Sunday's public lighting of a Menorah outside a Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting was an opportunity to honor the dead, mark Hanukkah's theme of survival and allow the community to reinforce its solidarity.
'To me, it's a simple message: The light is the message,' Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said, pointing to the Menorah standing at the corner where a makeshift memorial for the 11 victims once stood and was visited by thousands paying their respects.
Five weeks after the massacre - believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the U.S. - about 500 people gathered outside Tree of Life to pray, sing songs and witness the lighting of the menorah.
'We are practicing our Jewish faith publicly and proudly,' said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light, whose congregation, along with congregants from Dor Hadash and Tree of Life, had gathered at the synagogue when the shooting occurred Oct. 27.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers watches the installation of a menorah outside the Tree of Life Synagogue before holding a celebration on the first night of Hanukkah
Myers was leading Sabbath services on October 27 when a gunman stormed into the Tree of Life synagogue and fatally shot 11 worshipers
Before the ceremony, the menorah was tested to make sure all of the lights were working. A makeshift memorial is seen at the foot of the menorah honoring the victims of the shooting
Five weeks after the massacre - believed to be the deadliest attack on Jews in the U.S. - about 500 people gathered outside Tree of Life to pray, sing songs and witness the lighting of the menorah
The fact that hundreds of people showed up for the ceremony came as no surprise to officials of the three congregations.
'I don't think there are enough adjectives to describe the community support,' said Myers, who was leading Shabbat services at Tree of Life synagogue Oct. 27, when the shooting occurred.
'We're such a tight-knit community,' said Ilana Kohanbash, who attended the Menorah lighting with her husband, Jason.
'It's also a wake-up call for what we need to do to keep our faith, and (that) we need to take precautions. It could happen to anybody.'
Supporters hold candles and watch as the menorah is lit in Pittsburgh on Sunday
The menorah lighting comes less than a week after the end of Shloshim, a 30-day mourning period observed by Jews following a death
Rabbi Yosef Schtroks, the Director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Olympia, lights a 9 ft Hanukkah menorah in Sylvester Park Sunday in Olympia, Washington, to signify the first night of the eight-day holiday
The suspected shooter, Robert Bowers, raged against Jews during and after the shooting, authorities said.
He remains jailed without bail, and has pleaded not guilty to numerous murder and hate crime charges.
David Hausdorff, 53, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was in town on business and came to the lighting ceremony to show support.
'It's unfathomable, this act of violence,' Hausdorff said.
'It's unconscionable in any house of worship, let alone in a neighborhood I grew up in.
'If I weren't here to actually see it, I wouldn't grasp the totality of the emotional devastation."
The menorah lighting comes less than a week after the end of Shloshim, a 30-day mourning period observed by Jews following a death.
'We all begin the process of moving forward,' said Ellen Surloff, president of Dor Hadash.
'You move forward one day at a time. You have good days and some not-so-good days.'
Although the gunman targeted the Jewish community, Cohen cautioned that the shooting serves as a warning.
'The reality is it affects other religious communities, too,' he said.
'We are coming together in comradeship and to help to see if we can work together. What happened here, clearly this is a sign, this is a signal and it can't be ignored.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/03/synagogue-holds-hannukah-ceremony-at-mass-shooting-site/
Main photo article Sunday’s public lighting of a Menorah outside a Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting was an opportunity to honor the dead, mark Hanukkah’s theme of survival and allow the community to reinforce its solidarity.
‘To me, it’s a simple message:...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/03/05/6930276-6453341-image-a-1_1543816433027.jpg
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