Candlelight lit the night as around 600 community members gathered at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Tuesday to hold a vigil for the Oct. 27 shooting that claimed the lives of 11 congregants at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The vigil was organized by former Arizona lawmaker David Schapira in collaboration with an interfaith coalition consisting of the Valley Interfaith Project, the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Arizona Interfaith Movement, among others.
As the first synagogue built in Phoenix, Cutler-Plotkin, at 122 E. Culver St., has been a part of the city’s Jewish community since its construction in 1921. It also houses the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For the congregants that gathered at Cutler-Plotkin, the synagogue presented an opportunity to come together in a showing of support and solidarity for the lives lost in Pittsburgh.
Rabbi Dean Shapiro of the Temple Emanuel in Tempe was among the night’s speakers.
During his speech, Shapiro said the consequences of the Pittsburgh shooting affected members of all faiths and communities.
“Human beings, no matter where we live, share profound commonalities,” Shapiro said. “I am a globalist because I weep not only when a synagogue is attacked, but when a church or temple is too.”
Like Shapiro, David Schapira urged the congregation to find the strength for positive unification in their time of mourning.
“We cannot let sadder days and hateful violence drive us to hate,” Schapira said. “As we realize that we in the Jewish community are not alone in mourning the losses of our fellow brothers in Pittsburgh… we must repair the world for those who seek refuge from social or economic oppression.”
Ed Casper, of the Arizona Interfaith Movement, echoed Schapira’s call for unity.
“An attack on any one of us is an attack on all of us,” Casper said. “So, how do we respond? We can fight with you for a better world.”
Herb Tucker, a Phoenix resident and member of the city’s Jewish community, was among those in attendance.
“It’s a very difficult time for me to be living in this country,” Tucker said. “I’m not going to stay silent about what’s happening because it is wrong.”
Tucker also said the congregation was representative of the hope to be found after the events that had transpired.
“I’m proud to be a part of this group,” Tucker said. “The showing we had tonight and others that are happening all over the country give people who have good conscience and faith an opportunity to get together and reinforce the belief we have that this can be a great world if we unite.”
Suzanne Guinane, a cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel, brought the evening to a close by leading the congregation in song with “We Shall Overcome,” a gospel song which rose to prominence as an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.
For questions, contact the reporter at Samuel.Leal@asu.edu.
