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A man looked at the Star of David memorials Oct. 29 with the names of the people who were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. At least 11 people were killed and six others wounded, including four police officers, in a shooting Oct. 27 at the synagogue.
A man looked at the Star of David memorials Oct. 29 with the names of the people who were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. At least 11 people were killed and six others wounded, including four police officers, in a shooting Oct. 27 at the synagogue.
Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham | EPA

Shooting victims mourned; faith, civic leaders vow to fight hate, violence

11 people were killed in a shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Thousands of people gathered outside and inside the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Hall of the University of Pittsburgh Oct. 28 at an interfaith service to mourn the victims of the horrific shooting the previous day at the Tree of Life synagogue.

A Baptist gospel choir opened the service, which was organized under the banner the “Stronger Together.” Christian and Muslim clergy made remarks, but the leaders of the service were rabbis representing the three Jewish congregations who used the synagogue.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers called on political leaders, starting with “those in the room,” to help put an end to hate speech.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, choking back tears, said: “What happened yesterday will not break us. It will not ruin us. We will continue to thrive and sing and worship and learn together and continue our historic legacy in the city with the friendliest people that I know.”

People mourned at a memorial service at the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Hall of the University of Pittsburgh Oct. 28, after a deadly shooting the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Photo Credits: Jeffrey Becker | Reuters
That day and in the days since, a cascade of interfaith services have been held in cities large and small around the country to mourn the loss of life in what is being called the worst attack on a synagogue in U.S. history.

“All of Pennsylvania stands with the victims and their families,” Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted Oct. 29 as the state Capitol was lit in tribute to the victims. “We join the Pittsburgh Jewish community and Jewish Americans across our nation in mourning.”

The funerals for the deceased also have begun. Reuters reported that nearly 2,000 mourners from across the United States came Oct. 30 to offer condolences to relatives of David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, at the Rodef Shalom synagogue in Pittsburgh as police officers stood outside.

Besides the Rosenthals, who were brothers, those who died were: a husband and wife, Sylvan and Bernice Simon, ages 86 and 84; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69. Six others were injured, including four police officers.

Outside the synagogue hundreds have paid their respects to the dead at a makeshift memorial made with stars of David, each bearing the name of a victim.

A 46-year-old Pittsburgh man, Robert Bowers, is accused of the shooting. He allegedly shouted that “all Jews must die” before entering the synagogue in the Squirrel Hill section of the city and opening fire. Police said he was armed with three handguns and an AR-15 “style” weapon. He is believed to have acted alone.

Bowers was apprehended after a shootout with police. He was hospitalized and treated for injuries. The night of Oct. 27, he was formally taken into federal custody. He has been charged with 29 federal crimes, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. He appeared before a federal magistrate Oct. 29 to hear the charges against him. Bowers is being held without bail.

An outpouring of sympathy for the synagogue’s community and the city of Pittsburgh has come from religious leaders of all faiths, plus a pledge to join together to fight anti-Semitism, attacks on any religion and hatred directed to any group in the U.S., and to address gun violence in this country.

Catholic leaders were quick to condemn the shooting massacre, offer prayers and condolences for the victims and call for efforts to this wave of gun violence. Statements came from others including Cardinal Daniel N. Dinardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, and Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik.

Among other Catholic leaders weighing on the tragedy were the Sisters of Bon Secours.

“As women of healing, we hold fast to the belief that the power of love is stronger than the power of hate,” the religious congregation wrote in a statement Oct. 30. “In this spirit of love, we commit ourselves to actively promote a culture of Gospel nonviolence in our own lives and to bring a healing presence in those divisive situations in which we find ourselves.”

The statement added: “We stand in solidarity with all those who continue to press Congress to enact legislation on gun safety and with those who advocate for support services needed by those who suffer from emotional, psychological and mental health challenges.”


>> Local reaction

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson expressed his prayers for people killed and injured by the shooting Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and for their families and friends.

“This horrific and senseless act against our Pittsburgh Jewish sisters and brothers is another reminder of the level of hate and violence that confronts our faith communities and society,” he wrote in a statement.

Citing the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, he wrote, “Mindful of our Catholic commitment to walk together with our Jewish sisters and brothers, and attentive to my friendship with our local Jewish community of St. Louis, I offer the following words in prayer and solidarity: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon … where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light.’”

The Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis Cabinet offered prayers of healing the entire community wounded by the violence. “Together, we condemn this attack, like far too many other such attacks made on our Jewish sisters, brothers and friends,” the cabinet members noted in a statement. “We continue to pray and will continue to work for the day when all people can live in peace and safety.”

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