The Council of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) joins the chorus of voices of all persons, organizations, and governments that have deplored the horrible violence that took place on September 11 in New York City, Washington, D.C., and rural Pennsylvania. We express our condolences to those persons in America and around the globe, who have been directly touched by the death or injury of some innocent individual who is a family member or friend.

SBL members teach in educational institutions and hold positions across the world in libraries, diverse religious bodies, and in the public sector. Our mission is to advance the study and understanding of the Bible and related literature along with the surrounding history, culture, and religion out of which these formative texts have grown. These ancient texts, as is well known, have become the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We welcome the opportunity to discuss and to help clarify these matters with interested groups, private and public, and to offer our expertise so that people in religious groups, educational institutions, and the public at large will better understand both the historical and current issues that so profoundly shape our destinies.

We invite you to contact us at 404.727.3137 from 9:00-3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time for immediate and personal attention to your need for resources. You may email us directly resources@sbl-site.org.

Citation: , " Deploring the Violence of 11 September 2001 and Offering Help," SBL Forum , n.p. [cited July 2004]. Online:http://sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleID=53