Podcasts about life synagogue

SummaryIn the wake of unimaginable tragedy, how does a community find its way forward—and what can we learn from their resilience? In this episode, we sit down with Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who survived the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. Rabbi Myers shares how his congregation and the broader Pittsburgh community responded to hatred with overwhelming acts of kindness and solidarity, and how he's become a national voice for interfaith understanding and eradicating the “H-word” from our daily lives.About Our GuestRabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers has served as the Rabbi and Cantor for the Tree of Life in Pittsburgh since the summer of 2017. He moved to the City of Bridges after spending decades in ministry in New Jersey and Long Island. He received a BA from Rutgers, an MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary and studied privately with Cantor Zvi Aroni before graduating from the Cantorial School of The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. After the horrific morning of October 27, 2018, when a heavily armed gunman began a murderous rampage in the Tree of Life, Rabbi Myers—who survived the attack—became the face of the tragedy. Since then, he has set about sending the key message that love is stronger than hate. Rabbi Myers contends that a lack of understanding of our neighbors leads to fear and sometimes loathing, which can lead to acts of violence. Rabbi Myers believes that if we are ever to remove the "H word" from our society, it must start with pledging not to use that word in speech, just as he has done in honor of the 11 lives lost at the Tree of Life. Rabbi Myers is a recipient of multiple awards, including 2019 recipient of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Medal of Valor, given out to those who exemplify the good deeds of outstanding individuals who honor mankind and whose courage and bravery shine a light in the darkest of places. Because of his service and actions during and after the Tree of Life massacre, Rabbi Myers received the medal which is inscribed: “He who saves a single life, it is as if he has saved an entire world.” He has testified before both Houses of Congress, participated in many gatherings in the White House, and has spoken throughout the United States on the proliferation of H-speech.Useful LinksTree of Life Synagogue – Rabbi Myers' Community: https://www.treeoflifepgh.orgRabbi Myers on Responding to Hate (CNN Feature): https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/18/us/rabbi-myers-pittsburgh-hate/index.htmlPittsburgh Synagogue Shooting – Background (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_synagogue_shootingFollow How to HelpInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/how.to.help.pod/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@how.to.help.podBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/howtohelp.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HowToHelpPodPleasant Pictures MusicJoin the Pleasant Pictures Music Club to get unlimited access to high-quality, royalty-free music for all of your projects. Use the discount code...

First up on today's wide-ranging show, Ralph speaks to political scientist Adolph Reed about how American politics has started taking its cues from professional wrestling and how the left can rebuild itself. Then, we welcome Steve Silberstein from National Popular Vote to update us on their interstate compact's progress. Finally, we're joined by three interns from the American Museum of Tort Law—Dylan Bird, Gabriel Duffany, and Rachel Donovan discuss a rather unique summer assignment.Adolph Reed is Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and an organizer with the Debs-Jones-Douglass Institute's Medicare for All-South Carolina initiative, and co-host of Class Matters Podcast. His most recent books are The South: Jim Crow and Its Afterlives and (with Walter Benn Michaels) No Politics but Class Politics.One of the things that struck me, especially, is during the pandemic it was striking to see how much full-blown animus toward government— or toward the idea of public and public goods—that there is out there in society at large. And we know Heritage (and the rest of the reactionary, the Koch brothers) have been fueling that and stoking that kind of resentment for as long as they've been around, frankly, right…But what's different is that since the Clinton years, the Democrats have been just as likely to attack the idea of government or public goods and public services, right? And they're more likely to do it backhandedly…So there hasn't been any space for people to connect even the fact that they like to go to the public library or like to use the public park with this bipartisan, full-bore attack on the idea of government. And that has gone so far and so deeply within society.Adolph ReedSteve Silberstein founded and served as the first president of Innovative Interfaces Inc., a leading supplier of computer software for the automation of college and city libraries. Mr. Silberstein sold his interest in the company in 2001 and now devotes his time to philanthropic and civic matters, one of which is sitting on the Board of Directors of National Popular Vote.Of the states that have passed [the National Popular Vote compact], it's mostly been with Democratic votes. Because for a while there's been a theory that Republicans couldn't win the national popular vote. That's why they opposed it. But now that they have actually won the popular vote this time around, that theory which caused some of them to oppose it has gone by the wayside.Steve SilbersteinThere's no reason for [Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan being “swing states”]. You know, those states didn't even exist when the constitution was established. It's just purely an accident…Those states are not typical of the United States—each state is unique in some way. So, Wisconsin has a big dairy industry. Pennsylvania has coal mining or fracking or something like that. So the candidates just concentrate on those—what are really very obscure issues to most of the people in the country. These states are not typical. They are not representative in any way shape or form of the rest of the country.Steve SilbersteinDylan Bird is a sophomore at St Lawrence University, pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Spanish on a Pre Law Track. Gabriel Duffany is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a double major in Human Rights and Communication also on a Pre Law Track, and he is an intern at the American Museum of Tort Law. Rachel Donovan is the Outreach Coordinator at the American Museum of Tort Law, and she is pursuing studies in education. All three recently worked as summer interns at the American Museum of Tort Law in the VoxBox Civic Engagement Summer Course, and they participated in Ralph Nader's Dictionary Pilot.It's a very daunting task when somebody hands you a full dictionary—over a thousand pages or so—and asks you to read it front-to-back. Once you start to actually sink your teeth into it…I actually found it to be a very positive experience. Rather than simply looking up individual words and ending your journey there, the goal really becomes the exploration of knowledge.Dylan BirdFor me, what really did stand out wasn't the individual words. It was more so the process of defining that I found the most compelling. So it showed up to me in the linguistic sense that these aren't exact definitions here. They're more so measurements, gauges of people's public opinions and definitions that would shift over time. So it was interesting to see how the evolution of words came, how meanings evolved over time with new technologies, new cultural moments. And as a news writer, I found that fascinating—the complexities of a word, the connotations that go with it, they can make or break the framing of any certain topic.Gabriel DuffanyI think that this project could be very important for students of all ages because it's not often that you would use a physical dictionary very much anymore—versus just going online and looking up a word. And now multiple definitions could come up—you may not even find exactly what you're looking for, because words undergo new meanings on a near-daily basis. And I think having the chance to read the original definition may give students new meanings to words that they may have thought they had the knowledge of due to social media.Rachel DonovanNews 12/25/241. On December 19th, the Teamsters announced they would launch “the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history.” This strike covers nearly 10,000 Amazon workers who have joined the Teamsters, with workers taking to the picket line in New York City Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco and Skokie, Illinois. Teamsters President Sean O'Brien is quoted saying “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed. We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it…This strike is on them.” Scenes from this strike went viral over the holidays; one video posted by Labor Notes journalist Luis Feliz Leon shows NYPD officers guarding a path for Amazon trucks to depart after clearing away a blockade by striking workers – in case you were wondering whose side the cops are on.2. In more Amazon union news, INDY Week's Lena Geller reports that on December 23rd Amazon workers filed for a union election at the RDU1 warehouse in Garner, North Carolina. These workers are organizing under the auspices of Carolina Amazonians for Solidarity and Empowerment, aka CAUSE, which states that “despite an illegal campaign of intimidation by Amazon, which is desperate to keep unions out to continue paying poverty wages and failing to improve dismal work conditions,” the union believes they have “easily” exceeded the 30% card check threshold to demand an election. If successful, RDU1 would become the first unionized Amazon facility in the South.3. Independent investigative journalists Ken Klippenstein and Dan Boguslaw are out with a report on a potential conflict of interest in the Luigi Mangione prosecution. Apparently, “Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker, who is overseeing pre-trial hearings for…Mangione, is married to a former Pfizer executive.” Judge Parker's husband, Bret Parker, had served as Vice President and assistant general counsel at Wyeth, and held the same titles after that company was purchased by Pfizer. According to financial disclosures, Mr. Parker still collects a pension from Pfizer in the form of a “Senior Executive Retirement Plan.” The Parkers also own hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of stock in Pfizer itself, along with other pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare companies. These holdings raise grave questions about the impartiality of this judge.4. In more news from New York, Gothamist reports New York Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed a bill which would have “reversed New York's longstanding ban on jury service for anyone convicted of felonies at any point in their lives. If enacted, the bill would have allowed people with felony convictions to serve only after completing their sentences, including parole.” This bill passed with the support of the New York Civil Liberties Union and Phil Desgranges, an attorney at The Legal Aid Society, called this bill “common-sense legislation.” State Senator Jabari Brisport wrote “Fun fact about [New York] politics. The Governor has until end of year to sign bills so she usually waits until [the] holiday season and vetoes a bunch right before Christmas, hoping no one notices.” The Gothamist piece notes that Hochul vetoed 132 bills over the weekend.5. Turning to Israel, a remarkable story in unfolding around the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. According to Democracy Now!, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to skip the anniversary “out of fears he might be arrested for committing war crimes in Gaza.” As we have documented on this program, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant in November, and since then various countries have grappled with their obligations under international law to arrest the pair. While certain ICC signatory nations like Germany and France have sought to weasel out of these commitments, according to this report, “Poland's deputy foreign minister recently confirmed Poland would comply with the ICC arrest warrants if Netanyahu visited.”6. On the domestic front, newly elected Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar has sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding that the Biden administration withhold new transfers of offensive weaponry to the Israeli military. In this letter, he and other progressive members of Congress make clear that the administration itself has “correctly identified steps the Israeli government must take in order for continued transfers…to be in accordance with U.S. law,” and that “the Israeli government has failed to take sufficient action or change course.” This letter is signed by 20 members of Congress including Casar himself along with Summer Lee, James McGovern, Mark Pocan, Pramila Jayapal, Sara Jacobs, AOC, Rashida Tlaib, and others.7. In a stunning story picked up by POLITICO, Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger – chair of the critical House Appropriations Committee until last April – has been missing in action for months. Despite continuing to hold her Texas seat, she has not cast a vote at all since July. Calls to her office went unanswered and unreturned. Visits to her office found it vacant. And when investigative reporters sought her out, they wound up finding her in an assisted living facility wracked with dementia. This story is tragic; Granger's son has spoken out since publication, addressing how rapidly his mother's mental decline has progressed. Yet, this is just the most striking example of the gerontocracy that has gripped Capitol Hill. And at least Granger had the sense remaining to recuse herself from votes; rebellious Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is quoted saying he's “more concerned about the congressmen who have dementia and are still voting.”8. Moving to some good news, the Federal Trade Commission announced last week that they, along with the Attorney General of Illinois, have reached a $25 million settlement with food delivery giant GrubHub, stemming from the firm's engagement in “an array of unlawful practices including deceiving diners about delivery costs and blocking their access to their accounts and funds, deceiving workers about how much money they would make delivering food, and unfairly and deceptively listing restaurants on its platform without their permission.” In addition to the monetary penalty, the company must make significant changes to its operations model, including “telling consumers the full cost of delivery, honestly advertising pay for drivers, and listing restaurants on its platform only with their consent.” This is a victory for consumers, workers, restaurants, but perhaps above all, the rule of law. As FTC Chair Lina Khan puts it “There is no ‘gig platform' exemption to the laws on the books.”9. On December 23rd, President Biden announced that he would commute the death sentences for 37 out of the 40 federal prisoners on death row, in a major victory for ending executions by the state. These sentences have been commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In a statement, Biden wrote “I've dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system…Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss. But… I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level.” He ends this statement by alluding to the fact that as president he has imposed a moratorium on federal executions and fears that the incoming Trump administration will resume state-sponsored killings. Per AP, the three inmates whose sentences were not commuted are: Dylann Roof, the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooter, Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Tree of Life Synagogue shooter Robert Bowers.10. Finally, on Christmas Eve, Bernie Sanders issued a statement laying out “How to Make America Healthy Again,” echoing the language used by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Under Bernie's plan, this initiative would include Medicare for All, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, paid family and medical leave, a 32-hour work week, raising the minimum wage, and reforms to the food industry itself, such as banning junk food ads and stronger warning labels on high-sugar products. As with Bernie's qualified embrace of the “Department of Government Efficiency” this should be seen as a savvy move to call the Trump team's bluff. Will they really go after big sugar? Or will they bend the knee to their corporate benefactors yet again?This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates currently on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment. The move spares the lives of inmates convicted of killing police and military officers, as well as several involved in deadly bank robberies or drug deals. The three people who were not on Biden's commutation list are the surviving Boston Marathon bomber, the convicted murderer from the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, and the gunman from the massacre at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston. Biden said he is convinced more than ever that the use of the death penalty at the federal level must be stopped. The suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, Luigi Mangione, is expected to be arraigned on state charges in New York on Monday. He faces 11 state charges, including first-degree murder as an act of terrorism. The hearing marks Mangione's first opportunity to formally address the accusations brought by the Manhattan district attorney's office. He also faces a federal murder charge, which carries the maximum potential sentence of death or life in prison. In the Middle East, U.S. Central Command has reported conducting precision airstrikes in Yemen that targeted militants linked to the Houthi terrorist group. A U.S. fighter jet was also shot down in the Red Sea, with the U.S. military saying it had mistakenly shot down one of its own fighter aircraft. NTD also spoke with Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence official, to discuss the latest in the ongoing power struggle in Syria. ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

