Greater Victoria residents crossed religious lines to mourn the victims of a synagogue shooting in the United States last week while comforting each other and sending a message of strength.
Jews and non-Jews alike filled the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Victoria (JCCGV) on Shelbourne Street Tuesday during a vigil in memory of the 11 worshippers killed Saturday during a synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.
Authorities have since charged 46-year-old Robert Gregory Bowers with a long list of crimes connected to the shooting. Bowers had also made several anti-Semitic posts on social media before the shooting.
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The shooting has scarred Jewish communities across the world, including Greater Victoria, where an estimated 100 to 150 people had to stand outside the JCCGVB次元官网网址檚 building on Shelbourne Street during the vigil, because of space constraints inside the building.
Coun. Colin Plant, who attended TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 vigil, was among those standing outside.
B次元官网网址淭he mood was sombre but supportive,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ost memorable for me was the naming of the victims and the gathered assembly repeating those names out loud,B次元官网网址� he said later. B次元官网网址淪everal spoke about the despicable attack and that we cannot take our freedoms for granted.B次元官网网址�
The event, organized by the Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island, featured representatives from local synagogues, as well as Christian, Muslim and secular representatives.
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Lynn Greenhough of the Kolot Mayim Reform Temple was one of six speakers during the evening, and said it was comforting to see so many people come together to comfort each other and send a message against anti-Semitism, which has made a resurgence in recent years.
While many observers have blamed the rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump for contributing to the climate that encouraged the shooting, Greenhough said the vigil tried to avoid day-to-day politics.
B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 about Trump,B次元官网网址� she said in pointing to the historical legacy of anti-Semitism.
B次元官网网址淎s Jews, we have survived many, many centuries of hatred. And every time you think you have some sanctuary, youB次元官网网址檛 dont,B次元官网网址� she said.
But that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean Jews will hide themselves, she said.
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B次元官网网址淲e need to stand together,B次元官网网址� she said, while also describing a sense of unease.
Greenhough described the shooting as B次元官网网址渄eeply frighteningB次元官网网址� because it signifies an B次元官网网址渆scalationB次元官网网址� of violence that happened in a place of worship no less. B次元官网网址淭hese are not just sacred places, they are also the safest of sacred places, and they have lost that,B次元官网网址� she said.
Worse, Greenhough expects more attacks of this sort. B次元官网网址淲e do know that there will be a next time,B次元官网网址� she said.
At the same time, she warns against a state of permanent fear.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 stay there,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 live there.B次元官网网址�
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