We are horrified and profoundly saddened by the two terror attacks in Paris, including the brutal murder of four members of the French Jewish community in a deadly siege at the Hyper Cacher kosher market. These tragic events make it abundantly clear that Jews around the world face a unique and elevated threat from global terrorism.

The Jewish Federations of North America has been tracking and responding to events in Paris as they occur. In coordination with the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the Service de protection de la communauté juive in France, we are working to ensure that local Jewish institutions, schools and synagogues as well as French Jewish citizens are protected from further attacks. 

We are painfully aware that these callous and cowardly acts are not isolated incidents. Rather, they are the latest in a series of increasingly disturbing and violent attacks, including the 2012 Toulouse school shooting and multiple attacks during Operation Protective Edge last summer. These events have increased the security concerns of French Jewry and also led to a dramatic rise in immigration of French Jews to Israel.

At this difficult time, we affirm that we stand in solidarity with the 500,000-strong French Jewish community, the families and friends of the victims of the Charlie Hebdo shooting and the entire nation of France. Join us and sign our message of condolence and solidarity.

We will continue to keep you apprised of the situation and ask you to consider making a donation to aid French Jews.

Many Federations have also initiated philanthropic responses and opened mailboxes for donations. The Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles Federations have each approved grants of $100,000.

For more information, please read our letter to the French Jewish community and our media statement. You can also listen to a teleconference featuring JTA European correspondent Cnaan Lipshiz and communal security expert Paul Goldenberg, and a teleconference featuring Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Ira Forman.

We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

A police officer reacts as he is escorted from the scene following the hostage situation at Port de Vincennes on Jan. 9, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via JTA News)

On January 11, world leaders marched in the streets of Paris to condemn the attacks. To the right of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French Prime Minister Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union President Donald Tusk. Photo credit: Haim Zach, GPO