“Grey's Anatomy” star writer and producer Elisabeth Finch was just confronted by her new wife, Jennifer Beyer, about her supposed cancer claims. A former registered nurse, Jennifer noticed that Elisabeth didn't seem to have a port scar for chemotherapy treatments. She'd seen photos of Elisabeth during chemotherapy with a bald head, but also with full eyebrows and eyelashes …something she'd never witnessed during her nursing career. Jennifer had also taken Elisabeth to a doctor who claimed she had two perfectly working kidneys. Not to mention, the infamous Tree of Life Synagogue incident, the traumatic event that sent Elisabeth to the Arizona treatment center in the first place, may have also been a lie.  As Elisabeth shrugged off questions, hiding behind the walls of “triggering” claims, Jennifer demanded that she tell her the truth about what was truly taking place. Which brings us to the third part of the Elisabeth Finch story. With her wife growing suspicious, what will Elisabeth be willing to admit to keep her marriage, lies and career in place? Sponsors: Factor: Visit FactorMeals.com/50dirtymoney and use code 50dirtymoney for 50% off your first box + free shipping. AquaTru: Visit AquaTru.com and use code DIRTYMONEY at checkout for 20% off any AquaTru purifier. Quince: Visit Quince.com/dirtymoney for free shipping and 365-day returns. Follow host, Jami Rice, on Instagram and TikTok @JamiOnAir to keep up with this case and other true crime cases on which she's providing commentary. Check out Jami's other true crime podcast, MURDERISH, which is available in all podcast apps. Dirty Money Moves is a collaboration between MURDERISH and Cloud10 Media. Executive Producers are: Jami Rice and Sim Sarna Research and writing by: Zach Selwyn If you enjoy Dirty Money Moves, please leave the podcast a 5-star rating and review in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast player. Sources are available at MURDERISH.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Grey's Anatomy” star writer and producer Elisabeth Finch was apparently going through a lot in the middle of 2019. She remained on top at Grey's, becoming the de facto writer for any episode dealing with cancer as a subject matter, but she just couldn't seem to catch a break in her personal life. She claimed she'd lost a kidney to cancer and said she'd been forced to abort a fetus in the early stages of pregnancy due to complications with her chemotherapy. Her latest traumatic experience was dealing with the awful Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, the city where she once attended college. According to Elisabeth, she was there one day after the attack helping clean up the dead remains of her close friend.   But now, as the new season of “Grey's Anatomy's” was in early preparation, Elisabeth decided that the PTSD from the synagogue incident was too much for her to handle. She asked for a leave of absence to go into a trauma treatment center in Arizona, where she checked in under the name “Jo,” which was also the name of a character that Elisabeth Finch had been researching for a storyline on “Grey's Anatomy.” She settled into her first few days of therapy, and that's when she met a woman in her process group named Jennifer Beyer, the woman she fell in love with who will ultimately be responsible for Elisabeth's catastrophic downfall. Follow host, Jami Rice, @JamiOnAir on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with this case and other true crime cases on which she's providing commentary. Check out Jami's other true crime podcast, MURDERISH, which is available in all podcast apps. Dirty Money Moves is a collaboration between MURDERISH and Cloud10 Media. Executive Producers are: Jami Rice and Sim Sarna Research and writing by: Zach Selwyn If you enjoy Dirty Money Moves, please leave the podcast a 5-star rating and review in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast player. Sources are available at MURDERISH.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The boys are on location at National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) in Kansas City, MO! Tim Watson joins the boys to reflect on going head on with a mass shooter. Tim, formerly Pittsburgh Bureau of Police SWAT, responded to the infamous Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, where he was shot 12 times while engaging the shooter. Shell Shock Tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shell-shock-tickets-965532793577?aff=oddtdtcreator Shell Shock Hotel link https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1723833032487&key=GRP&app=resvlink Check out our sponsors! Ghost Bed https://www.ghostbed.com/pages/antiheroutm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=antihero Zero 9 Holsters https://zero9holsters.com/ Venjenz https://venjenz.com/ Brotherhood Blades https://www.brotherhoodblades.com/ Howe Arms https://www.howearms.com/ Refracted Wolf Apparel https://refractedwolfapparel.com/ First Responders Coffee Company https://frccoffee.com/ Patreon https://patreon.com/TheAntiheroPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Mason knew this call was different. An active shooter at the Tree of Life Synagogue was in progress, creating a response of dozens of police and first responders. During the search for the shooter, Tim had to keep the priorities of life top of mind as he stepped over several of the shooting victims. He and his team were on a mission to save lives and stop the threat. In a final confrontation with the shooter, Tim was shot 12 times, sustaining 7 injuries. Find out how a weed saved his life later. Join us at Patreon.com/gameofcrimes for great content you won't hear anywhere else Donate at paypal.me/gameofcrimes or go to paypal.com and use our email: gameofcrimespodcast@gmail.com Go to GameOfCrimesPodcast.com for more info and merch Follow us on... Twitter Facebook Instagram

Tim Mason knew this call was different. An active shooter at the Tree of Life Synagogue was in progress, creating a response of dozens of police and first responders. During the search for the shooter, Tim had to keep the priorities of life top of mind as he stepped over several of the shooting victims. He and his team were on a mission to save lives and stop the threat. In a final confrontation with the shooter, Tim was shot 12 times, sustaining 7 injuries. Find out how a weed saved his life later. Join us at Patreon.com/gameofcrimes for great content you won't hear anywhere else Donate at paypal.me/gameofcrimes or go to paypal.com and use our email: gameofcrimespodcast@gmail.com Go to GameOfCrimesPodcast.com for more info and merch Follow us on... Twitter Facebook Instagram

