Jewish organizations mourn passing of Representative John Lewis
Lewis, a member of Congress from Atlanta who had announced in December that he had advanced pancreatic cancer, was 80.
By OMRI NAHMIASRep. John Lewis (D-GA) testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee during the second day of confirmation hearings on Senator Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) nomination to be U.S. attorney general in Washington, U.S., January 11, 2017(photo credit: REUTERS/JOSHUA ROBERTS)
WASHINGTON – Jewish organizations and activists mourned the passing of Rep. John Lewis.Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, tweeted that Lewis was a pillar of conscience and courage. “This past October I had a chance to tell him how much our Reform Jewish Movement loved him,” he added. “We will carry forward his holy work. His memory will never stop inspiring us.”“We’ve lost an American hero,” The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC tweeted. “We are forever grateful to John Lewis for his profound moral leadership and his tireless fight for a more just society. DMFI extends our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. May his memory be a blessing.”“No one in American public life was as admired as a prophetic voice calling on us to live up to our highest values and greatest aspirations, to strive to make this nation a more perfect union, as John Lewis,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “Even as he battled cancer, Rep. Lewis continued to be a powerful voice of conscience for our nation, at a time when it is once again sorely needed.”The progressive group J Street tweeted: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend Congressman John Lewis. History will rightly record his tireless pursuit of justice, his bravery, his statesmanship and his unending selflessness and kindness.”“There are very few people who you can say truly changed the world for the better,” said Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer. “John Lewis is certainly at the top of that list. From risking his life in Selma to remaining the ‘Conscience of Congress’ in the House, he devoted his life to fighting for equality and civil rights,” he added.“From his very early days, John Lewis was a man on a mission, who treated every person he met with kindness and grace,” Schumer continued, “and who forcefully, but gently, led us all to do more and do better. As we mourn this loss – we must also celebrate the monumental contributions of a true American hero.”
