The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston is deeply saddened and horrified by last night’s savage attack, currently under investigation as a hate crime, on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. where nine innocent people lost their lives as they participated in a Bible study.

An attack on a house of worship, any house of worship, is an affront to people of faith and good conscience everywhere. We can never become inured to images of violence and death in a holy setting, though sadly this tragedy is not unique. We join with leaders of all faiths in condemning this act of hate and again call for this to be a turning point in the epidemic of gun violence.

Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the victims and their families, the Emanuel AME Church, the AME community across the country and our friends locally, and the entire city of Charleston.