Listen to this compilation of our award-winning series Remembering Pittsburgh, exploring how the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue affected the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, the U.S., and around the world. In the four-part series, we take listeners behind the scenes of how the Pittsburgh Jewish community continues to rebuild and honor the lives lost on October 27, 2018. The anniversary came during the same month as the most lethal attack on Jews since the Holocaust: Hamas' October 7 massacre of Israelis. Rising antisemitism has led to the murder of Jews around the world, from Pittsburgh, to Paris, to Israel. All forms of antisemitism must be countered to ensure a safe and secure Jewish future. Listen to the entire series at AJC.org/TreeofLife. Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Eric Lidji, Carole Zawatsky, Howard Fienberg, Marnie Fienberg, Belle Yoeli, Anne Jolly, Ted Deutch Show Notes: Music Credits: Relent by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com),  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Virtual Violin Virtuoso by techtheist is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License Tree of Life by Nefesh Mountain Shloime Balsam - Lo Lefached Hevenu Shalom - Violin Heart Listen – People of the Pod on the Israel-Hamas War: Jewish College Student Leaders Share Their Blueprint for Combating Antisemitism Matisyahu's Message to His Fellow Jews and to the Israel Haters Trying to Cancel Him Unheard, Until Now: How Israeli Women Are Powering Israel's Resilience 152 Days Later: What the Mother of Hostage Edan Alexander Wants the World to Know Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Episode Transcript: Manya Brachear Pashman: Last month, the Senate earmarked $1 million in federal funding to create a curriculum for students about antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bigotry. The recipient of that money? An organization that knows the consequences of that hatred all too well: the newly imagined Tree of Life, an education center dedicated to ending antisemitism that emerged after 11 worshipers inside Tree of Life synagogue were murdered by a white supremacist on October 27, 2018.  This week, we are presenting a compilation of our award-winning series Remembering Pittsburgh, which launched on October 5, 2023 -- right before the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel.  Listen to the series at AJC.org/TreeofLife. __ Episode 1, which originally aired on October 5,  takes you inside the Tree of Life building before it was demolished to make way for a new complex dedicated to Jewish life and combating antisemitism.  Eric Lidji: Pittsburgh definitely is not forgetting. It's ever-present here. There are people who are healing and doing so in ways that, at least from the outside, are remarkable and very inspiring. And there are people who I'm sure have not fully reckoned with it yet. Carole Zawatsky: It's all too easy to walk away from what's ugly. And we have to remember. We can't walk away. Manya Brachear Pashman: Five years have gone by since the horrific Shabbat morning at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, when eleven congregants were gunned down during prayer – volunteers, scholars, neighbors, doing what they always did: joining their Jewish community at shul.  Today, we take you to the Tree of Life building that stands on the corner of Shady and Wilkins Avenues in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood to hear from two people in charge of preserving the artifacts and memories of the vibrant Jewish life that unfolded inside those walls until October 27, 2018.  Manya Brachear Pashman: In early September, our producer Atara Lakritz and I visited the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Squirrel Hill, where Jews have settled since the 1920s, is quite literally Mister Rogers' neighborhood. We were there to interview those touched by the events of October 27. But it didn't take us long to figure out that everyone there had been affected in some way.  All along Murray Avenue, in 61C Cafe, at Pinsker's Judaica Shoppe, at the Giant Eagle supermarket, when we told people why we were there, they all had a story, an acquaintance, a connection.  Later, walking through the glass doors of the synagogue felt like we were stepping through a portal, traveling back five years, when life stopped, and the reality of the hatred and terror that unfolded there began to haunt every step.  Atara and I were invited to accompany a final group tour of the building before it closed in order for preparations to begin for the building's demolition. The tour was painful, but we felt it necessary to share with our listeners.  As we left the lobby, we were told to take the stairs to the left. The stairs to the right were off limits. Someone had been shot there.  We were led to a small, dark storage room where chairs had been stacked for guests. A handful of people had hidden there as the shooter continued his rampage, but one man walked out too soon, thinking it was safe. When first responders later came to get the others, they had to step over his body.  In the kitchen, there were still marks on the wall where the bullets ricocheted when he shot two women hiding underneath a metal cabinet. The calendar on the wall there was still turned to October 2018 with a list of activities that were happening that week posted alongside it.  And in the Pervin Chapel where seven people died, pews punctured with bullet holes and carpet squares stained with blood were no longer there. No ark either.  But remarkably, the stained glass windows remained with images and symbols of Jewish contributions to America, the land to which the ancestors of so many worshipers once inside that synagogue had fled to and found safety. Those windows will be carefully removed by the son of the man who first installed them 70 years ago. And they will return, when the reimagined Tree of Life rises again.   Carole Zawatsky: The tragedy is a Pittsburgh experience. But it's also every Jew's experience. It shattered for so many of us our sense of security in America. This is our safe haven. This is where we came to. Manya Brachear Pashman: Carole Zawatsky is the inaugural CEO of the reimagined Tree of Life. Since November 2022, she has overseen the development of a new complex on the hallowed ground: an education center dedicated to ending antisemitism, including a new home for the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh; a memorial to the lives lost that Shabbat morning; a dedicated synagogue space where the Tree of Life congregation can return. Carole Zawatsky: What can we build to enrich Jewish life, to remember this tragedy, and to show the world that we as Jews should not be known only by our killers and our haters, we should be known by our joy, our celebrations, our rituals, our resilience. __ Manya Brachear Pashman: Next, hear from the son and daughter in law of Joyce Fienberg, one of the 11 victims. In this second installment of our series, we sit down with Joyce's son, Howard Fienberg, and his wife, Marnie, as they share their journey of mourning and resilience. After her husband and mother died in 2016, Joyce Fienberg started each day at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, to recite Kaddish, the mourner's prayer. Even when she was no longer officially considered a mourner as Jewish tradition prescribes, 11 months, she continued to attend services each morning at the synagogue.  That's why Howard Feinberg knew his mother Joyce was at Tree of Life when he heard there had been a shooting there on the morning of October 27, 2018. It would be more than 12 hours before he learned she was among the 11 killed that day.  Howard and his wife Marnie are with us now from their home in Northern Virginia. Howard, you followed your mother's example and recited kaddish for 11 months. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience? That experience of saying Kaddish and mourning for your mother, and also can you share with our listeners why it felt like the mourning period was extended? Howard Fienberg: I felt a huge amount of support everywhere I went, in order to be able to say Kaddish every day. Which for someone who was not the most observant of Jews, it was a big lift to be able to do that every day. In fact, even when traveling in disparate places, that I could always find, somehow, be able to pull together 10 people to be able to say Kaddish was a big deal. And I wanted to make sure that no one would struggle in similar circumstances as well.  Obviously, initially, in Pittsburgh putting together 10 people was not a particularly big lift. Because the community support in that first week of Shiva was phenomenal. But it's not an easy thing in many congregations, and I think we are fortunate in mine that we always seem to pull it out every day. But I want to make sure that it happens. So in practice wise, that's one of the biggest things, my involvement with the synagogue, and prayer.  The broader extension of the mourning period, in a way, was a result of the constant delay of the trial for the monster that committed the massacre. And that was a result of both just the general usual procedural delays that you would expect, combined with COVID excuses that dragged things out during the trial. And once a new judge took over responsibility for this case, things suddenly snapped into gear and it moved forward. And we're particularly grateful for the judge in this case, just for his very no-nonsense approach moving forward. Manya Brachear Pashman: Can you talk about whether the guilty verdict once it did take place, and a verdict was delivered, how that verdict changed anything for you and your family? Howard Fienberg: It was a matter of relief, to a great extent. I sat through almost the entirety of the trial, heard and saw all of the evidence. A lot more than I expected to and ever wanted to, but I felt duty to do so. From an outside perspective, looking at it all, you would say this is a slam dunk case, lined up for all the federal hate crimes that were involved. And at the same time, I was in doubt until the jury came back and said, all said guilty. It's just the nature of things. I was on pins and needles. Massive relief afterwards and the same thing with the final verdict and sentencing. Massive relief for us and our families.  And that did allow…nothing's ever closed. You don't finish feeling the loss of somebody, especially when they're taken in, you know, horribly violent terrorist circumstances. But you move from segment to segment. So the same as we do in the year of mourning, you're moving from shiva, which is one kind of thing, to the 30 days, and then to the end of the mourning period. And this was moving to yet another period. And what exactly this is and how long it will be, I don't know. But we're figuring that out as we go. I certainly feel a lot more relaxed. Marnie Fienberg: Feels a little lighter. Howard Fienberg: Yes, definitely lighter. Manya Brachear Pashman: That's good to hear. That's good to hear. I am curious, you said you felt a duty to listen to those details, even though you didn't want to. Can you explain why you felt that sense of obligation? Howard Fienberg: Part of it is, somebody in our family needed to. And it wasn't something that I wanted everybody to sit and hear and see. And I specifically told friends and family as much as I could, to stay far away and said, as much as you want to know, I'll let you know. But otherwise, it's horrific. And it wasn't anything that I would wish for anybody to see and hear. But at the same time, it's the reality of how my mom died. And what the circumstances were, what was going on with the antisemitic conspiracy theories that drove the monster that killed her. And what did he have in mind, and what was his intention, what did he plan, what did he do? These were important things.  And the bigger picture, which I didn't even know going in, was the extent to which the police in Pittsburgh were so heroic. And while they were not able to save my mom, they saved other people, including friends of ours, and people who are now friends, who would not be alive if those cops had not tried to charge at the front door trying to charge the building and getting shot.  And then the SWAT teams going into the building, and in a couple cases getting almost murdered themselves, trying to rescue the people that were inside. And they did rescue some people. And those people would most likely be dead if the SWAT had not rushed in. Equipment wise, they were not ready ordinarily for this sort of situation. But they went in anyways because they knew they needed to, and they didn't hesitate. And that's the kind of thing that you can only understand, having gone to the trial and learned what went on.  ___ Manya Brachear Pashman: In the third installment, we look back at how horror drew people to solidarity. We interviewed Belle Yoeli, AJC chief advocacy officer, as well as others who showed up for Shabbat.  Belle Yoeli: We saw hundreds of thousands of people show up. And we saw pictures later, after the fact, and videos, and people making speeches, and just so much solidarity. This was captured on the news. I think it really stands out as one of the most amazing responses to antisemitism that we've seen in modern history. Manya Brachear Pashman: On October 27, 2018, Americans witnessed the deadliest antisemitic attack in this nation's history. The senseless slaughter inside a house of worship devastated and shocked American senses because it was simply unAmerican. But the aftermath of the atrocity became an American moment when so many people showed up – showed up with hugs, showed up with flowers, showed up with prayers for their Jewish neighbors.  The most visible expression of this came a week after the massacre with the unprecedented turnout of people of all faiths at synagogues across the nation as part of AJC's #ShowUpForShabbat campaign. Together, Americans sent a message that hate will not prevail. Belle Yoeli: Everyone wanted to do something, and the entire Jewish community mobilized to make this happen with the understanding that as AJC has always said that antisemitism is not just about the Jewish community. It starts with the Jewish community, but it's a threat to democracy, and the murder of Jews in their religious institution is such a breaking, a fracturing of everything that the United States stands for, everything that democratic society stands for. Manya Brachear Pashman: Today, Belle Yoeli is the chief advocacy officer for AJC. In 2018, she worked as the chief of staff for then AJC CEO David Harris. David had spent nearly 20 years counseling European leaders on the rise of antisemitism in their midst, calling their attention to violent crimes against Jews when conflict erupted between Israel and their Arab neighbors. Belle was on her way to a nephew's birthday party when she got the call on October 27 about what had happened in Pittsburgh. She remembers sobbing in the car on the phone with colleagues as they all grappled with the reality that whether they were regular shul-goers or had just happened to go to synagogue to celebrate a friend's bar mitzvah that day – it just as easily could've been them. For many, what they needed now was to go to shul and not be afraid, and to see others, not just their own community, but others of all faiths in the pews alongside them. What they needed most now was to know they were not alone. So they drew up a plan. Belle Yoeli: A couple members of our staff actually kind of simultaneously came up with a similar idea, which was that we need to, more than anything, rally non-Jews to come and support the Jewish community at this time, and what better time to do that than the following Shabbat. Manya Brachear Pashman: Dubbed #ShowUpForShabbat, the social media-based campaign called on both Jews and those of other faiths to flock to synagogues that coming Shabbat on the weekend of November 2 in support of the Pittsburgh Jewish community and all of American Jewry. The response across 80 countries was astounding. Manya Brachear Pashman: We connected with people who showed up that Shabbat five years ago, and ask them what the experience meant to them.  Anne Jolly: An important part of what we proclaim is love God, love your neighbor, change the world. And so we believe that means, we show up for each other. We can't love each other without being present with each other. So we have to be together. You have to show up. Manya Brachear Pashman: Episcopal Bishop of Ohio Anne Jolly was serving as the rector of St. Gregory Episcopal Church in Deerfield, Illinois in October 2018. A former hospital chaplain, she was sitting in her office when she heard the news break that Saturday morning. Her first call was to her friend and colleague Rabbi Karyn Kedar down the road at the Reform temple commonly known as Congregation BJBE. Rabbi Kedar had recently preached at St. Gregory and then-Pastor Jolly was scheduled to deliver the guest sermon at BJBE the following Friday night. Anne Jolly: I called her and we talked and we prayed. And I said to Karyn, I think probably you need to preach on the Shabbat following the shooting at your temple and she said, ‘I want you to do it.' She said ‘I think I think we need to hear your voice and that the congregation needs to hear you. Rabbi Kedar I think thought that to hear a voice of someone who is not Jewish saying aloud, We love you, we care for you. We believe we are all created in God's image together. And that means we need to show up for each other. It means we need to be present with each other, that to hear that from someone who was not part of their community might be more powerful, more impactful, and more important for the community here at that time. Manya Brachear Pashman: When Bishop Jolly arrived that following Friday she did not expect her sudden sense of fear when she encountered armed guards. Anne Jolly: I didn't realize I was afraid until I walked in the door. And I stopped and had to take a deep breath and realize that I was afraid because I was entering into a space of people who have long been afraid. And that I had never had to experience that before in that way. And I wasn't really afraid for my congregation the same way I was for my beloveds in the synagogue, that they had more of a reason to be afraid than I did. And that was all the more reason for me to be there, and to be present with them. Manya Brachear Pashman: Bishop Jolly credits that night at BJBE for the deep connection that formed with the congregation. In fact, she returned to BJBE many more times to celebrate Shabbat. Precisely a year later, the members of the Jewish congregation showed up at her door after a pumpkin patch at St. Gregory had been destroyed by vandals. Anne Jolly: There were a bunch of them that came to our patch and we were talking about it and they said, ‘We just wanted to show you that we are supporting you. And they were worried that that vandalism had been an act of aggression against us. And I just thought it was kids. And that was a really clear distinction of how our worldviews are different. For them, a vandalism thing would, of course, of course, be something hateful against them. In this case, it was children, it was just teenagers being dumb. But it reinforced that understanding that for them, fear is always in the background because of the violence perpetrated to them – again and again and again. ___ Manya Brachear Pashman: For this closing episode of the series, I sat down with AJC CEO Ted Deutch, who served as a congressman at the time of the Tree of Life massacre. We discussed this anniversary and its parallels to the October 7 attack on Israel, when once again Jews were murdered just for being Jewish. Ted, where were you on the morning of October 27, 2018 when you heard about the Tree of Life?    Ted Deutch: I was a congressman who represented Parkland, where the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas took place. And the morning of Tree of Life, I spoke to a group of high school students from all around South Florida, who participated in a program about how they can become leaders in the community. I spoke with them about what had happened a few months before in Parkland, and what I had seen from high school students in Parkland and how they responded and how you stand up to violence and try to stop it and how you respond to evil and how important it is to use the power that you have as young people. That was literally what I was doing right before I walked out of the Florida Atlantic University auditorium and saw my phone start to buzz with news of Tree of Life. Everything that I had said to the students in the discussion, that really difficult conversation we had with these students who shared with me their fears of violence, their fears of going to school–those fears hit home really hard for me and for the Jewish community.  Manya Brachear Pashman: So in our first episode of this series, our producer Atara Lakritz and I went on the last tour of the Tree of Life building. You also walked through the building back in June, before many of the artifacts had been removed. Would you mind reflecting on that experience? Ted Deutch: I couldn't help but think of my synagogue where I grew up on the other side of Pennsylvania in a lovely community, like Pittsburgh. I was struck that, forget that this was a synagogue, I really couldn't stop thinking that it was inconceivable that that kind of horrible tragedy could happen in a community like that.  And walking through the synagogue and seeing the site where hatred, and antisemitism, and manifestations, the worst manifestations of antisemitism were brought to this lovely place, in this wonderful synagogue. It was overwhelming to think about what was happening that Shabbat and the fear and terror that people felt as that was happening. That was number one. Secondly, I walked into the main auditorium where they were gathering all of the things that hadn't yet been taken away to be used in the museum and the memorial that's going to be constructed, that haven't been given back to families.  There were lots of things that are just not identified, they don't have families to return them to. And to see tallaisim and tefillin and all kinds of items that are used for Jewish rituals and Jewish customs just sitting on this table where they didn't know what they were going to do with them because the synagogue that existed there, the life that existed there, that simple, wonderful community, that was gone. It was gone.  That community will never be the same. And I think for our community, for the Jewish community, we're really never gonna be the same after what happened there. Manya Brachear Pashman: You were telling me before we started this conversation that they gave you something during your visit. Ted Deutch: As I walked through, and they saw how moved I was by this massive display. They came over and made such a kind gesture to me. And of all of the gifts that I've received in all of my travels, as a member of Congress, and now as CEO of AJC, I don't think there's anything that's as meaningful as the tefillin that they gave me. I don't know, obviously, I don't know whose it was. And it may well have been someone that was a synagogue member years and years ago. But the connection that I felt at that moment to that community at Tree of Life and the connection that I felt thinking about, not just Tree of Life, but tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people throughout our history.  And knowing that I was going to return to New York, I was going to have the opportunity to join the Jewish community around the world in overcoming these tragedies, and making sure the world understands why these kinds of attacks will never, they'll never work, they'll never, they'll never defeat the Jewish community. As we endure this really challenging time now in Israel, I've been thinking the same thing. We've gone through a lot in our history, and we've constantly, constantly overcome, and have grown and have learned and have continued to enrich the world. As Tree of Life rebuilds and will help shape a national and international conversation for years to come about fighting antisemitism. And as we continue to do our work and as Jews around the country and around the world go through whatever security measures they have to to go to synagogue and to drop their kids at day school and Hebrew school and for people to show up for programs at the JCC, there is a defiance that I felt at that moment that is perhaps the most important thing I took away from that day. Because it was awful. But I'm not going to dwell on how terrible it was. We're going to think about every way we can to honor the memories of the lives that were taken, and to strengthen the Jewish people in their memory as we go forward. Manya Brachear Pashman: We planned this series and invited you to speak before the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel and the war with Hamas that has unfolded since. At first we wondered whether we should even proceed with this series. How could we focus on anything other than Israel at this moment? Of course, the parallels between the Tree of Life and October 7th are all too stark– Jews are once again being targeted simply because they are Jewish. Can you share your thoughts on this difficult moment for the Jewish people? Ted Deutch: That sense of unease that all of us felt when we heard that story, like how could that possibly happen in the United States, really, it's an unease and fear that we feel when we've watched what's happened in Israel and when a horrific and brutal and barbaric attack takes place against our family, our brothers and sisters in Israel, we feel that here, and especially when it was, it was unthinkable what happened with this Hamas attack. Just as somebody shooting up a synagogue was unthinkable in America, it again, it puts us on edge, and it makes us redouble our efforts. Not just to fight antisemitism, but to really bring the community together. What I've really been proud of since this terrible time in Israel began is the way that AJC has responded, not just in putting out meaningful information to help people get the facts and get through this, and to fight back against lies. But the way that we've really worked to bring the community together.  There are 16 million Jews in the world, out of eight and a half billion people we need to stick together. Moments like Tree of Life remind us of that, and what's been happening in Israel absolutely reminds us of that. That informs so much of what AJC does, and has done in response to Tree of Life and certainly is doing in response to the current situation.

