By Ana Altchek

On October 27th, 11 people were murdered during morning services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, a highly populated Jewish area in Pittsburgh. Six others were severely injured in the attack. But despite the horrific anti-Semitic attack on the community, I do not feel like my pride or openness in being Jewish has changed in any way. Surrounded by friends and family, Jew and Gentile alike, I feel supported, secure, and proud of my faith in a time that threatens our stability.

I grew up in the progressive and diverse town of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where there was never a major Jewish community, and I always felt my religious practices were hindered by this lack of Jewish connection.

However, the inclusive environment of Pitt has allowed me to become more active in the community than I have ever been before. Despite the relatively small Jewish population, I always feel encouraged and comfortable partaking in as many Jewish activities as possible. As a sophomore at Pitt, I have an internship at Hillel, I take a class with Chabad about Jewish values, and I am a frequent attendee of Friday night Shabbat dinners.

Whereas hate-motivated crimes might leave some fearful to continue their practices, I did not feel any less secure to be a Jew in Pittsburgh.

Several hundred people gathered at the intersection of Forbes and Murray avenues Saturday evening for a vigil that paid tribute to the victims of the Saturday morning shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

As soon as the tragedy occurred, I received a plethora of phone calls and messages from friends and family despite my distance from the attack. Not only did friends contact me but they stood by my side at the vigil at Soldiers and Sailors to convey their compassion and empathy.

But what truly stuck out to me was that everyone, not just Jewish people, spoke out against the shooting. The appearance of thousands of people at the vigil Sunday night at the Soldiers and Sailors auditorium — including the hundreds who could not fit inside and opted to instead stand outside in the pouring rain — is a compelling example of the kind of support and reassurance victims and Jews felt from the Pittsburgh community.

Not only did thousands attend the vigil, but multiple representatives of different religious communities expressed their solidarity with the Jewish community.

“We want to know what you need. . .  … the Muslim community will be there,” Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said at the vigil Sunday night.

Not only did the Muslim community raise over $100,000 for the victims of the shooting, but the Christian community offered aid as well, and vowed to stand by the Jewish people during their time of grief and mourning. As a member of a religious group that has been historically persecuted and oppressed, it was particularly touching to see leaders and members from all different affiliations offering their support to the Jewish people despite their personal beliefs.

While I cannot begin to imagine the trauma of someone who experienced the event firsthand, I am grateful to say that I do not feel threatened to continue living my life as a Jew the same way I have been since beginning school here. This is very much a result of the climate here. While there are not an overwhelming number of Jews at Pitt, there is an exceedingly strong sense of inclusiveness and respect for other cultures. When an event like this happens, reaching out to victims is a main priority. However, reassuring friends and neighbors that they are accepted is an equally essential task. I was grateful for the outpouring of love and support from fellow friends — whether it was a text, a call or a post on social media condemning the mass murder.

Previously published on the Pitt News

All photos by Anna Bongardino, Visual Editor at the Pitt News