Mourners held an emotional vigil Sunday for victims of a fatal shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, an assault that saw a gunman who said he "wanted all Jews to die" open fire on a mostly elderly group.
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| Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, who helped pull people out of the sanctuary after shots rang out, fought back tears as he addressed the vigil (AFP / Brendan SMIALOWSKI) |
Mourners held an emotional vigil Sunday for victims of a fatal shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, an assault that saw a gunman who said he "wanted all Jews to die" open fire on a mostly elderly group.
Americans had earlier learned the identities of the 11 people killed in the brutal assault at the Tree of Life synagogue, including 97-year-old Rose Mallinger and couple Sylvan and Bernice Simon, both in their 80s.
Nine of the victims were 65 or older.
The auditorium of downtown Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum was packed for the 90-minute vigil, which began with music from an African-American choir.
Speakers said thousands more had gathered in the cold rain outside, listening in via loudspeaker.
A female cleric led an a capella rendition of the national anthem and a male cantor read the Hatikvah -- a Jewish poem and Israel's national anthem.
"Words of hate are unwelcome in Pittsburgh," said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers to a standing ovation, which he followed with a message to political leaders.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it has to start with you, our leaders," he said. "My words are not intended as political fodder."
"Stop the words of hate."
The rabbi, who had helped pull people out of the synagogue after the attack, chanted a memorial prayer in Hebrew, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
Similar events took place nationwide, with words of solace pouring in from the US Jewish community -- the largest outside Israel -- as well as the pope and European leaders.
Federal officials said Sunday that 46-year-old suspect Robert Bowers -- arrested at the synagogue after a firefight with police -- faces 29 federal charges, many carrying the death penalty. He has been hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds but will appear before a federal magistrate Monday. Read More...
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