A Gesture of Goodwill: US Jewish Group Donates $25,000 to Gaza’s Holy Family Church

In a remarkable display of interfaith solidarity, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) has donated $25,000 towards repairs at Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic church, which was struck by an Israeli missile last month. The attack resulted in the deaths of three people and injured several others, including the priest Fr Gabriel Romanelli. The church serves as a shelter for hundreds of displaced people in Gaza City. The AJC’s donation is a rare gesture of support from a mainstream US Jewish group to Gaza Palestinians.

The AJC’s Chief Executive, Ted Deutch, expressed his organization’s deep sadness over the incident and stood in solidarity with the Catholic community. Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC’s Director of Interreligious Affairs, emphasized the importance of mutual support, saying, “In the wake of this tragedy, we want to be there for Catholic partners who have been there for the Jewish people in our times of need.” This donation is a testament to the strong Jewish-Catholic alliance and a demonstration of shared humanity.

The Archdiocese of New York will receive the funds and oversee the repairs. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, welcomed the partnership, saying, “We appreciate AJC’s expression of consolation and support and are thankful for the opportunity to do good as Jews and Catholics together in this way, to bring some light to the darkness of war.” This gesture of goodwill highlights the power of interfaith cooperation and compassion in the face of adversity.