Hundreds Gather To Remember Victims In Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

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Hundreds gather at The Temple to remember the victims murder in a Pittsburgh synagogue. / GPB News

Hundreds of people from different faiths and backgrounds gathered at The Temple in Atlanta Tuesday to honor the 11 victims murdered in a synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. 

Rabbis, preachers and Atlanta city officials led the congregation in prayers, songs and words of strength during the service. 

Nick Chambers, a minister at Peachtree Christian Church, used to live in Pittsburgh. He said his job is to help people struggling with this tragedy. 

"Rather than to do anything to increase anger or to increase fear but to speak honestly about it,"  he said. 

Denise Dym, a Jewish Atlanta resident, said this should spark more conversation about antisemitism. 

"The hatred of the Jews it just doesn't seem like it's based in any fact or logic but it seems like we need a better way to educate people," she said.

She said acts like these show the misinformation some people act with. 

Speakers also took the time to denounce gun violence questioning why so many lives are lost at the hands of guns, but they said their questioning isn't an attack on the Second Amendment. 

Abdullah Jaber is an imam at a mosque in Atlanta. He said when their lives are at stake, the conversation naturally shifts to gun violence.

"That's something that we need to deal with," Jaber said.  "Is it political to talk about gun violence in churches, synagogues and mosques? If it's dealing with our security and our safety, it's religion."

Atlanta's police chief also spoke at the service and assued those in the faith community, keeping them safe remained a top priority. 

Funerals for the  victims have begun in Pittsburgh, but at The Temple, they will be memorialized with 11 candles.