New Zealand’s Jewish community has opened up its arms and heart to the country’s Muslim community in the wake of the devastating Christchurch mosque terror attacks.
On Friday March 15, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 50 people who were worshipping in two separate mosques in the country’s third largest city. The killer, who posted an extremist manifesto which identified him as a white supremacist moments before embarking on his murderous rampage, filmed and live streamed the attacks on social media.
It was the deadliest attack in New Zealand’s history, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern describing it as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and an “extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence”.
As a nation, New Zealanders were left shocked, horrified and grieving. However, most people soon rallied to support the Muslim community and also to present a strong united front against the attack and all that it symbolised.
Among them was the Jewish community, which was quick to condemn the attacks as well as to show its support for, and offer its assistance to, the Muslim community.
