Start of Shabbat lets healing begin as Pittsburgh mourns
PITTSBURGH — They gathered in the shuttered street just as the sun began dipping towards the horizon. Men and women, in the shadow of the imposing concrete facade of Tree of Life, stood beyond the yellow police tape that still surrounds the building.
Here, underneath a stoplight, and amidst the din of traffic, they turned to the east — toward Israel — and began their prayers.
Across the city on Friday night, this ritual repeated itself in homes and in syna- and attempted to reclaim a gogues. This group wanted sense of peace. to ensure that these evening About a mile away, the prayers, which marked the home of 69-year-old Myriam start of Shabbat, continued at Gumerman, an eclectic crowd Tree of Life, even if the bloodgathered to observe Shabbat. stained sanctuary remains a There was her friend Elkhaili crime scene, a place where 11 Oumallal, a 35-year-old com- people seeking the solace of munity college student and morning services had instead translator, whom she had met their deaths. befriended as a passenger in
“When you went to the his Uber. Oumallal is Muslim funerals, you heard how dedand Gumerman Jewish, but icated they were to Shabbat,” both were raised in Morocco. said Sam Weinberg, principal Then there were her neighof the Hillel Academy of Pitts- bors: a Jewish couple from burgh. He reached out to his Amsterdam and a Christian students to gather here for couple — Anne Curtis and Shabbat prayers, and many Tim Clark — who has lived in of them came, some don- the neighborhood for more ning yarmulkes in Steelers than four decades. black-and-gold. For Curtis, the dinner was
“It would have been a an extension of the Pittsburgh shame not to have them concept of “nebby,” local here,” he said. slang that means “nosy,”
It’s been nearly a week but also conveys a sense of since a man burst into this concern for neighbors. In synagogue in the heart of the the days since the shooting, historic Jewish neighborhood she’s been calling and texof Squirrel Hill, killing some ting neighbors to ensure they of the most dedicated congrewere safe. gants and shaking the sense “The core is we take care of security for Jews worship- of each other,” Curtis said. ping across the country. But Gumerman began Shabbat even as Tree of Life remained by lighting a dozen yahrzeit a crime scene, and even as candles, one for each of the victims remained in the hosvictims and a 12th for those pital, people lit Shabbat canwho were still in the hospidles, prayed, shared food tal. The candles are normally lit on the anniversary of the death of loved ones.
Several of those victims were from the New Light congregation, which had met at Tree of Life regularly. But on this evening, they had to relocate down the street to Beth Shalom for Shabbat services. People crammed into the pews of the massive sanctuary.
“Tonight, I really want to keep my mouth shut,” Rabbi Jonathan Perlman told the congregants. “Because there are no words.”
Instead, the rabbi invited congregants to come to the front of the chapel to share their favorite memories of the victims and offer words of strength to one another.
One man, dressed more formally than he usually does for a Friday service, said he did so in memory of victim Melvin Wax, who wore his best even for casual services.
Many people laughed as they shared memories of his fondness for telling jokes. He was very well-versed in Hebrew and highly intelligent.
After the testimonies, Perlman said the congregation will survive despite evil.
“We will continue on, Congregation New Light,” he said.