releases: https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/thousands-gather-sunday-vigil-honoring-tree-life-synagogue-shooting-victims
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/thousands-gather-sunday-vigil-honoring-tree-life-synagogue-shooting-victims | Thousands Gather At Sunday Vigil Honoring Tree Of Life Synagogue Shooting Victims | 2018-10-30 | 2018 | 2018-10 | Republican | House | PA | Keith Rothfus | R000598 | rothfus.house.gov | legacy | By Amanda Reed, originally published in the Pittsburgh Current Thousands of people gathered at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Sunday evening to honor the victims of the Tree of Life shooting, filling up all of the venue's 2,300 seats, with a crowd standing outside listening to the vigil over speakers. Governor Tom Wolf, Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, Representatives Conor Lamb, Keith Rothfus and Mike Doyle and Deputy Assistant to the President Ari Berkowitz were among those in attendance. Various religious and political leaders from Pittsburgh and beyond spoke at the event. However, all speakers touched upon themes of hope, togetherness and solidarity. Naftali Bennett, Israeli minister of education,flew in from Israel to visit the synagogue today, noticing the light hidden among the darkness. I did not see death. I saw life. I saw strength, he said. A video of Reuven Rivlin, President of the state of Israel, played at the event, offering his condolences to the victims and their families. You are not alone we are with you, he said. Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, of New Light Congregation held back tears speaking about the effects of the shooting on his congregation. What happened yesterday will not break us. It will not ruin us, he said. Rabbi Cheryl Klein of congregation Dor Hadash said that, if she weren't out of town celebrating Shabbat with family, she would have been in the building on Saturday. Now it's time to be lifters, not leaners, she said. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers from Tree of Life, began services Saturday at 9:45 a.m. The shooting began shortly after. He spoke about ending hateful rhetoric, speaking specifically to the political leaders in the room. It has to start with you as our leaders, he said. Leaders from other Pittsburgh-area congregations also spoke, showing solidarity for their Jewish counterparts. During the event Rev. Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, drew parallels between Christian and Jewish faiths. Afterward, she said that both religions are at root the same family and thus should stand with each other in solidarity. Christians have a troubled history with our Jewish neighbors, she said. The church historically has been complicit in many, many centuries of anti-Semitism, and so our participation here in some ways is an act of repentance. Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh raised $70,000 for those affected by the shooting. According to him, after Sept. 11 and the 2016 election, the Jewish community in Pittsburgh supported the Muslim one. We're just repaying the favor, he said. Rev. John Welch, dean of students at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and city police chaplain, spoke about the similarities between the Jewish and African American experience. Together, we are advocates for civil rights and social justice, he said. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Mayor Bill Peduto also spoke, speaking to the city's kindness and strength following the shooting. We all come together as one love will conquer all, Fitzgerald, a Squirrel Hill resident, said, noting that he moved there 35 years ago with his wife, Kathy. Receiving multiple standing ovations for his remarks, Peduto said the city will make sure the Jewish community has the support it needs. We will work together as one. We will be a city of compassion, he said. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |