Penn. Synagogue Shooting Death Toll Reaches 11
The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
Jewish leaders in Western Pennsylvania reacted with shock, sadness, but not so much disbelief, to Saturday's shooting at a synagogue in Squirrel Hill that left 11 people dead.
"All I can say at this time is just utter shock," said Rabbi Stacy Petersohn of Congregation Emanu-El Israel, a Reform synagogue in Greensburg.
The shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue during Saturday morning services left 11 people dead and six people wounded, in one of the worst mass shootings in Pittsburgh history.
"I'm not shocked that something like this would happen here," said Rabbi Sara Perman, former rabbi at the Greensburg synagogue.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh broke with its normal practice of not posting on social media on the Sabbath and said:
"Our hearts are broken. A Refuah Shlema (prayer for healing) for those sick and injured. We will do everything possible to help."
Petersohn, a California native who took the Greensburg job last year, said the shooting left her feeling "unsafe in the community and unsure of who to trust."
She said the Greensburg synagogue has security protocols in place and will go on with its normal weekend schedule.
"I know many of my congregation have friends and connections at that synagogue (in Squirrel Hill), and we are all in a moment of mourning and prayer for those more closely affected by it," she said.
Leslie Hoffman, executive director of Temple Emanuel of South Hills, said the Reform congregation was having a bar mitzvah at the time of the shooting.
"The Mt. Lebanon police were at our building all day today. As we found out what was going on, they were there," she said.
Hoffman said the synagogue will go on with its regularly scheduled weekend services and activities.
"We can't shut our doors and hide in fear," she said.
Hoffman said the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community, because of its closeness, was feeling the impact of the shooting which left so many dead and injured.
"It could be us, it could be any congregation. Any congregation is as vulnerable as any other, if someone has hate for a specific group," she said.
The South Hills synagogue posted a statement on its Facebook page saying, "Temple Emanuel of South Hills mourns the loss of those individuals who needlessly lost their lives this morning at Tree of Life in Squirrel Hill."
The statement went on to say, "No one at Temple Emanuel was in harm's way. The safety and security of our congregants are of utmost importance."
Rabbi Don Rossoff, interim rabbi at Temple Emanuel of South Hills, said such an act of anti-Semitic violence is devastating.
"I think there is a tremendous impact, certainly, on the Pittsburgh Jewish community. ... It's also felt by Jews around America and around the world, as well as all Americans of good faith and conscience," Rossoff said. "As traumatic as this kind of thing is, it's not going to change our essential trust and faith in our community and in our vision for America and what we as Americans all should strive for together."
