The police presence continues outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Image by Aiden Pink/The Forward

By Aiden Pink April 28, 2019

Jewish institutions in Pittsburgh expressed their condolences after a gunman killed one person and injured three more at a synagogue in California on Saturday – six months to the day after a similar attack in the Steel City.

“Our hearts are broken once again by the horrifying attack against a synagogue in San Diego,” the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh wrote on its Facebook page. “As a community that experienced violence, we offer our sympathy to the Jewish community there.”

Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Facebook post was simple: “Our hearts are in California as we continue to stand together against hate.”

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Eleven people were killed at the Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27, by a gunman who allegedly shouted “all Jews must die.” It was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history, and led Jewish institutions around the country to reevaluate their security protocols.

Like the Pittsburgh gunman, the suspect in the Poway attack used an AR-style assault rifle, San Diego County Sheriff William Dore said on Saturday. While authorities have not yet publicly released a motive in this case, Poway mayor Steve Vaus told CNN that he believed a hate crime had occurred, “because of statements that were made when the shooter entered.”

Aiden Pink is the deputy news editor for the Forward. You can reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink

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