Shir Chadash Rabbi Silver speaks on tragedy in Pittsburgh
Shir Chadash’s Rabbi Deborah Silver, the spiritual leader of the largest Conservative congregation in the state, released a statement on Saturday evening to inform her membership of the facts relating to the shooting in Pittsburgh earlier in the day that took place at Tree of Life Synagogue, a Conservative Movement congregation.
“The Rabbis teach, Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh L’Zeh – every Jewish community is entwined with, and responsible for, every other Jewish community,” she wrote. “We deeply feel each other’s pain and we are shocked and horrified.”
The rabbi noted that a Go Fund Me page has been set up for the victims’ families. The link is found here.
The rabbi also added that the synagogue is auditing its own security practices and that “special precautions are being put in place starting tomorrow.”
Finally, she invited members to join in the Men’s Club Minyan on Sunday morning at 9:15 am, where prayers will be offered for the victims and their families.
A community vigil will be held at Shir Chadash, 3700 W. Esplanade Avenue, at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. It is being organized by Silver and her fellow Metairie Rabbis David Gerber of Congregation Gates of Prayer and Gabriel Greenberg of Congregation Beth Israel.