Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue shocks the nation

On Saturday, October 27, eleven congregants of the Tree of Life Synagogue were killed as they celebrated their faith.  The victims included a 97 year old woman whose family members said “had a lot of years left,” as well as a doctor who was known to treat HIV patients with respect and decency before the STD was destigmatized.  All victims were beloved by their Squirrel Hill neighbors, where the Tree of Life Synagogue often held community events.

In the aftermath of the shooting, lawmakers representing the Squirrel Hill community and those representing the rest of the nation condemned the action, expressing sympathy for those affected.  Mike Manno, a spokesman for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, said that he has been in touch with U.S. Attorney Scott Brady, with whom he determined that the shooting was, in fact, a hate crime.  

Manno said that local and federal officials “will have a process evaluating the safety and potential vulnerabilities of synagogues, churches and schools. To that end, we have already reached out to leaders of the Jewish community as well as other leaders in the religious and educational community.”

Lawmakers throughout the US spoke out against the hate crime.  Just hours after the shooting, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) tweeted, “Today, our Commonwealth and country stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We mourn the loss of eleven lives at Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill and pray for their families.” Casey posted the number for a Victims Assistance Hotline as well.

 “Those of us in public office have an obligation to take actions that can reduce the likelihood of mass shootings,” Casey said in a public statement.  

President Trump, after condemning the shooting and calling for unity, said that had the synagogue “had protection inside, the results would have been far better.”  Former Tree of Life rabbi Chuck Diamond reiterated that “I wish the politicians on both sides of the aisle would get off their rear ends and do something significant about it,” indicating that the public feels lawmakers have not been focused on change.  “What are the prayers going to do at this point? We need to take action, whatever that might be,” he said.

Locally, many synagogues have held vigils for those affected in what is the largest attack on Jewish people in the US to date.  Taking a decidedly partisan stance on the tragedy, the Montgomery County Council wrote, “In the midst of our grief, we must also all recommit ourselves to stamp out anti-semitism and to continue the fight for gun control.” The County Council also voiced its desire to protect residents of all faiths from hate crimes as best it can.

According to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, 54.2% of the hate crimes were anti-Jewish in 2016. In the aftermath of the Pittsburgh shooting, people of all faiths are uniting to condemn this vicious attack on the lives of eleven innocent Americans.  

Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue, a crowdfunding campaign to raise both money and awareness for victims of the shooting from the local Muslim community, raised over $150,000 in five days.  “Any leftover proceeds,” the site says, “will be spent on projects that help foster Muslim-Jewish collaboration, dialogue, and solidarity.”

Article by MoCo Student staff writer Lindsay Keiser of Walt Whitman High School