Let’s open with prayers for the victims of the shooting and for the loved ones of those who have died, and for the dozens who have been hospitalized. The Jewish community has endured yet another tragedy and now it is on Hanukkah. Hear our prayer, oh God:

Almighty God, guide our steps and make our voices more powerful than those spewing hate. Strengthen our impact as we denounce the scourge of antisemitism. No one should die for being Jewish. Heal our blindness and sin, that we would be agents of peace and justice and righteousness, denouncing all forms of bigotry, hatred, and murder.

What follows is from Saed of Ghazza, a close friend of one of Erin’s Jewish friends living in Seattle:

On an ordinary Australian morning, Ahmed Al-Ahmed, an Arab Muslim, stood behind his small street stall, selling coffee and smiling at passersby. He wasn’t a hero seeking attention, nor a preacher brandishing slogans; he was a man who saw danger approaching the innocent and stepped forward without hesitation. When terror erupted, and one of the perpetrators tried to turn the place into a scene of carnage, Ahmed didn’t retreat an inch. He advanced, grappled, and wrested the gun from the attacker’s hand, as if his conscience preceded his body, as if his heart said: No, not here, and not in our name.

That scene wasn’t a fleeting snapshot, but a complete message. Australia saw in Ahmed the image of the close neighbor, the simple worker, who, when tested, chose life. People celebrated him because they saw the stark truth: the Muslim whose name is distorted in hateful headlines is the same one who stands first against terrorism. No lengthy statements, no justifications, just a courageous act that says terrorism is the enemy of all, and that Muslims reject it in word and deed.

Ahmed didn’t ask about the religion or origins of those around him. He saw people in danger and protected them. Here, all claims of Islamophobia that attempt to link faith with violence crumble. This roadside kiosk has become a silent platform, declaring that Muslims are an integral part of the societies in which they live, and that when tested, they stand with law, humanity, and justice.

In Ahmed Al-Ahmad’s story, action speaks louder than noise. Courage speaks louder than hatred. And one truth is revealed: Muslims do not justify terrorism; rather, they confront it, even with their bare hands, in defense of a life that knows no color or religion.

To help Saed and his important lens reach a greater amount of people, support him by contributing to buymeacoffee.com/eringrimm and writing “for Saed.” Erin will ensure the funds reach him.