Refugee Shabbat, and that the refugees were “invaders” and dangerous to Americans. Here we see an unspeakably tragic example of the hateful words of some leaders turned into the hateful actions of other citizens.

The Anti Defamation League reports that since 2016 anti-Semitic incidents are at unprecedented highs. Increases in hate crimes against many other groups have jumped as well. Sadly, we Jews know too well that when there is hateful rhetoric against any group, all of us are vulnerable.

We stand in solidarity with the many victims and survivors who have suffered from hateful words and actions. And we stand in solidarity with all who want to meet hate with love, fear with faith. We stand proudly for our Jewish values of compassion and justice, and stand together with peoples of all faiths and ethical traditions who bravely act for those values.

I have received words of love and support from so many in the Island community. Please know how deeply we appreciate it. Standing together we find healing and hope. That is why we will hold a gathering at the Hebrew Center this coming Shabbat, Friday, Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m. We will come together as people of many faiths who affirm words and actions of love over hate.

I want to close with a prayer for healing: healing for those suffering unspeakable grief, healing for the wounded of body, mind and spirit, and healing for our country. May our highest values, for which so many sacrificed, prevail. Let us be strong and have faith. As Moses said to Joshua in the Torah, Hazak Ve’amatz, be strong and of good courage. We will need it for the road ahead.

Rabbi Caryn Broitman leads the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center.