We posted it because we have lots of family, friends and colleagues in Israel.

The response we got troubled us deeply.  

A person was celebrating that Israel is on fire- that literally large parts of the country are being burned right now- and making racist and antisemitic comments.  We reported them because they crossed the line of free speech to harassment and incitement.

We get that it is Black Friday and many are busy with getting great deals and spending time with family as part of Thanksgiving weekend.  We have no problem with shopping, saving money and enjoying time with family.

Our issue is with two things: a) the lack of leaders- whether they be political or other types of leaders- speaking out against terrorism and hate and b) that people celebrate this terrorism, destruction and loss with fervor and excitement.

It is troubling that those who spoke out about the tone in the Presidential elections haven’t yet made statements condemning these acts of terrorism and those celebrating and advocating them on social media.    

It is sad that there is so much hate and so many are easily influenced without understanding the issues or facts.

Setting fire and burning homes, businesses and innocent people should be condemned by people of goodwill in the harshest terms.  (We thought that was somewhat obvious.  Unfortunately we now need to state that and make it clear that condemning hate, violence and terrorism is essential.)

Before we have said that “if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.  

Please always speak out.  Do not only speak out about “your” issues.  When people are being injured, hurt, bullied or forced to leave their homes because of fires deliberately set speak out because that is the right thing to do.