Fox News
A gunman opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning, killing 11 people and injuring six others, including four police officers, before being taken into custody, authorities said.
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said police were dispatched to Tree of Life Synagogue at 9:55 a.m. after receiving calls that there was an active-shooter situation at the scene, in the city’s predominantly Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
In all, he confirmed, 11 people died — none of them children. As for the injury tally, he said it did not include the shooter, who was taken to the hospital after being taken into custody.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect in the shooting as Robert Bowers, 48.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center officials said a 61-year-old woman was among the injured. Her injuries were described as “extremity soft tissue injuries that required cleaning in the operating room.” She is said to be in good condition and recovering.
Another victim was ID’d as a 70-year-old male with gunshot wounds to his torso “involving major organs in his abdomen.” He was undergoing his second operation and in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Police Chief Scott Schubert said that two police officers were hit during initial contact with the shooter and that two SWAT team members were also struck “during an engagement inside the building.” He confirmed that all four law enforcement officials are in stable condition.
The FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office, Bob Jones, said that it was the most “horrific crime scene” he’s witnessed in his 22 year-career with the bureau. Jones said that the victims were targeted “simply because of their faith” but that Bowers’ full motive was unknown.
Bowers is said to have shouted that “all Jews must die” as he sprayed bullets, according to KDKA-TV. The attack took place during a baby naming ceremony on Shabbat, what is traditionally the busiest of days for synagogues.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said that the FBI is investigating the shooting as “a hate crime.” That was reinforced on Saturday evening by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who said the Justice Department intends to file hate-crime and other charges over an act he deemed “reprehensible and repugnant to the values of this nation.”
The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott Brady that authorities “expect to file criminal charges shortly, perhaps as early as today.”
They believe the suspect acted alone.
“At this point we have no knowledge that Bowers was known to law enforcement before today,” Jones added.
In the afternoon appearance in Indianapolis, President Trump, who said he’d been in contact with the mayor and governor over the tragedy, called the shooting a wicked, anti-Semitic act of “pure evil.”
NEW: PA Gov. Tom Wolf: “In the aftermath of this tragedy, we must all come together, and we must take action to prevent these tragedies in the future. We simply cannot accept this violence as a normal part of American life.” https://t.co/ijpCDk798B pic.twitter.com/hWQ6mUFn2I
— ABC News (@ABC) October 27, 2018
As you know, earlier today there was a horrific shooting targeting and killing Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The shooter is in custody, and federal authorities have been dispatched to support state and local police… pic.twitter.com/WqO7GfPyMT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018
we are with you from Israel
Wow. Just wow. Unbelievably insensitive and downright stupid thing to day. Shame on you. Yidden were killed. Just stop.
Some of these comments are shocking. It’s just not the time and context to start putting down the conservative or reform movement or whether or not they had real mezuzah! Are you serious? Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you are a decent human being, let alone a good Jew. These victims and families are kedoshim. Full stop.
How do uou explain Mumbai massacre and Gabi and Rivki Holtzberg. 100% shomer Torah and Mitzvos and beyond. Their hachnosas orchim was legendary. Their simcha,, caring for ever Yid, from, not frum, chassidish, any Yid was exraordinary.. and yet look what happened. So no judgements , no cheshbonos.
The answer is that punishment for crimes that are much lesser than what was committed on Shabbos, needs to be swiftly and adequately administered in a way that will put the fear in others who have similar plans. The culture of being afraid to punish the criminal and finding some way to subtly blame the victim – or penalize those who attempt to defend themselves – is what is enabling the increase in crime. I remember hearing a story of someone in crown heights who tried to defend a girl who had stones thrown on her and the police sent… Read more »
First of all, Baruch Dayan Haemes. Tefilos go to all injured in the attack. Secondly, There shouldn’t be any guns in the hands of any civilian unless for specific reasons. This is America. It’s a massive problem. Every other day we hear about other stabbing, attack or shooting. It’s ridiculous. There has not been a mass shooting in Australia since 1996, and i’m afraid that it’s much too late for America to stop this problem.
BDE , As the Torah teaches us to fight darkness with light and bring the Universal Noahide code for peace so that Jews and non Jews can live in peace.
