Pittsburgh marks one year since synagogue attack
PITTSBURGH >> It was a scene that would have infuriated the man who set off a year of pain and sorrow.
Men and women, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, crowded elbow to elbow around tables at the Jewish Family and Community Services building, making blankets for refugees and packing bags of crayons and coloring books for the young and undocumented.
“We are here and we are not scared,” declared Laura Horowitz, a member of Dor Hadash, one of the three Jewish congregations that were attacked Oct. 27, 2018, by an anti-Semitic gunman enraged about their welcoming of refugees.
Horowitz tied another knot in the fringe of a blanket, and then qualified her declaration. “Maybe we are scared,” she said. “But we’re here anyway.”
On Sunday, Pittsburgh marked one year since 11 worshippers of three congregations were killed at the Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha synagogue. It was a citywide commemoration, beginning with community service projects all around town, continuing in Torah study sessions at the city’s largest synagogue, and culminating with a solemn service at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, the site of a packed commemoration the day after the attack.
“I stood here one year ago still in shock over the brutal massacre in my synagogue, Tree of Life, not knowing what to say,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers in remarks Sunday night.
The evening program was full of psalms and prayers, candle-lighting and poetry. A video was played showing family members of the 11 deceased, now known by name across the city: 97-year-old Rose Mallinger; the beloved Rosenthal brothers, David and Cecil; Richard Gottfried, a pillar of the New Light congregation. The governor and the mayor spoke briefly, but most of the time was given to leaders of the three congregations.
“Xenophobia is as ancient as humanity; anti-Semitic hatred is also nothing new,” said Anne-Marie Mizel Nelson, a daughter of founding members of Dor Hadash. “It has not defeated us yet. And it will not defeat us now.”
Since almost immediately after the attack, a discussion about how best to move forward has never been far removed from the grief of what was lost. It was not far Sunday, either.
Apparently alluding to those who have urged a focus on policy changes like gun control in response to the attack, Myers acknowledged that people had chided him “that my efforts would be better spent on more achievable goals.” He continued: “My tradition teaches us the following: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task, but you are not absolved from trying.”
Immediately following him, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light Congregation drew a long standing ovation when he specifically called on politicians to pass gun control measures. He followed that with a criticism of the government for pushing toward a capital trial for the synagogue attacker rather than accepting a guilty plea for life in prison.