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Below: a new message from MW Ilan Segev, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Israel, dated yesterday, to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York.
To support our brothers and their families in the State of Israel, Grand Lodge is grateful to receive your contributions, both large and small, as checks payable to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund earmarked for the Grand Lodge Emergency Relief Fund.
Please mail your checks directly to:
Masonic Brotherhood Fund
71 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010-4149
Grand Lodge ensures all funds collected will be given to the Grand Lodge of Israel to help our Israeli Brothers and their families.
My Dear Brother,
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, thousands of terrorists infiltrated the southern part of Israel
and caused a barbaric mass slaughter—unprecedented in the world—while committing
crimes against humanity and mankind.
Over 1,300 fatalities, with this number expected to increase; over 3,000 wounded; several
hundred missing, and hundreds more abducted—babies, children, women, men, the elderly,
and soldiers.
This is the blackest day in the history of the State of Israel since its establishment, some 75
years ago.
Terrible sights were discovered yesterday after searching for remaining terrorists, showing that these are not human animals (animals kill to eat)—this is pure evil, hatred of Jews. Terrorists who have lost all humanity—shooting children and their parents in the head; tying civilians up and shooting them in the limbs so they don’t run away; followed by horrific murders; rape and murder of women; cutting off heads and burning people alive who would not leave their homes, leaving a human mass of coal! Also that merciless slaughter of young people who participated in a moonlight nature party.
What can I say? A heinous murderous scene unimaginable in the human mind.
Israel was surprised by an intelligence and military failure, but very soon regained control and
we are fighting for our homeland, for our lives. We have no other country. We have nowhere
else. We have no choice but to win!
300,000 Israelis have enlisted in the army to defend the country, including my family and the
brethren of our Order. There is no doubt that we will win!
My Brother, this is totally contrary to the principles of Freemasonry—pure evil, acts of
terrorism similar to the actions of al-Qaeda and ISIS.
As we speak of principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity, we see here an unimaginable
evil, an evil of a kind never seen before. On the other hand, we see the amazing
heartwarming response from you and the Grand Lodges around the world, who sympathize
with us in these difficult times and not only share solidarity but also express condolences for
the losses that we are experiencing.
The Grand Lodge of the State of Israel brings together Christian, Muslim, Druze, and Jewish
brethren who show their solidarity, warm bond, and desire to help each other. We all unite
and stand together in these difficult moments.
Unfortunately, there are casualties, including some brethren and their families: a brother
whose son was killed, a brother who survived the massacre together with his family but his
daughter and son-in-law were taken hostage. Many of us have close family members who
have been killed, wounded, missing, or kidnapped.
My Dear Brother, your letter and that of your Grand Lodge warm our hearts and show us that Freemasonry is a ray of light in the darkness, a beam of hope that shines in the terrible darkness.
You are strengthening hope and faith in man.
My brother, this is a war for freedom, a war for values.
On behalf of myself and the brethren in Israel, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and
those of all the brethren of our Order for your friendship, brotherhood, concern, and
caring. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Freedom, equality, and fraternity are our motto.
We will win and substantiate these words!
With sincere feelings of gratitude and brotherhood,
llan Segev
Grand Master
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