By COLlive reporter
Ten people were murdered at a Buffalo supermarket in a horrifying mass shooting that officials were quick to label as “pure evil” and racially motivated.
A gunman wearing military-style clothing and body armor opened fire with a rifle at Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue in the City of Buffalo, N.Y., on Shabbos afternoon at about 2:30 pm, killing ten people.
The horrific attack is being investigated by officials as a racially motivated hate crime.
Prior to the mass shooting, the shooter posted an online screed railing about his hatred of immigrants and minorities, including Jews. And in one section of his manifesto, he specifically made mention of Jews in Lakewood, Toms River, and other areas, officials said.
Rabbi Mendy and Chaya Mushka Labkowski, Directors of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Downtown Buffalo, just over a mile from the attack site, say their “entire community is in shock,” and have been providing support and comfort.
“From the moment we heard about the attack on Shabbos afternoon, we walked to all our friends within walking distance, making sure everyone was safe and assisting in any way we could,” Rabbi Labkowski told COLlive.com. “The community here is in shock.”
After Shabbos, the Shluchim have reached out to the rest of their congregation, and say they are at the ready to offer any needed support.
What is even more disturbing to the local residents, is that the attacker made the exhausting and arduous drive from hours away just to perpetrate the killing of innocent people.
“There is no way to process such insanity,” Rabbi Labkowski said. “Every human being is a creation by the hand of G-d. Terror is an act that destroys humanity. But you can’t negotiate with darkness; the only way to eliminate it is by introducing more light, even from afar,” he said.
Rabbi Labkowski called on the public to continue to spread good and bring to the world, to combat the darkness.
“There are ten souls who can no longer do goodness in this world, so it’s up to everyone else to do so for them. We have to spread the message of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and bring light into the world. We have an obligation to do selfless acts of kindness to people, whether or not we think they deserve it. Call someone you don’t like, someone you don’t usually talk to, especially family members. Bring more loving-kindness into this world,” he said.
“We stand in solidarity with all those impacted and remain at the ready for any needed support. CJL Downtown Buffalo – Chabad, will continue to spread love in the city of Buffalo, contrary to what that evil man intended to do,” Rabbi Labkowski said.
Horrible, evil crime indeed. Yidden! May G-d protect us all. Do not rely on miracles. If you don’t already have armed security at your Shul/School/Community events you are taking a huge risk! If there are people in your building/area at any time you must have someone there who is armed and has at least some degree of training in the laws of self-defense and defense of others. What if somebody walked into your building seeking to do harm? What means of immediate self-defense is available? Shul members, ask your shul leadership what they are doing to keep you safe. You… Read more »
They had an armed and retired cop as a security officer :/ he shot but the perp was wearing armor and killed him.
Just think if others in the store were armed.
Might have ended differently.
This is what American Society, with all it’s craziness has succumbed to – raising a bunch of murderers and then wondering “how could this possibly happen?”
He didn’t target Jews CH”V
I was thinking the same but didn’t even want to articulate it.
Not that it’s “better” that he went after a different group but let this be a wakeup call to Yidden that if not already doing do it’s way past time to take security VERY seriously.
He was someone who publicly said he hated jews more than blacks. This could have been a very different story chas veshalom
I hope Jews are finally opening our eyes to what these attacks mean for us and for all minorities in this country. This racist attacker was motivated by Fox News and trump rhetoric. Jewish communities need to stand alongside black communities and all other minorities because it is the moral, right thing to do and because we are one of them. This attack against the black community could have been an attack against Jews. We are all in this together and we must all defend and protect one another. Conservative trump republicans are white supremacists who inspire and desire these… Read more »
How can you have this response to such a heinous crime and lump so many people together.
Look in the mirror and you will see the problem with our society.
The only way to silence this issue is to call a spade a spade and agree to disagree.
There are antisemites in both extremes, the extreme right and extreme left.
From your comments you are showing your true colors.