An international figure in architecture and urban design, the architect Daniel Libeskind is renowned for his ability to evoke cultural memory and is informed by a deep commitment to music, philosophy, and literature. Mr. Libeskind aims to create architecture that is resonant, original, and sustainable. Born in Lód'z, Poland, in 1946, Mr. Libeskind immigrated to the United States as a teenager and with his family, settled in the Bronx. After studying music in New York and Israel on an American-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship, he developed into a musical virtuoso, before eventually leaving music to study architecture. He received his professional degree in architecture from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in 1970 and a postgraduate degree in the history and theory of architecture from the School of Comparative Studies at Essex University in England in 1972. Daniel Libeskind established his architectural studio in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 after winning the competition to build the Jewish Museum in Berlin. In February 2003, Studio Libeskind moved its headquarters from Berlin to New York City when Daniel Libeskind was selected as the master planner for the World Trade Center redevelopment. Daniel Libeskind's practice is involved in designing and realizing a diverse array of urban, cultural and commercial projects internationally. The Studio has completed buildings that range from museums and concert halls to convention centers, university buildings, hotels, shopping centers and residential towers. As Principal Design Architect for Studio Libeskind, Mr. Libeskind speaks widely on the art of architecture in universities and professional summits. His architecture and ideas have been the subject of many articles and exhibitions, influencing the field of architecture and the development of cities and culture. His new book Edge of Order, detailing his creative process, was published in 2018. Mr. Libeskind lives in New York City with his wife and business partner, Nina Libeskind. The Studio Libeskind office headquarters are in New York City. On this episode, Mr. Libeskind reveals his one way ticket destination to the Garden of Eden before there was a Tree of Knowledge and before Adam gave the apple to Eve. He shares why, what he would do there, whom he would take there, whom he would take with him, and what if anything he would want to build in this perfect state of nature. In the conversation, Mr. Libeskind also reflects on the role of an architect and the social responsibility he has. Plus, he showcases some of his completed work including his affordable housing projects in NYC, Maggie's Center at the Royal Free Hospital in London, and the Dresden Museum of Military History. He also shares projects now underway (he's working in 14 different countries at the moment!) such as the Einstein House at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, a museum in the Atacama Desert in Chile and more. Additionally, we covered what he thinks about each time he walks through Ground Zero (for which he created the master plan). And as a one-time virtuoso, Mr. Libeskind highlights what role music has played in his life and how music and architecture both rely on precision. 

Joyce welcomes Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman, Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, to the show. They will discuss the healing process after the tragic event that took place at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018. Rabbi Fellman will also discuss what they are doing at Temple Sinai to be more inclusive of the Jewish population of people with disabilities and share the purpose of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM) and how it was celebrated in February.

Joyce welcomes Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman, Senior Rabbi of Temple Sinai, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, to the show. They will discuss the healing process after the tragic event that took place at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018. Rabbi Fellman will also discuss what they are doing at Temple Sinai to be more inclusive of the Jewish population of people with disabilities and share the purpose of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM) and how it was celebrated in February.

Today on America in the Morning  DeSantis Suspends Presidential Campaign & Endorses Trump   The New Hampshire Primary is just a day away, and as Granite State residents head to the polls, they will find one less candidate to choose from. As correspondent Jackie Quinn reports, less than 6 days after coming in second place in Iowa, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is abandoning his bid for the White House.       Biden's Campaign Plan   President Biden is ramping up his re-election campaign with abortion seemingly a key platform. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.          Dozens Dead From Nationwide Weather   It is believed more than 70 people have died across the nation from last week's severe weather which included blizzards, high winds, flooding, and frigid temperatures. As Julie Walker reports, they're still digging out from a massive snow around the Great Lakes, and frozen water pipes are a big issue in a number of Southern states.     SEALS Declared Dead Following Boarding Accident  Two US Navy Seals who went missing during a mission off the coast of Somalia on January 11 have been declared dead. US Central Command said the Seals were lost in rough seas during a mission to board a vessel in search of Iranian illicit weapons destined for the Houthis in Yemen.             Another State Bans Gender Affirming Care   South Carolina has joined more than a dozen other states that have banned gender affirming care for transgender minors. Correspondent Jennifer King reports.         College Basketball's New Winningest Coach   Duke's legendary “Coach K” no longer has the top spot in the collegiate ranks. Stanford now has the winningest head coach in college basketball history. Correspondent Dave Ferry reports.            North Korea-Russia Connection   North Korea seems to be getting even closer with Russia, highlighting its alignment against the US, and their state media is hinting that Vladimir Putin could visit the country soon. As correspondent Mimmi Montgomery reports, this comes as a shelling attack at a market in Russian-occupied Ukraine has left dozens of people dead.       March For Life Recap   It may have been bone-chilling cold in the Nation's Capital, but pro-Life advocates were out in large numbers taking the momentum of the annual March for Life Rally into an election season that is expected to feature abortion as a key focal point. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.     Tree Of Life Changes   Demolition is underway at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the sight of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history.  Walter Ratliff reports.       NTSB Updates Miami Plane Fire   The National Transportation Safety Board has released details into their investigation into what forced an Atlas Air 747 made by Boeing to return back to Miami and make an emergency landing with one of its engines on fire.  Katie Clark has the story – the audio courtesy of Real A-T-C.       Iowa Principal Remembered  Family and friends gathered over the weekend to say goodbye to an Iowa principal killed in a school shooting by a 17-year-old gunman. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.       Guilty Of Kidnapping  A Texas man who was caught with a 13-year girl in his car, and who was able to signal for help, has pleaded guilty to kidnapping charges. Correspondent Jackie Quinn reports.     Officer Shot During Standoff  A Massachusetts Police officer is lucky to be alive after being shot by a barricaded suspect. Police report the 29-year-old Wilbraham (pronounced WILL-brah-ham) officer responded to a house after receiving a call that a resident was threatening others inside the home.         Finally   The Sundance Film Festival kicked off this weekend, and included some controversy inside and outside the venue in Park City, Utah. Kevin Carr has more.     “Mean Girls” keeps the number-one spot at the movies in a mostly slow weekend at the box office. Entertainment correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John 8:31-36Then Jesus said, to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They said to him, “We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘you will be made free?'”Jesus answered them, “Very truly I tell you, anyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave has no permanent place in the household; the Son has a place there forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free, indeed.” We can't deny that it's hard to be human these days, right? I can make lemonade out of lemons with the best of them, but life on the planet – and in our little neck of the woods, even – is daunting, more often than not, it seems to me. Maybe that's nothing new under the sun. Maybe I watch too much 24-hour news. I don't know. But with Reformation on the horizon – the perennial message for which, in my opinion, is simply “grace upon grace upon grace upon grace.” So I've been keeping my eyes open for examples of grace lately that stand up, over and against, the hard stuff, and the ways of the world, that seem to win too much of the time.A few weeks ago, Pastor Cogan had someone, out there in the world, question the fact that we give Needler's grocery store gift cards to our food pantry clients. That's not exactly something new under the sun, either. It's happened before. People know – and have noticed – that sometimes our food pantry clients by pop or cookies or beer with the gift cards we give them, along with the other food we share. They wonder if that's a good idea… if we should police that somehow… if it's a waste to give gift cards to people if they're going to buy anything other than fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese, or milk, I guess … if we should stop the practice of gift cards altogether.I think it's an expression of grace … a small act of generosity with no strings attached. Sometimes a person wants pop, or a cookie, or a beer … and the gift of dignity to make that decision is good news and grace, plain and simple, especially when someone suggests they aren't worthy of it. Grace, upon grace, upon grace.Last week I had a mother of three call for help with a few nights' stay at the an extended stay hotel in Greenwood. At least one of her three kids was sick, she had just gotten a new job, but her first paycheck hadn't come yet. She couldn't move into her new apartment until the first of the month. She claimed to have called “every church in Greenwood.” And so on and so on…I've heard all of that before. Whether she had actually called EVERY church in Greenwood, I don't know, but she had surely given the same spiel to enough people that it rolled off her tongue with as much ease and detail as there was apology and desperation in her voice. There are times when I don't oblige. And I could have been a sucker on Thursday, but I believed her and was able to get her and those kids a couple more nights of safety and sleep thanks to the gracious abundance of our Pastors' Discretionary fund. Grace, upon grace, upon grace.And, I heard an interview with the father of one of the victims shot and killed at that bar in Maine, on Wednesday. Through tears and choking on his words, he expressed an unfathomable amount of compassion and understanding for the stranger who killed his child, so violently and thoughtlessly, just days before.This father said, he believed that, if the shooter had been in his right mind, he would have been a loving person, but that something went wrong. He was sure this man wasn't born to be a killer and that he was sorry for whatever happened to make him that way. And, even though he had killed his son, he couldn't hate him for that. He said he believed in the Lord and that he believed the Lord would prevail in the end. Grace, upon grace, upon grace, upon grace. And because of this man's words of compassion and understanding and mercy, it seems to me, that the Lord – and the grace of God we're here to celebrate today – has already won, as hard as that can be to see sometimes. And not just as some high-minded theological concept, or cosmically, somehow, at the end of time, as our faith promises us: that God's love is greater than this sort of hate; that life wins over death; that light shines in the darkness, and all the rest.But I mean, that man reminded me that the Lord has won – and wins – here and now, all of the time if we allow it. Whenever someone can muster some measure of grace and kindness and humble compassion in the face of the horrible, ugly, terrifying sinfulness that seems to surround us, God wins. When a person can choose mercy and hope in the throes of such grief, God's way has won. When a man can choose patience and understanding and empathy instead of all justification for judgement, vengeance and rage, God's kind of grace and good news has – absolutely – won.See, we can theologize all we want on Reformation Sunday. We can sing the praises of Martin Luther's life and work and ministry… about the changes his theological insights meant for God's church in the world … stuff like grace alone, faith alone, Word alone, the priesthood of all believers, and all the rest. But, in all of that, Luther was pointing us, plainly and simply toward Jesus and to the kind of grace and good news his life, death and resurrection experienced, expressed and extolled for all people.I also heard an interview with Jeffrey Myers, the Rabbi and Cantor from the Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pennsylvania, which was the site of that hate-filled, horrible shooting and massacre, where 11 people were killed five years ago, this Friday. He was sharing his perspective about the persistence of anti-Semitism in our country in light of the war between Israel and Hamas, overseas. He was talking about how there are still members of his congregation who haven't been able to return to worship or feel safe in the world, generally, because of the fear and trauma they suffered that day, and because of the continued attacks and threats against the Jewish community in our country still.When asked something about if, when, or how this might change, or if he had any hope for that change to come, Rabbi Myers said something about his hope that what he called the “silent majority” would become a “vocal majority” and start speaking up and speaking out and speaking more loudly than the voices of hate and discrimination and fear that dominate too much of our public life and discourse.And that's my reformation hope this time around. That something will change and be stirred up in Christians like us and in congregations like ours, who claim – like Jesus did – that God's grace is the way to freedom; that to be loved by the Son – as he says this morning – is to be made free in spite of ourselves and in spite of our sins.I think we are called, as people of God in this broken, hurting, sad and scary world, to lay claim to the gift of God's grace – with no strings attached – and to be the vocal majority, Rabbi Myers is hoping for: to proclaim and practice this grace and good news in ways that are extravagant, surprising, and foolish, even, by the standards and expectations of the world around us.I think we are called to be as aggressively gracious with the kind of mercy, forgiveness and love, we proclaim and long for, as those who proclaim, long for, and practice the opposite. And I think when we have the faith, courage, generosity and hope to put that kind of grace into action, God wins, here and now … and so will we and the rest of God's children, just the same.Amen

