AJC to Jews: Attend Shabbat services

The American Jewish Committee is urging Jews – and nonJews – to come to synagogue this Shabbat in response to the mass shooting during services Saturday at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in which 11 worshipers were murdered.

The organization is calling on elected officials, civic leaders and others to join Jews at services as part of the #ShowUpForShabbat campaign.

“What could be a more fitting response to the terror in Pittsburgh?” AJC CEO David Harris said in a statement. “We are not afraid. We are not going to think twice about affirming our identity and faith. We are not alone.”

On social media, people shared their commitment to participating in the campaign. The United States Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan group representing mayors of cities with 30,000 or more residents, said on Twitter that it was “proud to be supporting these efforts.”

In Israel, The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization announced their support for the #ShowUpForShabbat initiative. A network of hundreds of religious Zionist rabbis across Israel, Tzohar, will encourage its members to dedicate speeches and discussions this weekend to issues of national unity and solidarity.

“Among the many painful lessons from this tragedy, we can also be inspired by the recognition that we are one people with one heart,” said Tzohar founder and chairman Rabbi David Stav. “It can’t just be our enemies that look at Jews as one but even while we pride ourselves on being a diverse people we must stand united in both times of happiness and pain.”