On a number of occasions I have pulled off Mezuzah’s of non orthodox joints and found them to be photocopied. They are not going to spend money on a real mezuzah as they can merely photocopy or print it off the internet and hang it up. This s probably why this temple being conservative got attacked. You can bet your bottom dollar the mezuzahs were not real.
Ad Mosai we want Moshaich
As Jews we must hate evil. It was a conservative temple and we feel bad for the youngsters being misled by clergy who many are professed atheists. Maybe this was a wake up call to all the assimilated jews going lost in America. Time to be jews. With a 71 percent intermarriage we dare not be silent. We are responsible for all Jews. Secular groups like the ADL are using these attacks to badmouth our great heroic president. They have an agenda that’s the total opposite of authentic Judaism.
Enlighten us, please. What was so “ugly & judgmental” about what #19 said? Where’s the “such sinas chinom”? All he or she said was that it was a Conservative temple. Not “…and therefore they deserved it,” or “…and therefore we shouldn’t care about them,” or any such thing.
Perhaps, instead of rushing to judge others for sinas chinam and being judgmental, you should take a look at yourselves first, and see whether you might need some improvement in being dan l’kaf zechus.
pepper spray???? Really???
Guns are great to combat an armed assailant IF YOU ARE TRAINED AND EMOTIONALLY READY TO DIE TO SAVE OTHERS
Dear brothers and sisters there is ONLY ONE answer and you already know it!
WORK HARDER NOW FOR THE COMPLETE GEULAH!!!
Screaming AD MOSAI is NOT giving up its moving forward, but as we have been taught by our Rebbe our job is action!
I lived in the area sometime back. Are there any pictures of the people from that Temple?
Every Jew a 22
Moshiach Now. Rebbi Now . Pepper spray will stop an intruder . Vodka is also effective
Allow me to expand on your comment. Your right that it is 100% senseless. It’s all a sign that HASHEM WIlL send MOSHIACH very soon to pick all of us up, reunite us with all off our loved ones, & let us all Daven in the Bais Hamikdash!
Do you not want Moshiach too? I mean everyone wants him and action will bring Moshiach but just leaving up to HaShem or whatever that’s supposed to mean isn’t the answer. As you said we need active action but making fun of people who want Moshiach isn’t the way. Moshiach now.
This occurrence is a horrific tragedy.
Yes, we need protection through Mezuzos, security guards and metal detectors. Until the moment Moshiach will get here WE NEED A QUIET DECORUM DURING DAVENING!! ABSOLUTELY NO NEEDLESS TALKING not during davening, Chazoras Hashatz, Kriyas Hatorah etc. 770 on a Shabbos sounds more like a baseball game or a market place!!
BE QUIET DURING DAVENING ! WE MIGHT JUST GET TO HEAR THE SHOFAR!
Anyone who has worked in or with law enforcement knows the best self defense is pepper spray…
Guns are “dangerous” because if you don’t know what you are doing they can be used against you…
Also a gun can’t stop a person on drugs that doesn’t feel pain…pepper spray always works and takes little training to operate effectively
Some of them show that sanctimonious holy rollers have no clue about Chassidus or the Rebbe. We shouldn’t care about the level of observance of these Kedoshim, we should care that they were brutally murdered al kiddush Hashem. We should be grieving with these poor families & davening for the recovery of the injured. As for security in CH & other places – perhaps we need to look at Israel. 770 SHOULD have armed security at every entrance, even at Tishrei, turnstile entrance, metal detectors etc. Mesivta OT is the most unsecured school in the area. Spend a few bucks… Read more »
its all Democrat fault
There is a reason why Orthodox Jews in all communities supported President Trump and will in fact support him even more in 2020. He has been the best president for us authentic Jews. We know the secular lefty reform and conservative heretical movements hate him with a passion. The secular crowd has substituted Torah for liberal radical causes. To these radicals the cause of abortions on demand and same gender marriages became their religion. The killer in this case who attacked the conservative liberal temple is NOT a Trump supporter. He hates Trump. He never voted for him. This was… Read more »
Remember Hashem isn’t a bored I don’t know what, who gets pleasure from seeing husband favorite nation, in pain and crying bitterly!
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE STEPS TO GEULA!
GET READY!
Hashem can only take the holiest!
THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS, WE WERE ALWAYS SEPERATED WHEN WE WERE TOO BLEND IN WITH THE OTHER NATIONS!
