Jewish groups in the United States and around the world commemorated on Tuesday the second anniversary of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, in which 11 Jewish worshippers were murdered by a white supremacist gunman.
The mass shooting took place on October 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The congregation, along with New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, which also worshipped in the building, was attacked during Shabbat morning services. The shooter killed 11 people and wounded six. It was the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in the United States.
Those killed were:
- Joyce Fienberg, 75
- Richard Gottfried, 65
- Rose Mallinger, 97
- Jerry Rabinowitz, 66
- Cecil, 59 & David Rosenthal, 54
- Bernice, 84 & Sylvan Simon, 86
- Daniel Stein, 71
- Melvin Wax, 88
- Irving Younger, 69
Robert Gregory Bowers, 46 years old, was arrested at the scene and charged as the suspect with 63 federal crimes, some of which are capital crimes. He has pleaded not guilty. He separately faces 36 charges in Pennsylvania state court.
Bowers had earlier posted antisemitic comments against HIAS (formerly, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) on the online social network Gab. Dor Hadash had participated in HIAS’s National Refugee Shabbat the previous week. Referring to Central American migrant caravans and immigrants, Bowers posted on Gab that “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tweeted:
On the second anniversary of the tragic October day, we honor the eleven lives lost to the single deadliest antisemitic attack in US history. 2 years later, the Pittsburgh community shares a message of hope as they continue to heal.
Watch below.
Remember and Reflect. pic.twitter.com/kTbSeFMpXd
— ADL (@ADL) October 27, 2020
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) tweeted:
Two years ago today, a far-right terrorist murdered 11 Jews during a Shabbat service in a synagogue in Pittsburgh in the worst antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
We will never forget the pain of this horrific day, nor the innocent souls taken.
May their memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/JM3uM9g8uC
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) October 27, 2020
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) tweeted:
It’s been two years since October 27, 2018, when eleven Jews were killed by a gunman in an attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in #Pittsburgh.
We remember them and all victims of #antisemitism.
These are their names, their faces.
May their memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/07f7nUhcNq
— WJC (@WorldJewishCong) October 27, 2020
B’nai B’rith International tweeted:
— B’nai B’rith Int’l (@BnaiBrith) October 27, 2020
The Tree Of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation, where the massacre occurred, tweeted:
We will forever remember the 11 victims of Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Congregation, Congregation Dor Hadash & New Light Congregation who we lost 2 years ago today on October 27, 2018.
Additional resources may be found from @1027Healing.#StrongerThanHate #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/vCFAx842Zd
— Tree Of Life * Or L’Simcha Congregation (@treeoflifepgh) October 27, 2020