In the aftermath of the slaughter of 11 Jews inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, American Jewish Committee (AJC) drew up a plan to galvanize Jewish communities and their allies across the world in an expression of unity and defiance: #ShowUpForShabbat. The campaign, which reached hundreds of millions of people, urged those of all faiths to attend synagogue services during the Shabbat following the attack to show solidarity with the Jewish community. In this third episode of our Remembering Pittsburgh series, hear from some of those who showed up to that Shabbat five years ago on what the experience meant to them and how the events of that week altered their perspective on antisemitism in America. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.  Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Belle Yoeli, Anne Jolly, Rachel Ain, Sharif Street, Jennifer Mendelsohn Show Notes: Listen: Remembering Pittsburgh Part 1: Behind the Scenes at the Reimagined Tree of Life Remembering Pittsburgh Part 2: What the Family of Tree of Life Victim Joyce Fienberg Wants You to Know About Her Legacy Take Action: Urge Congress to Stand Against Rising Antisemitism Music credits: Shloime Balsam - Lo Lefached Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and review us on Apple Podcasts. Episode Transcript: Manya Brachear Pashman:  This month, AJC set out to mark the five-year anniversary of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting at the Tree of Life with a series of episodes exploring this turning point for the American Jewish community. Our first installment aired October 5. Two days later, the Jewish people faced another unprecedented deadly antisemitic attack, this time in Israel. Synagogues stepped up security and families tamped down their fears to take their children to Hebrew school or attend Shabbat services. In the second episode of our series, we sat down with Howard and Marnie Fienberg, who paid tribute to their mother Joyce. In this third installment, we look back at how horror drew people to solidarity. May we see that same solidarity today.  Belle Yoeli: We saw hundreds of thousands of people show up. And we saw pictures later, after the fact, and videos, and people making speeches, and just so much solidarity. This was captured on the news. I think it really stands out as one of the most amazing responses to antisemitism that we've seen in modern history. Manya Brachear Pashman: On October 27, 2018, Americans witnessed the deadliest antisemitic attack in this nation's history. Eleven worshipers inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh were murdered just for being Jewish. The senseless slaughter inside a house of worship devastated and shocked American senses because it was simply unAmerican. But the aftermath of the atrocity became an American moment when so many people showed up – showed up with hugs, showed up with flowers, showed up with prayers for their Jewish neighbors.  The most visible expression of this came a week after the massacre with the unprecedented turnout of people of all faiths at synagogues across the nation as part of AJC's #ShowUpForShabbat campaign. Together, Americans sent a message that hate will not prevail. Belle Yoeli: Everyone wanted to do something, and the entire Jewish community mobilized to make this happen with the understanding that as AJC has always said that antisemitism is not just about the Jewish community. It starts with the Jewish community, but it's a threat to democracy, and the murder of Jews in their religious institution is such a breaking, a fracturing of everything that the United States stands for, everything that democratic society stands for. Manya Brachear Pashman: Today, Belle Yoeli is the chief advocacy officer for AJC. In 2018, she worked as the chief of staff for then AJC CEO David Harris. David had spent nearly 20 years counseling European leaders on the rise of antisemitism in their midst, calling their attention to violent crimes against Jews when conflict erupted between Israel and their Arab neighbors. Belle was on her way to a nephew's birthday party when she got the call on October 27 about what had happened in Pittsburgh. She remembers sobbing in the car on the phone with colleagues as they all grappled with the reality that whether they were regular shul-goers or had just happened to go to synagogue to celebrate a friend's bar mitzvah that day – it just as easily could've been them. For many, what they needed now was to go to shul and not be afraid, and to see others, not just their own community, but others of all faiths in the pews alongside them. What they needed most now was to know they were not alone. So they drew up a plan. Belle Yoeli: A couple members of our staff actually kind of simultaneously came up with a similar idea, which was that we need to, more than anything, rally non-Jews to come and support the Jewish community at this time, and what better time to do that than the following Shabbat. Manya Brachear Pashman: Dubbed #ShowUpForShabbat, the social media-based campaign called on both Jews and those of other faiths to flock to synagogues that coming Shabbat on the weekend of November 2 in support of the Pittsburgh Jewish community and all of American Jewry. The response across 80 countries was astounding. More than 250 million people spread the message on social media, including celebrities Andy Cohen, Itzhak Perlman, and Mayim Bialik, and politicians Paul Ryan, Kamala Harris, and Sadiq Kahn. And hundreds of synagogues across the country and around the world, from Tokyo to Santiago to London to San Francisco, welcomed people of all faiths into their sanctuaries. Those who walked through the doors included diplomats from dozens of countries, federal, state, and local elected officials, and Christian, Muslim, Hindu clergy. Synagogues across the country reported massive crowds rivaling or exceeding those seen at High Holy Day services. Belle Yoeli: There are some times, I think before Pittsburgh, and before Tree of Life and after, where the Jewish community doesn't always feel like we are seen, and that we need defense too. When it comes to antisemitism, because Jews are viewed as white or for other reasons, or when it comes to us attacks against Israel, we don't feel like our partners are necessarily always there for us, although many are. Seeing with such clarity how people were showing up for the Jewish community, we all really needed that. And honestly, society needed that and to see that. That we will not let this stand. I think it shook everyone to their core and not just the Jewish community. That's what struck a chord with people that could have been me, that could have been hatred towards African Americans, that could have been hatred towards the Muslim community. Every single community who has a piece of them, an identity that's so strong resonated with that. Manya Brachear Pashman: We connected with people who showed up that Shabbat five years ago, and asked them what the experience meant to them, whether the events of that week altered their perspective on antisemitism in America, or changed how they show support to their Jewish neighbors. Anne Jolly: An important part of what we proclaim is love God, love your neighbor, change the world. And so we believe that means we show up for each other. We can't love each other without being present with each other. So we have to be together. You have to show up. Manya Brachear Pashman: Episcopal Bishop of Ohio Anne Jolly was serving as the rector of St. Gregory Episcopal Church in Deerfield, Illinois in October 2018. A former hospital chaplain, she was sitting in her office when she heard the news break that Saturday morning. Her first call was to her friend and colleague Rabbi Karyn Kedar down the road at the Reform temple commonly known as Congregation BJBE. Rabbi Kedar had recently preached at St. Gregory and then-Pastor Jolly was scheduled to deliver the guest sermon at BJBE the following Friday night. Anne Jolly: I called her and we talked and we prayed. And I said to Karyn, I think probably you need to preach on the Shabbat following the shooting at your temple and she said, ‘I want you to do it.' She said ‘I think I think we need to hear your voice and that the congregation needs to hear you. Rabbi Kedar I think thought that to hear a voice of someone who is not Jewish saying aloud, We love you, we care for you. We believe we are all created in God's image together. And that means we need to show up for each other. It means we need to be present with each other, that to hear that from someone who was not part of their community might be more powerful, more impactful, and more important for the community here at that time. Manya Brachear Pashman: When Bishop Jolly arrived that following Friday she did not expect her sudden sense of fear when she encountered armed guards. Anne Jolly: I didn't realize I was afraid until I walked in the door. And I stopped and had to take a deep breath and realize that I was afraid because I was entering into a space of people who have long been afraid. And that I had never had to experience that before in that way. And I wasn't really afraid for my congregation the same way I was for my beloveds in the synagogue, that they had more of a reason to be afraid than I did. And that was all the more reason for me to be there, and to be present with them. Manya Brachear Pashman: Bishop Jolly credits that night at BJBE for the deep connection that formed with the congregation. In fact, she returned to BJBE many more times to celebrate Shabbat. Precisely a year later, the members of the Jewish congregation showed up at her door after a pumpkin patch at St. Gregory had been destroyed by vandals. Anne Jolly: There were a bunch of them that came to our patch and we were talking about it and they said, ‘We just wanted to show you that we are supporting you. And they were worried that that vandalism had been an act of aggression against us. And I just thought it was kids. And that was a really clear distinction of how our worldviews are different. For them, a vandalism thing would, of course, of course, be something hateful against them. In this case, it was children, it was just teenagers being dumb. But it reinforced that understanding that for them, fear is always in the background because of the violence perpetrated to them – again and again and again. Rabbi Rachel Ain: It was not a wake-up call that hate existed and already the hate was being felt. And at the same time, the love with my neighbors was being felt. So I was able to hold on to both emotions. But really, as I look back at these five years. Pittsburgh to Poway to Colleyville to Jersey City. I mean, I can sort of think back to all of these moments. It's here. And we need to both be proudly Jewish, and strongly protected. Manya Brachear Pashman: For Rabbi Rachel Ain, the spiritual leader of Sutton Place Synagogue, a conservative synagogue in New York City, the massacre at Tree of Life was not her first encounter with antisemitism. She knew it was simmering. A year earlier, almost to the day, vandals had spray painted swastikas across the entrance of her synagogue on the East Side of Manhattan. She knew how powerful it had been to have members of the wider community come support the congregation after that incident. Whether to invite members of the community to #ShowUpForShabbat was never a question in her mind. Rabbi Rachel Ain: It's not only that I felt supported by my neighbors, especially those that weren't Jewish. But more than anything, it was that so many of our congregation members who were not, let's say Shabbat regulars, felt the importance and the value of showing up for Shabbat and they knew that they had an address to come to both physically and spiritually to place their pain and their needs. Manya Brachear Pashman: That same weekend marked the bar mitzvah celebration of a young man in the congregation. Rabbi Ain wrestled with how to balance the sadness and shock of the prior weekend with the joy and celebration of his milestone. And a few years later, that same young man and his brother stepped up to lead the synagogue's Holocaust Remembrance event, in which teens interviewed the children of Holocaust survivors and shared the stories that have been passed down to them. She wonders if that moving show of solidarity when he was 13 and the formational years that followed had an impact. Rabbi Rachel Ain: What I really keep thinking about is how some of our teenagers who at that point, were in sixth grade or seventh grade. And now here they are seniors in high school and freshmen in college, how their teen experience has been shaped by showing up for Shabbat and showing up for shul when bad things have happened. So what I've also tried to do is, how do we ensure that our young people's experiences aren't only about the challenges of being Jewish, but the joys of being Jewish? Sharif Street: I just remember the massive amount of people that showed up and the diversity of the folks. I mean, I don't think I'd seen that many people show up for an evening Shabbat at Rodef Shalom in, well, maybe ever.” Manya Brachear Pashman: Pennsylvania State Sen. Sharif Street had been in Pittsburgh the day before the shooting at the Tree of Life building. When he heard the news that Saturday morning, he scrambled to find out if his friends and colleagues were OK. He was not oblivious to hatred and its potential to lead to violence. His father had been active in the civil rights movement and Sen. Street had sponsored legislation to curb hate crimes, but he had hoped to get ahead of the trend. This seemed unfathomable. Sharif Street: I didn't really contemplate that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it was within the realm of reasonable possibility that someone was gonna walk into a synagogue, and commit such a vicious, horrible act of hate. I didn't see that.” I thought we had moved beyond that stage of antisemitism and bigotry. And I was reminded of what my friends, older folks, and black and Jewish community always said, which is, we have to remain constantly vigilant. Because these things have a way of coming back. It took on a new air, a new level of seriousness to me. Because this is not the idea that people could be killed because of antisemitism in America. It's not just something of a bygone era. But I realized we were living in that era today. Manya Brachear Pashman: Sen. Street accompanied a friend to Temple Rodef Sholom in Philadelphia a week later and he has a few indelible memories from that night.  Sharif Street: People from every walk of life. Some people who were obviously maybe were not Jewish, who just wanted to express their support and their solidarity. And the look on the faces of people who are members, who were just, who felt so troubled, so shaken. And to see all the support from people, I think, made people feel like even in this world that seems so cruel in that moment that there were many people who are good, who stood with them. And I think a lot of times, folks who are doing these kinds of acts of hate and terror want to make folks, in this case Jewish people, feel isolated and alone. And I think that the service allow people to recognize you're not alone. And that people from all walks of life stand with you and stand against these horrible acts of hate. I think those of us who were, I would say the under-50 crowd and the younger you got, the more there was a level of shock, found it more disturbing because I guess we were further removed from an era when things like this when vicious acts of violence against people for antisemitism, racism and other forms of bigotry were more commonplace. People were wanting to make sure that this is not the beginning of a new chapter. Hopefully in our lifetimes we'll remember this as a disturbing outlier, not the beginning of an era. Jennifer Mendelsohn: What really struck me about it was how simple it was, all we asked people to do was quite literally show up. You didn't have to wave a protest flag. You didn't have to donate money somewhere. You didn't have to go on a march. It was literally just saying, ‘Come be with us this evening. We're hurting. And to have that answered so resoundingly was incredibly inspiring. Manya Brachear Pashman: Jennifer Mendelsohn helped create the DNA reunion project at the Center for Jewish History, which uses the power of genetic genealogy to reconnect Holocaust survivors and their children to relatives from whom they were separated. While she did not regularly attend Shabbat services, she and her husband thought it was important to show up at Fulton Street Synagogue in Baltimore on November 2, 2018.  Jennifer Mendelsohn: I walked in, and there's just no way to express what it was like. There were probably 300 people there. And you know, we normally do a potluck dinner. And I looked and there was, you know, there was no room to put down all the food, there was no prayer books, there were people, you know, just packed in. And I remember seeing the faces of neighbors of ours, non Jewish neighbors, and I immediately just got so overcome, and they just sort of smiled at me. And just to know that they had taken the time on a Friday night just to say, we care, and we're here with you. It was unbelievably powerful. Manya Brachear Pashman: Clergy and congregants from across different religious traditions helped light memorial candles for the 11 victims in Pittsburgh and the congregation sang “We Shall Overcome.” Jennifer Mendelsohn: I feel like every time I go back, I remember how nice it feels to be at synagogue. You always think like, Oh, it's so much easier to just, you know, sit on your couch with your fuzzy slippers. But it's, you know, it's always nice to be there. And all of the rituals are so familiar, you know, lighting candles, and, you know, welcoming the Sabbath bride and all of that, and the songs and it just reminded me that, you know, I'm not a particularly religious person in terms of practice or ritual. But it reminded me that, you know, that's where I come from, those are my people. And it was just very comforting to be in that environment at a time of such tragedy to just be around familiar sounds and smells and sights and all of that.” Manya Brachear Pashman: For Mendelsohn, 2018 had already been fraught and eye-opening, as she had become the target of online antisemitism because of a political project on Twitter. As someone who deals with the Holocaust on a daily basis, her shock surprised her. Jennifer Mendelsohn: This event sort of crystallized the sense that, you know, antisemitism was still around and perhaps, you know, coming back with a new fearsome edge… It was very hard to fathom. You know you you spend this much time thinking about the Holocaust and dealing with families shattered by genocide that was, you know, spurred by just hatred. And you think, ‘Well, surely this will never happen again, because everyone understands, and clearly people don't. So it was a very sobering experience to feel threatened again, as an American Jew. Manya Brachear Pashman: But #ShowUpForShabbat also crystallized that regardless of ideology, color or creed, most of America stood beside the Jewish community in this moment. Jennifer Mendelsohn: The crowd inside that synagogue was exactly the America that my ancestors came to the U.S. to be a part of, you know, they escaped political discrimination in Eastern Europe, and that's really for me what it was all about and to reinforce that that America exists that helping, kind, inclusive America, in the face of this horrific act of violence and hatred was just really the balm that my soul needed at that moment.  

