To Our Fellow Jewish Detroiters,
Today is a truly heart-breaking day for all of us.
It is only a matter of hours since we learned of the horrifying shooting that took place this morning at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. With eleven fatalities reported, this is the worst attack to ever occur at a Jewish synagogue or institution in America. We will remember this as a dark moment in the modern history of our people.
The full weight of this horrifying and incomprehensible act is difficult to process. Our first response must be to stand in solidarity with Jewish people everywhere, extending our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy to the victims, their families, and all those affected. We grieve for the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community. As fellow Jews, we share in the sadness, pain and outrage that such an incident could occur.
For Jewish people everywhere, this deadly assault—committed on Shabbat, at a Synagogue—is a terrible reminder of the persistence and lethal danger of anti-Semitism. The admonition to ‘never forget’ is sadly unnecessary in a world where hatred and violence directed towards the Jewish people remains commonplace.
We recognize, also, the critical importance for continuous and vigilant security. Jewish Detroit is extremely fortunate to have a robust Federation Community-Wide Security Team dedicated to providing for the safety of our schools, congregations, agency buildings and Jewish campuses. This team works in close collaboration with their peers in local and national law enforcement to help keep our children, seniors, and families safe.
In the wake of the shooting, our Community-Wide Security Team and their counterparts in law enforcement will remain on high alert. We encourage our community members to reach out to us with any concerns or questions. Call 248-642-4260 or send us a message here.
We know that many of you are seeking ways to show your support, and we anticipate sharing information about community-wide solidarity events in the near future.
Together, we will continue to absorb the impact of this tragedy and grieve for those killed this morning in Pittsburgh.