Over the past 12 months a small group of protesters has picketed outside Beth Israel Congregation each week on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, as congregants arrive to participate in religious services.

We recognize that well-intentioned and well-informed people can disagree and encourage open, candid, respectful dialogue on difficult issues. We recognize and applaud a number of local groups, from all ideological strands, who have been addressing the difficult issues in the Middle East in an informed and thoughtful manner. However, we repudiate the tactic of picketing a place of worship, be it a synagogue, temple, church or mosque. This is not an effective way to generate productive dialogue on difficult topics.

The actions of these picketers have thus far been within the law. Furthermore, all of us, along with the members of Beth Israel Congregation, respect and value our constitutional right to free speech. However, this tactic of picketing a place of worship nonetheless violates any reasonable norms of civil and mutually respectful behavior. People go to houses of worship to contemplate difficult issues in their lives and in the world, to celebrate happy occasions and to seek solace in times of struggle. It is inappropriate to subject worshipers to a political protest.

While this protest activity primarily affects Beth Israel Congregation, we are joining together in solidarity across all faiths and across religious traditions in this statement. We all suffer individually and communally with Beth Israel Congregation. If this form of political protest is allowed to continue unchallenged outside Beth Israel Congregation, it will be just a matter of time before it spreads, causing worshipers of other faiths also to be unfairly subjected to this form of intimidation and harassment in connection with any number of other issues. These individuals must end this ill-conceived and illegitimate protest, because it impedes meaningful dialogue, and is an affront to the members of Beth Israel Congregation and to citizens of all faiths in the Ann Arbor community.