A week after the deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 people dead, dozens of people reportedly came together for what a former rabbi described as a healing service outside the site of the bloodiest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A week after the deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 people dead, dozens of people came together for what a former rabbi described as a healing service outside the site of the bloodiest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history.
In a service consisting of roughly 100 people outside the Tree of Life synagogue, Rabbi Chuck Diamond described those killed as “angels given to us, full of love and life,” according to The Associated Press.
The synagogue, which “has stood for joy,” he said, “is forever stained” following the attack, in which six others were wounded.
But it "cannot overshadow (that) this building is and will be into the future a place of joy,” he said.
People line both sides of the street as they gather outside the Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday.
Robert Bowers, 46, has been identified as the suspect in the Oct. 27 shooting. Bowers, who pleaded not guilty to federal charges on Thursday, was arraigned on a 44-count indictment, charged with murder, hate crimes, religious obstruction and other crimes.
Pittsburgh synagogue suspect identified as Robert Bowers
Eleven people gathered for a baby naming service were shot to death and four police officers wounded after a gunman opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue; Garrett Tenney reports from Pittsburgh.
President Trump visited the synagogue earlier this week, along with first lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.
A retired Presbyterian pastor who took part in the service said the underlying circumstances of the shooting were not simply an issue for those in the Jewish community, but for all of humanity.
PITTSBURGH RABBI SURPRISED BY ‘WARM, PERSONAL SIDE’ OF TRUMP AFTER MEETING
"This is not a Jewish problem, although Jews were targeted. This is a human problem," Rev. Lee Clark said, according to an AP report. "The only way to confront hate is to face it with love.”
Colleen Cooper lays a single rose on each of the memorials for the eleven people fatally shot last week at the Tree of Life Synagogue after a service, on Saturday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
In other parts of the country, "Show Up for Shabbat" services were held at various synagogues in honor of those who died or were injured in the attack.
A service was held at Central Synagogue in New York City, attended by Jews and non-Jews alike, AP said.
"It's such a tragedy that happened in Pittsburgh, and I was touched by the calling of the Jewish community to welcome non-Jews into their synagogues today, so I couldn't resist and I came," Steven Kent, an Episcopalian, told the outlet. "It was a wonderful feeling."
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj, Andrew O’Reilly and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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