The question before Jews at this point in history is how the lessons of our tradition and our own history can be applied to diminish the brutalities that, in so many forms, bring unconscionable suffering. In Judaism God is the source of our ethics. When we speak of God as One, we see a human face, every human face, in that Oneness. Jews see God when we look into each others eyes. The Hebrew phrase for this is betzelem Elohim , in the image of God.
Violence has many vessels.
It can come directly from bullets, knives and fists. But it can also come from the harms that society can do to communities. It can also come from things we do to ourselves, physically and emotionally. Jewish values have shaped our response to all of these levels and forms of violence. With regard to the category of bullets, knives and fists the Jewish community provides leadership for diminishing the use of firearms in America, building coalitions with corporations to create gun turn-in and exchange programs.