December 19, 2025 – Two apparent hate crimes were committed against Chabad Jewish Center in East Lansing during the festival of Hanukkah this week. On December 16th, a person threw rocks at Chabad and on December 18th, possibly the same person spray painted swastikas on the center and threw more rocks, breaking windows. No one was hurt, we are relieved to say.
However, these acts of violence followed in the wake of the horrific murders in Bondi Beach, Australia on the first night of Hanukkah.
Considering this, as well as the continued rise of white Christian nationalism in the United States and the upswing of antisemitic attacks around the world, the Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater Lansing declares:
We condemn this abhorrent attack in East Lansing and the horrific violence in Bondi Beach in the strongest of terms. We condemn antisemitism in all of its forms, and all violence against the innocent, whether the violence is in words, acts, or acts left undone. In this local community, our interfaith association has helped us to become friends and partners together in building bonds that cross faiths and cultures. So we stand united against any threats to our Jewish friends, against any intimidation or provocation. We commit to encouraging our communities to seek peace and understanding with our Jewish neighbors, as it is only through building strong relationships and educating each other about our perspectives that we can hope to achieve harmony.
Our faiths all affirm that we are called to act in peace and love, as repairers of the world. We pray for compassion, kindness, and a just peace for all.
Signed,
- Rev. Dr. Laura Miller-Purrenhage, Chair Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater Lansing
- Rev. Sonrisa Cortes, Co-Chair Interfaith Clergy Association of Greater Lansing and MSU Wesley Executive Director and Campus Minister
- Rev. Melissa Congleton, St. Katherine’s Episcopal Church, Williamston
- Rev. Kirk Miller, First Presbyterian Church of Holt
- Rev. Leslee Fritz, Grace United Methodist Church, Lansing
- Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe, Senior Pastor, The Peoples Church, East Lansing, MI 48823
- Rev. Zachariah Shipman, University Lutheran Church, East Lansing
- Rev. Dr. Kenneth Bieber, Chaplain, East Lansing
- Rev. Sharon Ketchum, Unity Spiritual Center of Lansing, Lansing
- Rev. Elijah Burton and First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), East Lansing
- Rev. Melanie Carey, University United Methodist Church, East Lansing
- Fr. Mark Sietsema, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Lansing
- Rev. Dr. Timothy Flynn, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Lansing
- Rev. Dr. Mark Vorenkamp (they/them), Founding Pastor, Revolution Church Online
- Rev Anita K Hahn, Holt United Methodist Church
- The Very Rev Gail Shafer and the Capital Area Deanery of the Diocese of Michigan
- Rev. Dr. Lisa Schrott, Presbyterian Church of Okemos
- Rev. Dr. Andrew Armond, Rector, All Saints Episcopal Church, East Lansing
- Rev. Dillon Burns, Okemos Community Church
- Fr. John Fain, St. Therese Church, Lansing
- Rev. Gregory Briggs, Edgewood United Church UCC, East Lansing
- Rev. Gordon Reigle, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, East Lansing
- Rev. Karen C. Lewis, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Lansing, MI
- Rev. Dr. Kit Carlson, Episcopal clergy (retired)
- Rev. Kristin Stroble, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, East Lansing
- The People of Christ United, DeWitt
- Pastor Tom Arthur, Lead Pastor of Sycamore Creek Church, Campus Pastor of Sycamore Creek Eastwood
- Alice Fleming Townley, United Methodist pastor and consultant
- Pastor Michal White, Campus Pastor of Sycamore Creek S Lansing
- Imam Sohail Chaudhry, Spirituality Leader at the Islamic Center of East Lansing
- Rev. Dawn Christenson, Bethlehem United Church of Christ
- Rev. Tom Fox, Retired United Methodist Clergy
- Rev. Sue Platt, Grace United Methodist Church, Lansing
- Rev. Emily Shipman, Lead Pastor, University Lutheran Church (ELCA), East Lansing
- Rev. Betsy Aho, Haslett Community Church, UCC
- Pastor Carl Ballard, St Paul Lutheran Church, East Lansing
- Rev Laura Fuller, Freshwater Heathen Fellowship
- Rev. Dr. Rob Carlson, Parish Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Holt
- Rev. Mark McCormick, Pastor of Mayflower Congregational Church, Lansing
- Rev. Amy Eld Maffeo, Episcopal Priest & Hospital Chaplain
- Rev. Catharine McCloskey-Turner, Parish associate at the First Presbyterian Church in Holt
- Rev. Alex Aivars, Chaplain of Canterbury MSU
- Rev. Timothy Chon, PCUSA
- Rev. Bill Pinches, Pastor, Mason First Presbyterian Church
- Rev. Ben Rumbaugh, First Presbyterian Church of Dimondale & Delta Presbyterian Church