May G-d bless you to see the good in humanity.
It is absurd that you blame this on Trump (what year is this?!), and on one of the two main political parties in America.
By maligning entire movements representing nearly half the country, you are also guilty of practicing the same hatred that you supposedly decry.
17 people shot after a BASKETBALL GAME.
SEVENTEEN PEOPLE and none of the people shooting had lawful authority to carry–or to discharge–a weapon.
Just another night in the big city.
So you think Trump supporters are the cause. You think Democrats represent true Democracy. What are you smoking. I guess you are a CNN groupie. The truth is there are anti Semites on both sides but Democrats philosophy is my way or the highway or if I don’t get my way burn the place down or blame it onTrump.
The author writes about his perceptions of the dwindling size of the White population and claims White people are being replaced by non-Whites in a “White genocide.” This “replacement theory,” once a fringe idea, has recently become a talking point for Fox News’ host Tucker Carlson as well as other prominent conservatives.
The domestic terrorist thinks that killing is the answer.
These folks have it backwards.
Instead of putting hours into video games and posting on the online forums, go do some socializing.
Meet a woman and get married. Start a family. Then they’ll have their own population increase.
Instead, people are not getting married, not having children, sitting playing games and watching movies, chasing money like there’s no tomorrow, AND THEN COMPLAINING about other groups who are populating the Earth.
Real smart bunch there.
I think that the president of the united states of america is Mr. Biden
Here’s the way certain people think (or claim to):
* When a Republican is in office, everything bad that happens is automatically his fault, and anything good just shows that his predecessor’s policies worked.
* When a Democrat is in office, everything bad is the fault of the previous administration, or of white supremacists, or of talk show hosts, etc.
To blame fox or Trump must be coming from some troll teenager because it’s absurd. This isn’t about politics right now but about evil people doing evil and if u know who inspired him why don’t u open the news. Evil is inspired by evil rhetoric. We don’t need more more of the blame game. So stop already. He’s an 18 yr old full of hate. The more u blame the more YOU spread the same rhetoric.
It’s important the Shluchim show that they love and care for everybody… this act of unprecedented kindness may inspire others to a mitzvah.
The Shluchim stand up against white nationalist evil with love… thanks for taking time to also spread this inspiring act!
you hate trump so much he did more for israel than any other presidents, he released mr rubashkin out from jail. but we still voted for demorats
I watch Tucker Carlson and know exactly where this guy got his “replacement theory” from. There’s also a few other Republicans who share these views. But I know that they’re trump supporters and trump is also a fan and endorses them (specifically Matt Gaetz, MJG and Tucker Carlson). If trump supporters them than so do I!
We should really be worried about the people who stole the election from the greatest president the world has ever seen!
TRUMP2024!
All Jews should be standing with the black community. BLM!!!
BLM is a Marxist organization. Go look at the multi-million dollar mansion that was built using donors’ money.
” Inside a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, a white man with a history of antisemitic internet posts gunned down 11 worshipers, blaming Jews for allowing immigrant “invaders” into the United States. The next year, another white man, angry over what he called “the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” opened fire on shoppers at an El Paso Walmart, leaving 23 people dead, and later telling the police he had sought to kill Mexicans. And in yet another deadly mass shooting, unfolding in Buffalo on Saturday, a heavily armed white man is accused of killing 10 people after targeting a supermarket on the city’s predominantly… Read more »
You folks are insanely obsessed with Trump.
Trump, the one with the JEWISH DAUGHTER and the JEWISH GRANDCHILDREN.
Meanwhile our current administration has allowed Afghani terrorists into the country. This is a FACT.
The people who committed those horrific acts also were NOT supporters of Trump!
Trump, to them, is “too Jewish.”
He moved the Embassy, he released Rabbi Rubashkin, and he has Jewish relatives.
They were NOT Trump fans at all.
Stop misquoting Trump’s comments, too. The supposed “fine people” comment was taken out of context.