NewsLocal NewsCuyahoga County

Actions

Folks gather at Beachwood's JCC to mourn the 11 victims lost in the Pittsburgh tragedy

Posted at 9:47 PM, Oct 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-29 23:26:36-04

They sang a song calling for peace as Jewish clergy members lit a candle for each victim taken in the tragedy.

"Teach us to believe that we can rise up from this tragedy and abolish the hate that's tearing our world apart." said one speaker.

The message from speaker after speaker was one of hope and one of unity to fight anti-Semitism.

"This weekend the hate was aimed at Jews, next it could be African Americans or Hispanics or Muslims or gays and lesbians," said another speaker.

Hundreds of people spilled out of the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood Monday night.
Jews, Christians and people of the Islamic faith gathered as sisters and brothers.

"It doesn't matter that there were Jews killed, it was people killed and there is hate in this country and its frightening that it's coming out under the rocks that we didn't believe were here," said mourner Rita Rome. "I sat next to two strangers and we were holding hands the whole time."

Clergy members of all different faiths declared unity in this time of tragedy.

Although it was just a little step, mourners said they are a bit closer and hurting a bit less.

"I think it was very healing to know that we all share the same pain, we are all children of God," said Kurt Bloch.