Hundreds Gather At Atlanta Synagogue To Honor Pittsburgh Shooting Victims
Hundreds gathered at Atlanta’s The Temple on Tuesday to honor the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting.
Emma Hurt / WABE
The first funerals were held for victims of the shooting at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue Tuesday. At the same time in Atlanta, hundreds gathered at a synagogue that has known violence itself: the Temple.
The news from Pittsburgh was especially poignant at the historic midtown synagogue considering it was bombed 60 years ago this month.
This vigil featured leaders of all different faiths as well as Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The names of all 11 Pittsburgh victims were read aloud, and candles were lit in their honor.
Rabbi Peter Berg spoke of the need to keep moving ahead, referencing the past damage done by the bombing: “Our rebuilt stained glass windows are the most important part of this building,” he said.
Berg also said the tragedy reinforces the need for better gun control.
“Anyone can get a gun anywhere, at anytime, and our brothers and our sisters are dying,” he said. “Now some will say, ‘But rabbi. You’re being political. Please don’t talk about politics.’ Nonsense. This is about life and death.”
Marvin and Annette Grubman, Atlanta residents, attended the vigil. They actually attended the Tree of Life synagogue when they lived in Pittsburgh.
“It’s petrifying to hear that that could happen where you have been. It’s sad what this world is coming to,” Annette Grubman said.
Marvin Grubman agreed with Berg, that the gun control issue is too important to ignore now. Grubman also said tone in the country needs to change.
“It was very gratifying to see everyone come together, but now we have to do something,” he said. “We have to bring more civility to this country.”
He said voting is one way he plans to affect that.
“There’s been such a rise in anti-Semitism over the past few years,” said Debbie Smith, who also attended. “It’s very, very scary, and everybody should be scared. Not just Jews.”
Speaking to the group, Berg also pointed to the words of Atlanta journalist Ralph McGill. After the 1958 Temple bombing, McGill wrote, “When the wolves of hate are loosed on one people, then no one is safe.”
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