HASHEM IS TRYING TO SEPERATE US!
THE HOLOCAUST! GREEKS! PURIM!
Please…wake up…does History really have to repeat itself…for the last time?
The Rebbe strongly opposed the non orthodox heretical sects. Yes we need to reach out to save the followers but the leaders and it’s movement must be demolished. In fact it’s firbidden for a Jew to enter the sanctuary of a reform or heretical temple just as a Jew can’t enter a church.
Let’s get private donations aspv for security NOW
Trump is a demagogue and a demagogue is always bad for the Jews in the end.Today he might be targeting Mexicans. Tomorrow Muslims. Eventually, he or someone in his vein will find it politically expedient to go after the Jews. Then you, the ultra orthodox CH community, will reap what you sowed. You supported (overwhelmingly) this con-man and demagogue. When Trump goes after the “elite” and the “globalists” and the omnipotent George Soros, read *the Jews.* When he calls the media “the enemy of the people” and lies at a velocity not seen in world history, and destroys our democratic… Read more »
Dear Larry
We need to start protecting the children in shul from the child molesters who lurk in shul. Shooters are a threat and we need to think out of the box. A bigger threat is the molesters who are protected in the community. A molester should never be allowed in a shul and we don’t need armed security to stop them from coming to shul. We need the Rabonnim to speak up and stop this in their heels.
100% so true. Safety needs to be number one priority. Everyone is looking how to protect their shuls and family. True we do need to have armed security. But what are we going to do about a threat that are in our shul every week. How are we going to protect the innocent children??
Reb Mendel Futerfass said to yid who told him he didn’t want to put on Tefilin on an airplane “A Yid is a Yid is A Yid”
“I Tefillin you Tefillin” and he put on Tefillin.
A Yid is a Yid is a Yid. Whether he calls himself orthodox, conservative, or reform a Yid is a Yid is a Yid.
Does anyone in Pittsburgh have any kesher with the victims?
When tragedy strikes,we are reminded that we are all עם אחד may we be zoche to be united in simcha ,namely simchas hageulah. Personally ,I find the fact that the shooting happened at a bris milah,a proclamation that “am yisroel chai”. We the Jewish nation will persevere. Hashem ,will never allow those who hate us to stop the continuity of His nation.
I agree with your sentiment 100%. However i don’t agree that you need to add “These kedoshim were all letters in a sefer Torah. Don’t you ever forget that! ”
The most inner connection of a yid to Hashem transcends Torah as elaborated in great depth in Chassidus.
Many men here in yeshiva synagogue armed with guns don’t worry we are safe they were staying by the entrance. We were on lockdown in that shul and everyone is safe. we are being watched over don’t worry we really feel for those people who have died we are helping their families and we know that Hashem is watching over us I’m a witness and I saw this happen there was a huge ceremony for all those that have been lost. people holding candles and people are singing just that we are united as one and this is the worst… Read more »
Yes he wanted everyone to increase in torah and mitzvos, and that included even his closest chassidim.
But the person him/herself? He loved each Jew regardless of which shul they went to, or even if they ever stepped foot in a shul in their life!
A Jew is a Jew. These kedoshim were all letters in a sefer Torah. Don’t you ever forget that!
May the Holy One blessed be He comfort all the mourners, and heal all the physically and emotionally injured.
I saw the same exact thing on my rabbis post at chabad of Delaware!
Such sinas chinom. The fact that they were in a conservative congregation allows you to make such statements?
Shameful
Bringing Moshiach, and protecting ourselves is not a contradiction. There are wonderful Yidden in Pittsburgh who do both at the same time 🙂
I saw a black guy passing by and starting conversation with 2 kids outside the mesivta on Troy, a few seconds later the guy decides to walk in and then I see a bunch of kids coming out of the school. There was obviously something was going on inside with this guy, a few seconds later one of the rabbis with the kids behind him kicked the guy out. The rabbi told him not to ever go back in… Unfortunately words are not enough, we must act in advance and do something to protect our children. All shuls and school… Read more »
If we truly try and follow His Torah we are safe.
In israel the only city that’s fully Shomer shabbos is Bnei Brak and they never had terrorist attack or scud missles.
Emunah and reaching out to every lost yid.
