Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall and his wife, Jill Cooper Udall, attended a memorial service at the Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe, N.M., where they attend services, to honor the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. Udall released the following statement:
“It is abundantly clear that the hatred that exists in this nation is strong. That fact has been repeatedly laid bare -- agonizingly so yesterday, when 11 innocent people, seeking peace in a house of worship, were murdered in an act of appalling, anti-Semitic hatred. But as Jill and I joined together with an incredible congregation of New Mexicans tonight at Beth Shalom, this fact was also clear: our love is stronger. Hatred will never win.
“I am reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s prescient words: ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness - only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.’ Dr. King’s words call to mind the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam: the notion that we are all called to carry out acts of kindness and love — even in the face of unspeakable hate — to repair this world.
“We are at a defining moment in our history, and we have a choice to make about who we want to be as a nation. We can choose to cede to the forces of bigotry and division that have been stoked at the highest level of our government – or we can choose peace, understanding, and appreciation of our differences. I stand with so many New Mexicans who, today and every day, choose love and understanding – knowing that it is our diversity that makes us strong.”
