From Gal Gadot To Pres. Obama, Here Are The Reactions To The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
Gal Gadot with a tree of life image she posted to social media Image by Getty/Forward Montage
After a tragedy, we look to the people around us for support. Our families, rabbis, politicians, and neighbors can help us process our painful reality. For many of us, luminaries in the arts and pop culture make up that supportive network and thinkers. Here are the words of many of the Jewish and non-Jewish influencers who publicly mourned the 11 victims of anti-Semitic violence in the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting this weekend.
Director Jason Reitman ruminates on miracles:
Every Jewish family is a miracle. We can tell you of the kind stranger, secret passage or divine moment where by luck, our family line persisted. I read these names and see the faces of my grandparents synagogue. The thin line they’ve walked to endure. What a waste of a miracle.
— Jason Reitman (@JasonReitman) October 28, 2018
Lena Dunham talks generational trauma:
We try and distract ourselves and life marches on but my mother, second generation Russian Jew, keeps saying she is so glad her father isn’t here to see this. Love you all. Stay safe.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 28, 2018
I don’t talk about my Jewish faith a lot, but it’s a huge part of my life, family and heart. It is painful & tragic to see a place of prayer cleaved by bigotry & hate, yet again. Please return our shalom to us with prayers & active support of the Jewish member of your community.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 27, 2018
Ben Platt plans for the future:
We can’t go to the movies
We can’t go to church
We can’t go to synagogue
We can’t go to a mosque
We can’t go to a concert
We can’t go to school
We can’t go to work
So we have to go to the polls. ?#GunSenseCandidates— Ben Platt (@BenSPLATT) October 27, 2018
Michael Twitty resists:
No, you will not kill my people. And you will not cut down The Tree of Life. We aren’t all the same but we are one people. #NEVERAGAIN #Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/lIjI1UUwdo
— Michael W. Twitty (@KosherSoul) October 27, 2018
Gal Gadot remembers where we came from:
All of humanity is connected to the same tree of life.
My heart is broken and goes out to the families in Pennsylvania. May we all be free to embrace each other, spirit and soul. pic.twitter.com/XeEl8G3bTS— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) October 28, 2018
Lena Dunham quotes Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai:
Yes, all of this is sorrow. But leave a little love burning always like the small bulb in the room of a sleeping baby that gives him a bit of security and quiet love though he doesn’t know what the light is or where it comes from. -Yehuda Amichai
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 28, 2018
Barbra Streisand memorializes Jewish and non-Jewish black victims:
13 people lost their lives to hate crimes in two horrific bigoted incidents yesterday. 11 Jews in a synagogue and two African-Americans who couldn’t get into a church. Tragic. May their souls Rest In Peace.
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) October 28, 2018
Seth Rogen responds from the ground:
I’m in Pittsburgh now, and have been for the last week. I’ve been struggling to find the words to express the sadness and anger I feel for the victims, their families and friends, the Jewish community, and the city as a whole.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) October 28, 2018
Jason Alexander prays:
There are no words. Or rather, there are words that would bring change, but our leaders don’t have the courage to say them. So, all we can do is say prayers. #TreeOfLifeSynagogue – our hearts continue to break.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) October 27, 2018
Gary Shteyngart honors HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society):
My family was resettled by @HIASrefugees, one of the greatest organizations that has ever existed. Today more than ever, they deserve your support.
— Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) October 28, 2018
Mark Hetfield of HIAS grieves:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, the congregants of Tree of Life, the people of Pittsburgh and our partners and refugee clients at Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh at this terrible time. Words cannot express our grief.
— mark hetfield (@MarkJHetfield) October 27, 2018
Non-Jewish friends gave their support as well.
Cher sends her love:
My ?Goes Out To Families
Of those Woundef Or Worse,At The Tree Of Life Synagogue. I Don’t Know If Words Can Help Broken?’s So Soon After a Tragedy Of This Epic Proportion⁉️Wanted You To Know The Entire Country Grieves With You.
?Respectfully
Cher— Cher (@cher) October 28, 2018
Rob Delaney shares his connection:
We are still in incredible pain. I’m crying right now. But what I learned from my Jewish friends and family helped us immeasurably. I am so grateful for the gifts of love and friendship I have received from the Jewish community. Love in action. Thank you.
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) October 28, 2018
Ellen lends warmth:
Today, I send out love to each and every one of you reading this. Every single one of you. We are one world. We all need love. We all want comfort. Let’s give it to each other.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 27, 2018
Samantha Power connects to sports:
Pittsburgh Steelers’ adapted logo is very moving. A classy organization doing what it can on a devastating day. https://t.co/AxRbNzkmAm
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) October 28, 2018
Barack Obama offers wisdom:
We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 27, 2018
Tom Hanks shares his heart:
Again, to me this photo is the spirit of Pittsburgh- with a broken heart today for those in Squirrel Hill … Hanx pic.twitter.com/jeOiLGEVBc
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) October 27, 2018
Kathy Griffin gives a history lesson:
Anti-Semitism has been a reality for thousands of years and it will always be around. But our leaders, moral and political, can either deprive it of oxygen or give it life. For those who give it life, they can accomplish this either by endorsing it or by remaining silent.
VOTE
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 27, 2018
Jenny Singer is the deputy lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at Singer@forward.com or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny
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