One Minute of Silence for the Munich 11

The following is a message from the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey:

JOIN US: ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR MUNICH 11

We invite you to join the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey  in observing a personal moment of silence wherever you are, at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 27, to remember the 11 Israeli athletes, coaches, and referees murdered at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The 2012 Summer Olympics, which begin in London on July 27, marks 40 years since that horrific moment. Since then, the bereaved families have repeatedly asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to observe a minute of silence in memory of the Munich 11. Although a petition has been signed by nearly 100,000 individuals, the IOC has refused to undertake this action. (Click here to link to the petition.) In order to heighten awareness of and support for this important memorial ceremony, please consider commemorating this tragedy by observing this moment of silence. We are also asking local synagogues to remember the athletes at Shabbat services on Saturday, July 28, by reciting a special prayer, mentioning it in sermons, holding a moment of silence, or any other method the community will find meaningful. The names of the 11 Israeli Olympic Team members are: Mark Slavin, 18, Wrestler Eliezer Halfin, 24, Wrestler David Berger, 28, Weightlifter Ze'ev Friedman, 28, Weightlifter Yossef Romano, 31, Weightlifter Andre Spitzer, 27, Fencing coach Moshe Weinberg, 33, Wrestling coach Amitzur Shapira, 40, Track coach Yossef Gutfreund, age 40, Wrestling referee Yakov Springer, 51, Weightlifting judge Kehat Shorr, 53, Shooting coach Thank you in advance, Rabbi Neal Borovitz, Chair Jewish Community Relations Council                                          Joy Kurland, Director Jewish Community Relations Council