As we hope you know, on December 20th, close to 200 faith leaders, practitioners, and justice advocates met at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis for A Silent Vigil for Peace. After gathering, the Rev. Ben Connelly from the Minnesota Zen Center rang a bell and we crossed the bridge together and back together in silence. We gathered to grieve for the loss of life and to demonstrate our empathy for all who suffer as victims of violence in Palestine and Israel.

This vigil was a solemn moment for those gathered to reflect on pain and on what continues to be grave human tragedy. It offered a light of hope as a statement that Minnesota has no place for anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim bias and hate. It was an active expression of unity and solidarity for the sacredness of all human life. Bridges are symbolic of many things: connection, journeys, union, transition, understanding. Here is a clip our journey and some words of participants who met and walked together across the bridge in silence as the cold waters of the Mississippi flowed beneath.