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploration into one key issue shaping Israel and the Jewish World — right now. The ripple effects of Hamas's massacre of 1,400 people in Israel on October 7 are still being felt. The dead were mostly civilians — many entire families — whom Israel continues to identify and bury. Israelis were the primary target of the barbaric attack, but their pain is shared by Jewish brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, just as, five years ago this week, Israelis shared the shock and pain of the deadly shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue. Here this week from New York to show his love and solidarity with Israelis is Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism which represents some two million Jews in North America. He sat with The Times of Israel after touring the country and getting briefed on the situation here on the ground. We speak about how Jews -- even some from the most progressive edges -- are pulling together today, with some humanitarian caveats. “This is a moment when we have to be leaning into the kind of response that the world doesn't like to see from us — when we have a strong military response to protect our community, our families, our country. And at the same time, can we hold, in whatever portion of our moral stance in the world, that we do not look at the suffering of innocents, not the suffering of those who are bringing this assault? That's part of us retaining our Jewish religious sensibilities, which we can't lose ever,” said Jacobs. So this week, we ask Rabbi Rick Jacobs, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts. IMAGE: Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, in Jerusalem on June 27, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, we mark the five-year anniversary of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting at the Tree of Life. On October 27, 2018, 11 worshipers were murdered for solely being Jewish, in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. As the first installment in a four-part series, we take you inside the Tree of Life building before it is demolished in the coming months to make way for a new complex dedicated to Jewish life and combating antisemitism. Hear from Carole Zawatsky, the CEO behind the reimagined Tree of Life, and Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish Archive, as they explain their mission: to preserve artifacts and memories so that the story is preserved forever. Carole shares her commitment to honoring the victims, and Eric discusses the challenges of documenting an ongoing tragedy. Together, they emphasize the power of bearing witness to history and the healing strength of remembrance. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.  Episode Lineup:  (0:40) Eric Lidji, Carole Zawatsky Show Notes: Music credits: Relent by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com),  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Virtual Violin Virtuoso by techtheist is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License Fire Tree (Violin Version) by Axletree is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. Al Kol Eleh (backing track), with Yisrael Lutnick Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, tag us on social media with #PeopleofthePod, and hop onto Apple Podcasts to rate us and write a review, to help more listeners find us. Transcript of Conversation with Eric Lidji and Carole Zawatsky: Eric Lidji: Pittsburgh definitely is not forgetting. It's ever present here. There are people who are healing and doing so in ways that, at least from the outside, are remarkable and very inspiring. And there are people who I'm sure have not fully reckoned with it yet. Carole Zawatsky: It's all too easy to walk away from what's ugly. And we have to remember. We can't walk away. Manya Brachear Pashman: Five years have gone by since the horrific Shabbat morning at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, when eleven congregants were gunned down during prayer – volunteers, scholars, neighbors, doing what they always did: joining their Jewish community at shul.  This is the first installment of a series of episodes throughout the month of October devoted to remembering and honoring the lives lost that day and reflecting on how the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history changed those families, changed us, and changed our country.  Today, we take you to the Tree of Life building that stands on the corner of Shady and Wilkins Avenues in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood to hear from two people in charge of preserving the artifacts and memories of the vibrant Jewish life that unfolded inside those walls until October 27, 2018. In early September, our producer Atara Lakritz and I visited the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Squirrel Hill, where Jews have settled since the 1920s, is quite literally Mister Rogers' neighborhood. We were there to interview those touched by the events of October 27. But it didn't take us long to figure out that everyone there had been affected in some way.  All along Murray Avenue, in 61C Cafe, at Pinsker's Judaica Shoppe, at the Giant Eagle supermarket, when we told people why we were there, they all had a story, an acquaintance, a connection.  Later, walking through the glass doors of the synagogue felt like we were stepping through a portal, traveling back five years, when life stopped, and the reality of the hatred and terror that unfolded there began to haunt every step.  Atara and I were invited to accompany a final group tour of the building before it closed in order for preparations to begin for the building's demolition. The tour was painful, but we felt it necessary to share with our listeners.  As we left the lobby, we were told to take the stairs to the left. The stairs to the right were off limits. Someone had been shot there.  We were led to a small, dark storage room where chairs had been stacked for guests. A handful of people had hidden there as the shooter continued his rampage, but one man walked out too soon, thinking it was safe. When first responders later came to get the others, they had to step over his body.  In the kitchen, there were still marks on the wall where the bullets ricocheted when he shot two women hiding underneath a metal cabinet. The calendar on the wall there was still turned to October 2018 with a list of activities that were happening that week posted alongside it.  And in the Pervin Chapel where seven people died, pews punctured with bullet holes and carpet squares stained with blood were no longer there. No ark either.  But remarkably, the stained glass windows remained with images and symbols of Jewish contributions to America, the land to which the ancestors of so many worshipers once inside that synagogue had fled to and found safety. Those windows will be carefully removed by the son of the man who first installed them 70 years ago. And they will return, when the reimagined Tree of Life rises again.   Carole Zawatsky: The tragedy is a Pittsburgh experience. But it's also every Jew's experience. It shattered for so many of us our sense of security in America. This is our safe haven. This is where we came to. Manya Brachear Pashman: Carole Zawatsky is the inaugural CEO of the reimagined Tree of Life. Since November 2022, she has overseen the development of a new complex on the hallowed ground: an education center dedicated to ending antisemitism, including a new home for the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh; a memorial to the lives lost that Shabbat morning; a dedicated synagogue space where the Tree of Life congregation can return. Carole Zawatsky: What can we build to enrich Jewish life, to remember this tragedy, and to show the world that we as Jews should not be known only by our killers and our haters, we should be known by our joy, our celebrations, our rituals, our resilience. Manya Brachear Pashman: The founding director of the Maltz Museum in northeast Ohio, Carole has spent the last 30 years developing programs and education around the Holocaust and genocide, and overseeing projects that explore Jewish heritage from a national perspective and through a local lens. She led our tour. On October 27, 2018, the congregations of Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash, which all met in separate areas of the large, multi-story building, had just ushered in the new Hebrew year of 5779. Young students at the Hebrew school had written their own personal Ten Commandments that the teachers had hung on the walls of an upstairs classroom. Carole Zawatsky: Don't egg your neighbor's house, respect your parent. Every one of them said: Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not kill. And those 10 commandments that they wrote in their little student handwriting were thumbtacked up on the wall in the very classroom where the gunman was apprehended. Manya Brachear Pashman: Before the rebuilding of Tree of Life begins, Carole's no. 1 priority has been preserving the artifacts and remnants that bear witness to what happened. Artifacts include the ark, damaged by bullets, the Torah scrolls, which were remarkably unscathed but for the handles. The list of whose Yahrzeits fell on that day, still on the podium; and, of course, the children's artwork and the wall behind it. Carole Zawatsky: In the work happening here, and in my role as the CEO, I constantly ask: ‘Am I doing it right? Am I doing enough?' And preserving the evidentiary material was incredibly important to me, that we have the physical evidence to bear witness. And as that drywall in the classroom in which the gunman, the murderer, was apprehended, was coming down, I found myself asking: ‘Have I saved enough? Will this story be preserved forever? Have we done everything we can?' Manya Brachear Pashman: Helping Carole with this Herculean effort, is Eric Lidji, the director of the Rauh Jewish Archive at the Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, in downtown Pittsburgh. Eric has been collecting documentation and evidence for the archive since October 28, 2018.  Painted stones left in memory of the victims, hand-made signs, pamphlets, and prayers from vigils, sermons from interfaith services. But also a pair of tennis shoes, a guitar, a framed leaf from the Raoul Wallenberg Tree planted in Israel, a cross affixed with Stars of David -- all individual expressions of a community-wide anguish. Eric Lidji: Even before I entered the building, we knew that there were going to be pieces of the building that had historic value. Since late 2018, I've been in the building numerous times, dozens of times, doing work there. And it sort of culminated in this opportunity in early June, where we were allowed to go in and identify pieces of the building that became historic that day, and figure out how to get them out. Manya Brachear Pashman: This is no simple job for anyone involved, no less for Eric, who is accustomed to handling archival materials from generations past, not the present. Eric Lidji: It's hard for me to disentangle the work of pulling these things out of the building with the knowledge that these families that I've come to know and love, that this is sort of directly related to their loved ones passing. Pittsburgh definitely is not forgetting, it's ever present here. There are people who are healing and doing so in ways that, at least from the outside, are remarkable and very inspiring. And there are people who, I'm sure, have not fully reckoned with it yet.  The stories that we're used to telling at the archive, they move much slower. You know, when you get records from 75 or 100 years ago, that's in motion too, but it's moving very slowly. And you can kind of sit there and watch it, and understand it. And get some sense of what it might mean. But when you're living through something, it's changing constantly, all around you. And it's responding to things in the world. And it's responding to people's internal resilience and their ability to grow. When I look out at the community, I see a lot of different stories. People are in a lot of different places. And it's going to be different on a month like this, where we're saying Yizkor. And it's going to be different in the early stages of the trial versus the late stages of the trial. It's assimilated into our lives now, it's a part of our lives. Manya Brachear Pashman: In 2019, Eric and journalist Beth Kissileff assembled an anthology of raw reflections by local writers about the Tree of Life massacre. It included only one essay by someone inside the building that day: Beth's husband, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light. Eric also contributed his own essay. He wrote: “I have no special insight into why this attack happened, or why it happened here. I don't know what would have prevented it from happening here or what would prevent it from happening again somewhere else. I don't understand the depth of my sorrow or the vast sorrow of others. I asked him if four years later he would still write those words. Eric Lidji: I feel the same way. You know, there's a second half to that paragraph, which is that, I do have the materials and I can describe those. The premise of an archive is that at some point, we'll all be gone. And when we're all gone, our things are what speak for us. And at the moment, there's a lot of witnesses here, emotional witnesses, I mean, who can testify to what this means.  But there's going to come a time where they won't be there. And our job, I say our, I mean everybody's, our job in the present is to document our experience. So that when we're not here anymore, people in the future have the opportunity to have access to the intensity of the feelings that we had. That ultimately is how you prevent complacency. And so I don't claim any, I don't understand anything in the present. But I do understand the records. And I hope that we're being a good steward and custodian of them so that in the future, people have the opportunity to have access to real human feeling and so that they can really understand what this experience was like for people who were alive today. Manya Brachear Pashman: The Rauh Jewish Archive has collected and preserved thousands of artifacts and documents, but no physical or intellectual access has been granted yet. Cautious care has been taken to make sure families and survivors are ready and know what's involved in making the materials available to the public. Once that happens, a trove of electronic materials will be uploaded to the newly launched October 27 Archive, which will become the public face of the collection. The electronic catalog will help individuals, schools, and institutions such as Tree of Life to tell the story they're trying to tell.  Carole Zawatsky: We're the only generation to bear witness to this. The next generation will not bear witness. Their children will not bear witness. We have a moral obligation to ensure that these lives are remembered and memorialized, and that we as Jews and as citizens of this earth remember what hate looks like and work toward a better world. It's all too easy to walk away from what's ugly. And we have to remember. We can't walk away. Manya Brachear Pashman: The Tree of Life building is now a shell of what it once was. The stained glass windows will soon be removed for safekeeping until the new building is ready to welcome them back. As the demolition crews arrive to remove what's left, Carole's focus has shifted. Carole Zawatsky: Our focus now is truly on working with our architect, working with the exhibition designer, and forming a new institution. This is an incredibly special moment for us, as we come together and continue to crystallize our mission, our vision, and form this new institution that will be a significant part of the Pittsburgh community, along with the national community. Manya Brachear Pashman: The architect for the project, Daniel Libeskind, a son of Holocaust survivors who is renowned for his redesign of the new World Trade Center site, has described the spiritual center of the Tree of Life as a Path of Light, which connects and organizes the public, educational, and celebratory spaces. Carole Zawatsky: We can never as Jews allow ourselves to be defined by our killers. And I'm delighted to be working with Daniel as our architect and his concept of bringing light into the darkness. Vayehi or, let there be light. We have to bring light back to the corner of Shady and Wilkins. And side by side with tragedy, as we have done throughout all of Jewish history, is also celebration. To have baby namings and B'nai Mitzvot. Celebrate Shabbat and celebrate holidays side by side. That this is the most Jewish thing we can do. When the temples were destroyed in Jerusalem, what did we do? We recreate. And that is the strength and resilience of the Jewish people. Manya Brachear Pashman: Carole also continues to build a multifaith donor base, comprised of foundations and individuals from Pittsburgh and across the country, to raise the $75 million needed to make the reimagination a reality, ideally by 2025. The reasons why donors give vary, but in most cases they're deeply personal. Carole Zawatsky: The events of 10/27 are personal for everyone. For those people who tell us: I heard the gunshots from my kitchen. I was with my children. From people across the country who experienced a sense of loss of safety. To non-Jews who say: I have to have something to tell my children why some people don't like their friends. What did I do? How did I help be a part of the solution? Manya Brachear Pashman: For generations, the Jewish people have confronted antisemitism in its many forms. But through it all, the Jewish calendar continues to guide the community through celebrations of life and beauty and wonder. Carole describes it as the bitter and the sweet.  Carole Zawatsky: I've had on occasion, a Rabbi, a funder: ‘How are you doing? How do you get through this?' And for me, there's often a soundtrack in my head. And one of my favorite Hebrew songs is “Al Kol Eleh,” and through the bitter and the sweet. To me, it is the definition of Judaism. And it's the definition of what we're doing. Manya Brachear Pashman: Do you mind sharing a bit of that song with us now?  Carole Zawatsky:  Al hadvash ve'al ha'okets Al hamar vehamatok Al biteynu hatinoket shmor eyli hatov Al kol eleh, al kol eleh. Manya Brachear Pashman: This podcast is dedicated to the 11 lives lost on October 27, 2018: Joyce Fienberg,  Richard Gottfried,  Rose Mallinger,  Jerry Rabinowitz,  Cecil Rosenthal,  David Rosenthal,  Bernice Simon,  Sylvan Simon,  Daniel Stein,  Melvin Wax,  Irving Younger.    May their memories be for a blessing.