Please look into your heart & do immediate t’shuva for the ugly & judgmental comment you made !! Look at history – ALL Jews have suffered regardless of their level of observance
Can you imagine the Rebbe saying that ???
https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/4173305/jewish/LetsChalkShabbat-Spiritual-Messages-in-Concrete-Jungles.htm
We want Moshaich now we don’t want to wait
Did anyone check or give them mezuzos?!?!
The government is stingy on giving permits and its impossible to get a license to carry. (Since they do not allow us to protect ourselves as the constitution invisioned) we must hire armed guards in each shul. As the saying goes freedom is not free. Locked doors may also help but its not enough imho.
We’ve got to face reality all this Moshiach now talk is not going to cover our ——— The fact is The world is changing and we have to start thinking out of the box And taking the necessary steps to Protect and defend ourselves
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB, ENSURING ALL OUR DOORS HAVE A KOSHER MEZUZA,
MAY WE HEAR ONLY REVEALED GOOD NEWS.
YIRMI COHEN
1) Annual Pass Cards with Guest privileges for 770 after verification from CHJCC or a Rabbi. 2) Interior Cameras with security system. 3) Armed guard inside 770 ? 4) Building Plans given to NYPD 5) Drone inside 770 to be used in 770 and around CH for security enforcement. 6) Obtain increased public funds from elected officials for crime prevention, for Jewish soft targets as well as other crime prevention in CH (i.e. high homicide rate) 7) Voter education meetings by CHJCC at different shuls throughout year for increased Jewish political power and increased public funds going to Jewish concerns… Read more »
In Monsey/Suffern in three shuls I attend we have one to two guys who carry everyday and on Shabbat as well. In these times it is must not a good thought.
I just double checked. It was a conservative temple.
When there was s a shooting we become excited. Every day a Jewish child is molested and the community remains silent. We need more voices to stop molestation. How many children are lost to yiddeshkiet or committed suicide. This must come to an end now.
Increase in mitzvos and scream Ad mosai! We have to fight evil and darkness with goodness and kindness and the holy light of Torah. Boruch dayan emes. Ad mosai?!
The Rebbe multiple times taught us that we must complain and demand of Hashem to bring Moshiach.
It should of course be coupled with action as you suggest.
Jews need to start getting guns for self defense.
When is our community going to get serious about professional security at 770 & our shteiblachs & schools ? We are talking about precious Jewish lives !!
Hashem why? Why? We went to pray , hashem we went to pray to you, why did this happen ? We are in the middle of a Briit to add a child to Am Yisroel why why did this happen? I am crying my eyes out I have no answers
Jew hate has always existed and will always continue to exist. You clearly have never opened a history book.
It makes no difference how Jews behave. We were harrassed and murdered for thousands of years, including when we minded our own business and remained insular.
Insane, unfortunate, dumb and crazy no words so sad its terrible Hasem we need Moshiach so sad we can’t take this Moshiach now. anybody have the 2 injured yidden for tehillim and Boruch Dayen Haemes
Special place with special members who are helpful and working hard to do Mitzvos. Our davening and tehilim go out to them and to their families.
Everyone in the Lubavitch community is safe yet wounded emotionaly and we are all in shock because of this unreal tragedy. Pittsburgh was one of the quietest most amazing places to live and we all just can’t get over this. We just need Moshiach.
The lefty secular non Orthodox Jews have been creating a climate of anti Semitism that affects all Jews. When they destroy the morals and sanity of America with same gender marriage and fighting to allow all types of violent individuals from Moslem countries there will be a dangerous reaction to all Jews. We must speak up and stop being silent as these secular lefty’s steal the headlines representing Jews. They don’t . They hate Israel with the same passion.
DEATH PENALTY FOR THE MONSTER WHO DID THIS…..
ANTI SEMITISM NEEDS ADDRESSING ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
If God wants to send Moshiach, that’s his prerogative.
stop with the defeated I’ve already given up rhetoric. What are you going to do to make your synagogue / school safer?
Ad Mossi
Every shul in Crown Heights needs to have a combination lock In order to enter. NOBODY should be able to just walk into a shul without unlocking a door.
HASHEM STOP ALREDY
SEND US MOSHIACH NOW
Moshiach must come now! Too many sad story’s happening lately!