Today's West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Smothered Benedict Wednesdays, is now available on the Spreaker Player!​​​​​​​Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, on the senate floor, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse dressed down the corruption of the FedSoc Supreme Court and the “very possible illegal conduct” of the billionaires funding their lavish lifestyles.Then, on the rest of the menu, a Republican book-banning bill in Texas has been blocked by a Trump-appointed conservative judge, on the same day a Texas middle school teacher was fired for reading the Diary of Anne Frank to her class; a white supremacist plead guilty to threatening the jury and witnesses in the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre trial; and, Musk's unfounded attacks on a Las Vegas reporter are a new low in his thuggery.After the break, we move to the Chef's Table where the German government banned a neo-Nazi group with close links to the US, then conducted raids on their compounds in ten German states; and, Polish police briefly detained an opposition Polish lawmaker, violating her parliamentary immunity, after she interrupted a campaign speech by the right wing Prime Minister.All that and more, on West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy with Chef de Cuisine Justice Putnam.Bon Appétit!The Netroots Radio Live Player​Keep Your Resistance Radio Beaming 24/7/365!"To those of us who believe that all of life is sacred every crumb of bread and sip of wine is a Eucharist, a remembrance, a call to awareness of holiness right where we are. I want all of the holiness of the Eucharist to spill out beyond church walls, out of the hands of priests and into the regular streets and sidewalks, into the hands of regular, grubby people like you and me, onto our tables, in our kitchens and dining rooms and backyards.”-- Shauna Niequist"Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes"

The inaugural episode of Jewish Meditation for Everyone, “Alone, Together,” features a meditation by IJS Faculty fellow Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife, about being "alone, together" -- being aware of our profound interconnectedness, mutual responsibility, and need for a supportive community, in a season in which we go deep into ourselves as individuals. Kohenet Keshira grounds this teaching and practice in a powerful memory of growing up going to High Holiday services with her dad at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh PA.

Paul Davis of Broad & Liberty joins Dawn to expand on his latest article Federal court imposes death sentence for Tree of Life Synagogue shooter - Paul expands on the taboo nature of the death penalty, and the conflict PA Gov Shapiro has with the death penalty.  Tune in 10 AM - 12 PM EST weekdays on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT; or on the Audacy app!

On October 27, 2018, a gunman burst into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, armed with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three Glock .357 semi-automatic pistols. He executed eleven Jews at prayer. When police arrived, they shot the gunman multiple times, but he survived and was taken into custody. Earlier this month, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection. How does Judaism look upon capital punishment? Does this killer still bear the image and likeness of God and possess a dignity that is irreducible, such that he could be punished but should not be killed? Or did he surrender that moral standing by the act of murder? Do resources from within the Jewish tradition suggest that capital punishment has a deterrent effect on other potential criminals? To think about these questions, Rabbi Shlomo Brody, the director of an organization dedicated to helping Jews navigate choices regarding aging, end-of-life care, and organ donation, joins the podcast. In 2021, he wrote an analysis of the death penalty for terrorists as seen by Jewish law. That essay, published in a volume entitled Hokhma LeShlomo, frames the conversation he has here with Mosaic's editor Jonathan Silver. Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.

In this edition of the podcast, Rabbi Dobrusin considers the issue of capital punishment in light of the sentence given to the perpetrator of the horrendous attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. 

Lionshare's Dave Buehring and Carmen talked about their recent Leadership Games event where older Christian leaders (including Carmen) spent time discipling younger leaders in similar fields. Political scientist Adam Carrington talks about the sentencing of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter and for the mom who killed her children for religious reasons, and seeks to apply a Biblical understanding of justice in a broken world. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, August 4th, 2023. Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic http://bohnetma.com/crosspolitic https://www.dailywire.com/news/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooter-sentenced-to-death-by-jury Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Sentenced To Death By Jury A jury on Wednesday sentenced the man who gunned down 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to death, nearly five years after the attack. The shooter, whom I will not name, was found guilty in June of all 63 counts he was facing, including 11 counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The jury’s unanimous decision was announced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville, who presided over the trial, which took place in downtown Pittsburgh. The judge will officially sentence the shooter to death later this week. The victims were from three Jewish congregations who gathered at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018. Two other worshipers and five police officers were also wounded by the gunman, who unloaded a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three Glock .357 handguns during his attack. Victims of the shooting were: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. The shooting is considered by authorities to be the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Attorneys representing the shooter asked for a life sentence if he pleaded guilty, but prosecutors, with the support of most of the victims’ families, refused and took the case to trial to pursue the death penalty. The shooter’s lawyers also argued that he was impaired by mental illness and a delusional belief system took over his thinking, dictating that he had to kill Jews to stop a genocide of white people, the Associated Press reported. “He turned this place of worship into an exhibit in his criminal trial,” U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan said while arguing for jurors to recommend the death penalty, according to the Pittsburgh Gazette. A criminal complaint showed that the man told authorities he intentionally targeted the synagogue because he hoped to kill Jewish people. The shooter’s defense attorneys acknowledged that he had done the shooting but asked jurors to “scrutinize his intent.” We now go across the pond for this one! https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/08/02/uk-tories-enforce-diversity-quotas-for-new-members-of-parliament/ UK Tories Enforce Diversity Quotas for New Members of Parliament. The United Kingdom’s ‘Conservative’ Party has implemented new diversity quotas and guidelines for selecting candidates – would-be Members of Parliament (MPs). The targets include age as well as ethnicity and gender. Diversity quotas are in place even before candidates are considered as the party’s “Sifting Committee,” which is responsible for sorting through applicants after applying for the position, must have specific characteristics: “The Sifting Committee must comprise a minimum of one woman and one young person under the age of 30. The additional Association members of the Committee should reflect the different interests of the constituency, i.e. should have a balance of gender, age and ethnicity.” After the initial sift, the Selection Committee must “recognise their responsibility” to ensure that candidates are chosen in a way that “displays diversity and variety and which has a due regard to the local profile of the constituency” and guarantees a balance of genders. The selection rules also state that the process must be “inclusive and free from discrimination” and “fully acknowledge and embrace diversity,” except when considering female candidates, in which case “some degree of positive discrimination is permitted.” The rules add that anything considered “indirect discrimination” is prohibited; meaning, any requirement that could have a “disproportionate impact” on one group. President Donald Trump highlighted the Conservative’s shift to the “far left” in an interview with Nigel Farage earlier this year. More recently, the party expelled a mayor for ‘repenting‘ after attending a Pride event. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/02/orlando-magic-nba-team-donated-ron-desantis-super-pac Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to Ron DeSantis Super Pac The Orlando Magic NBA team has donated $50,000 to a Super Pac supporting the presidential bid of Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. According to Federal Election Commission records, the Never Back Down Super Pac received the donation made by the basketball team on 26 June. Further results showed the team making donations to other political causes in past years, with $500 going to Conservative Results in 2016, $2,000 to Maverick Pac USA in 2014 and another $500 to Linda Chapin for Congress in 2000. In an initial statement to Popular Information, a Magic spokesperson said: “We don’t comment publicly on political contributions.” However, in a later follow-up statement, a spokesperson clarified the donation, saying that the check was “dated/delivered on May 19”, five days before DeSantis declared his presidential bid. “This gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race. [It] was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of central Florida,” the spokesperson said. According to Never Back Down’s website, the Super Pac describes itself as a “grassroots movement to elect Governor Ron DeSantis for president in 2024”. The donation has drawn criticism online, particularly given the Magic’s claims of supporting “diversity, equity and inclusion all year long” and DeSantis’s culture wars in which he announced plans to block DEI programs in state colleges among other legislation targeting minority and marginalized groups including LGBTQ+ communities. The Orlando Magic team is under Amway North America, a multi-level marketing firm co-established by Richard DeVos, the late father-in-law of Trump’s education secretary Betsy DeVos. Over the years, the DeVos family has made multiple donations to conservative organizations. In 2006, the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation made a $540,000 donation to Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based organization that opposes same-sex marriage and abortions, HuffPost reports. In 2008, Richard DeVos donated $100,000 to Florida4Marriage, a group that campaigned to add a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. “That’s just a sacred issue of respecting marriage,” Richard DeVos said in a 2009 interview in reference to his donation. Following reports of the donation, the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing NBA players, issued a statement on Wednesday, calling the donation “alarming”. “A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary. NBA governors, players and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements. “However, if contributions are made on behalf of an entire team, using money earned through the labor of its employees, it is incumbent upon the team governors to consider the diverse values and perspectives of staff and players. “The Magic’s donation does not represent player support for the recipient,” the union said. https://www.boundingintosports.com/2023/08/shakeups-continue-at-espn-as-nba-analyst-mark-jackson-is-fired-after-10-years-with-the-network/ Shakeups Continue at ESPN As NBA Analyst Mark Jackson Is Fired After 10 Years With The Network Mark Jackson is a New York native who played his college basketball at St. John’s before being chosen by the Knicks in the first round of the 1987 draft. He spent two separate stints with the franchise, and his time in the shadows of The City That Never Sleeps had him ready for the big stage when he wanted to transition to television. He would go on to a coaching career by taking the helm in Golden State, just before the eventual arrival of Steve Kerr and a slew of NBA titles. Still, he rebounded nicely, and would later famously team with Mike Breen and Van Gundy to form one of the best broadcasting trios in all of sports. That is – until this week. In response, Mark Jackson released a long statement, saying goodbye: “This morning, unexpectedly, I was informed that my services were no longer needed at ESPN. Although shocked and dismayed with the suddenness of it all, I would like to thank ESPN and all the staff of the NBA ESPN crew for allowing me to be a part of the organization for the past 15+ years. I would also like to thank the NBA fans watching at home and in the arenas throughout the league for all of your support. To the NBA, a heartfelt thank you for allowing a kid to continue to accomplish his dreams. “It has been an honor to sit beside two LEGENDS in the business, who are like brothers to me, Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, and learn so much from them,” the former Knicks standout continued. “Lisa Salters is a GOAT and like a sister to me and I’m so proud of the work she continues to do. To the best producer in the world, and my friend, Tim Corrigan, I give the utmost gratitude and thanks for always inspiring and supporting me. To all of the staff and crew, that may have never been seen on camera… please know that you were always seen by me and so greatly appreciated.” Jackson then concluded his sign-off from The Worldwide Leader in Sports gracefully, giving praise to God on his way out the door. “Finally, I wish greater measures of success to the new ESPN team. May they continue to elevate this game that has given me a home and a life. I leave ESPN with nothing but gratitude, all the while knowing that my highest praise goes to God! Through it all, He has always sustained me and His grace allows me to know that there are greater blessings ahead. I look forward to what He has in store next.” Jackson’s layoff is the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves by the network, which has experienced a sharp drop in popularity and profitability in recent years.

Today in Israel, 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shoot was finally sentenced, we're going to get into that, also we're going to get into a controversy concerning a community here in Judea and Samaria, and Israel's supreme court maybe doing something right for a change, along with a security update with all the latest prayer points. All this and more on today's show!

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Friday, August 4th, 2023. Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic http://bohnetma.com/crosspolitic https://www.dailywire.com/news/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooter-sentenced-to-death-by-jury Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Sentenced To Death By Jury A jury on Wednesday sentenced the man who gunned down 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to death, nearly five years after the attack. The shooter, whom I will not name, was found guilty in June of all 63 counts he was facing, including 11 counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The jury’s unanimous decision was announced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville, who presided over the trial, which took place in downtown Pittsburgh. The judge will officially sentence the shooter to death later this week. The victims were from three Jewish congregations who gathered at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018. Two other worshipers and five police officers were also wounded by the gunman, who unloaded a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and three Glock .357 handguns during his attack. Victims of the shooting were: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. The shooting is considered by authorities to be the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Attorneys representing the shooter asked for a life sentence if he pleaded guilty, but prosecutors, with the support of most of the victims’ families, refused and took the case to trial to pursue the death penalty. The shooter’s lawyers also argued that he was impaired by mental illness and a delusional belief system took over his thinking, dictating that he had to kill Jews to stop a genocide of white people, the Associated Press reported. “He turned this place of worship into an exhibit in his criminal trial,” U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan said while arguing for jurors to recommend the death penalty, according to the Pittsburgh Gazette. A criminal complaint showed that the man told authorities he intentionally targeted the synagogue because he hoped to kill Jewish people. The shooter’s defense attorneys acknowledged that he had done the shooting but asked jurors to “scrutinize his intent.” We now go across the pond for this one! https://thenationalpulse.com/2023/08/02/uk-tories-enforce-diversity-quotas-for-new-members-of-parliament/ UK Tories Enforce Diversity Quotas for New Members of Parliament. The United Kingdom’s ‘Conservative’ Party has implemented new diversity quotas and guidelines for selecting candidates – would-be Members of Parliament (MPs). The targets include age as well as ethnicity and gender. Diversity quotas are in place even before candidates are considered as the party’s “Sifting Committee,” which is responsible for sorting through applicants after applying for the position, must have specific characteristics: “The Sifting Committee must comprise a minimum of one woman and one young person under the age of 30. The additional Association members of the Committee should reflect the different interests of the constituency, i.e. should have a balance of gender, age and ethnicity.” After the initial sift, the Selection Committee must “recognise their responsibility” to ensure that candidates are chosen in a way that “displays diversity and variety and which has a due regard to the local profile of the constituency” and guarantees a balance of genders. The selection rules also state that the process must be “inclusive and free from discrimination” and “fully acknowledge and embrace diversity,” except when considering female candidates, in which case “some degree of positive discrimination is permitted.” The rules add that anything considered “indirect discrimination” is prohibited; meaning, any requirement that could have a “disproportionate impact” on one group. President Donald Trump highlighted the Conservative’s shift to the “far left” in an interview with Nigel Farage earlier this year. More recently, the party expelled a mayor for ‘repenting‘ after attending a Pride event. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/02/orlando-magic-nba-team-donated-ron-desantis-super-pac Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to Ron DeSantis Super Pac The Orlando Magic NBA team has donated $50,000 to a Super Pac supporting the presidential bid of Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. According to Federal Election Commission records, the Never Back Down Super Pac received the donation made by the basketball team on 26 June. Further results showed the team making donations to other political causes in past years, with $500 going to Conservative Results in 2016, $2,000 to Maverick Pac USA in 2014 and another $500 to Linda Chapin for Congress in 2000. In an initial statement to Popular Information, a Magic spokesperson said: “We don’t comment publicly on political contributions.” However, in a later follow-up statement, a spokesperson clarified the donation, saying that the check was “dated/delivered on May 19”, five days before DeSantis declared his presidential bid. “This gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race. [It] was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of central Florida,” the spokesperson said. According to Never Back Down’s website, the Super Pac describes itself as a “grassroots movement to elect Governor Ron DeSantis for president in 2024”. The donation has drawn criticism online, particularly given the Magic’s claims of supporting “diversity, equity and inclusion all year long” and DeSantis’s culture wars in which he announced plans to block DEI programs in state colleges among other legislation targeting minority and marginalized groups including LGBTQ+ communities. The Orlando Magic team is under Amway North America, a multi-level marketing firm co-established by Richard DeVos, the late father-in-law of Trump’s education secretary Betsy DeVos. Over the years, the DeVos family has made multiple donations to conservative organizations. In 2006, the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation made a $540,000 donation to Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based organization that opposes same-sex marriage and abortions, HuffPost reports. In 2008, Richard DeVos donated $100,000 to Florida4Marriage, a group that campaigned to add a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages. “That’s just a sacred issue of respecting marriage,” Richard DeVos said in a 2009 interview in reference to his donation. Following reports of the donation, the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing NBA players, issued a statement on Wednesday, calling the donation “alarming”. “A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary. NBA governors, players and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements. “However, if contributions are made on behalf of an entire team, using money earned through the labor of its employees, it is incumbent upon the team governors to consider the diverse values and perspectives of staff and players. “The Magic’s donation does not represent player support for the recipient,” the union said. https://www.boundingintosports.com/2023/08/shakeups-continue-at-espn-as-nba-analyst-mark-jackson-is-fired-after-10-years-with-the-network/ Shakeups Continue at ESPN As NBA Analyst Mark Jackson Is Fired After 10 Years With The Network Mark Jackson is a New York native who played his college basketball at St. John’s before being chosen by the Knicks in the first round of the 1987 draft. He spent two separate stints with the franchise, and his time in the shadows of The City That Never Sleeps had him ready for the big stage when he wanted to transition to television. He would go on to a coaching career by taking the helm in Golden State, just before the eventual arrival of Steve Kerr and a slew of NBA titles. Still, he rebounded nicely, and would later famously team with Mike Breen and Van Gundy to form one of the best broadcasting trios in all of sports. That is – until this week. In response, Mark Jackson released a long statement, saying goodbye: “This morning, unexpectedly, I was informed that my services were no longer needed at ESPN. Although shocked and dismayed with the suddenness of it all, I would like to thank ESPN and all the staff of the NBA ESPN crew for allowing me to be a part of the organization for the past 15+ years. I would also like to thank the NBA fans watching at home and in the arenas throughout the league for all of your support. To the NBA, a heartfelt thank you for allowing a kid to continue to accomplish his dreams. “It has been an honor to sit beside two LEGENDS in the business, who are like brothers to me, Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, and learn so much from them,” the former Knicks standout continued. “Lisa Salters is a GOAT and like a sister to me and I’m so proud of the work she continues to do. To the best producer in the world, and my friend, Tim Corrigan, I give the utmost gratitude and thanks for always inspiring and supporting me. To all of the staff and crew, that may have never been seen on camera… please know that you were always seen by me and so greatly appreciated.” Jackson then concluded his sign-off from The Worldwide Leader in Sports gracefully, giving praise to God on his way out the door. “Finally, I wish greater measures of success to the new ESPN team. May they continue to elevate this game that has given me a home and a life. I leave ESPN with nothing but gratitude, all the while knowing that my highest praise goes to God! Through it all, He has always sustained me and His grace allows me to know that there are greater blessings ahead. I look forward to what He has in store next.” Jackson’s layoff is the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves by the network, which has experienced a sharp drop in popularity and profitability in recent years.

A federal jury on Wednesday sentenced to death the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. The gunman murdered 11 people in 2018, in what was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. The big picture: Since then, antisemitism has been on the rise. A report from the Anti-Defamation League found that antisemitic incidents increased by 36% in 2022 to the highest level since 1979. We dig deeper with American University's Director of Jewish Studies. Plus, the U.S. and Europe's $300 billion Russian problem. And, the scope of mental health disorders worldwide. Axios Today Listener Survey Guests: Axios' Kate Marino and American University's Pamela Nadell. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi, Lydia McMullen-Laird and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Thursday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, more reaction comes flowing in regarding the third indictment of Donald J. Trump, as the former President continues to dodge all the legal nonsense getting relentlessly thrown at him. In other news of the day, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his administration are now considering moving the overflow of asylum seekers into tents on Randall's Island, the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooter in Pittsburgh is sentenced to death, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen finally speaks out regarding the fire-sale his franchise indulged in at the MLB trade deadline, and the New York Jets kick off the NFL pre-season slate with tonight's Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio against the Cleveland Browns. Curtis Sliwa, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Bill O'Reilly and Bo Dietl join the program on this Friday-eve installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordana reacts to the sentencing in the Tree of Life Synagogue trial. 

Deadly tornado slams Texas town as severe weather sweeps South; Tree of Life Synagogue shooter found guilty on all counts; DOJ slams Minneapolis police department in scathing review; and more on tonight's broadcast.

In our news wrap Friday, the man who opened fire and killed 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 was found guilty of all federal charges he faced, cleanup efforts are underway across several southern states after powerful storms bore down on the region and Pope Francis was discharged from the Rome hospital where he underwent hernia surgery nine days ago. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Friday, the man who opened fire and killed 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 was found guilty of all federal charges he faced, cleanup efforts are underway across several southern states after powerful storms bore down on the region and Pope Francis was discharged from the Rome hospital where he underwent hernia surgery nine days ago. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The man behind the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre has been found guilty.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode of The Confluence: The federal trial of the man charged with carrying out a mass shooting at the Squirrel Hill Tree of Life Synagogue, affecting three congregations in 2018, begins next week. We ask a panel about how the city's Jewish community is preparing, and what the community can expect as the trial unfolds. Today's guests include: An-Li Herring, reporter with WESA; Kiley Koscinski, reporter with WESA; Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership; and David Harris, professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh, and the legal systems advisor and educator for the 10.27 Healing Partnership.

On the last Monday of March, just two weeks before Easter, 200 children between the ages of 3 to 12 sat in their classrooms at the private Christian school The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. The typical bustling sounds of children playing and learning were suddenly disrupted by the sound of gunshots and shattering glass. The intermittent sounds of gunshots continued for approximately 15 minutes. When they finally went silent, the lives of six innocent people, including three 9-year-olds, were tragically ended, and a community was left traumatized. I will share the details of this tragic event that resulted in the loss of 6 innocent lives, the events leading up to the shooting, and finally, the disappointing, inconsistent, and politicized response from the media and the Biden administration. The last Monday of MarchAudrey Hale was a 28-year-old woman and former student of The Covenant School. She was described by those who knew her as quiet and sweet, and many did not know she had recently begun to identify as a man.She left her parents' home, where she lived, wearing a white t-shirt, camouflage pants, and a red baseball cap while carrying a red bag.  Her mother did not know it then, but she likely was carrying several firearms in that bag. They did not know Hale had legally purchased seven guns from five local gun stores and had been planning a mass shooting for months. Hale's parents knew she had owned a firearm, but it was their understanding that she had sold it. So, they did not think anything of the red bag she carried that morning when leaving the house. Hale got into her Honda Fit and drove from her house located at the 3000 block of Brightwood Ave to the neighborhood of Green Hills. She arrived in the parking lot of The Covenant School at 9:54 am. At 9:57 am, she sent an Instagram message to her former basketball teammate and friend, Averianna Patton."I'm planning to die today. You'll probably hear about me on the news after I die.""My family doesn't know what I'm about to do. One day this will make more sense. I've left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen."Patton calls the Suicide Prevention Help Line and Nashville police.At 10:11 am school, surveillance footage captures Hale at a locked side entrance with glass doors. Hale raises her firearm and shoots out the glass. She then climbs through the doors carrying a Kel-Tec SUB2000, a Grunt rifle, and a 9 mm pistol while wearing a vest carrying additional magazines.It's reported that Hale pulled the fire alarm to lure students and teachers out of their classrooms. At 10:13 am, the first of several 911 calls were placed reporting the shooting. One caller reported leaving the church with six preschool-aged children upon learning about the active shooter threat. The dispatcher was told that the attacker was a white man in camouflage with a vest and an assault rifle.Another caller, a teacher, speaks with a dispatcher in a hushed voice. A child can be heard whimpering in the background. When the dispatcher asks if she is in a safe place, the woman tells the dispatcher they're located upstairs by the art room hallway. Gunshots can be heard in the background. Chad Scruggs – Covenant Presbyterian's senior pastor and the father of one of the victims – called emergency services after learning about the shooting.“Are you inside?” the dispatcher asks after Scruggs says there's an active shooter. “No. I'm the lead pastor. I'm going that way now,” Scruggs replies, adding that he was “getting calls from inside.”There is no sign during the call whether Scruggs knows his daughter had been shot.At 10:25 am, Nashville Metro Police arrive at the school and enter the building, clearing the first floor. Shots can be heard from the second floor. The officers climb up two flights of stairs, arrive at the second floor, and head down a hallway that opens up to what appears to be a reception area with an atrium to the right.  Hale fires at the officers, and the officers return fire.  10:27 am, police confirm that Hale is dead.Hale had fired 157 total rounds and killed six people Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9;  William Kinney, 9; Hallie Scruggs, 9; Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peak, 61 and Mike Hill, 61.Mike Hill was a school custodian.Katherine Koonce was the head of the Covenant School.Cynthia Peak was a substitute teacher.Hallie Scruggs was a third-grader and daughter of lead Pastor Chad Scruggs. She was classmates with Evelyn Dieckhaus, who was also killed.William Kinney was a third-grader at the Covenant School.What did we learn after the shooting?Hale acted alone when she targeted The Covenant School. However, during an interview with NBC Lester Hold, Nashville police Chief John Drake stated that she had considered other targets, including a mall and possibly family. Still, she was concerned about the security at these other locations and determined that the school was an easier target. Drake stated that the victims were fired upon at random. It has been incorrectly reported that Hale was being counseled by lead Pastor Chad Scruggs, whose daughter Hailey Scruggs was a victim of Hale's. Pastor Scruggs was not counseling Hale and had never met her.Within her belongings, a manifesto was discovered. The Nashville police handed over the manifesto to the FBI, and it has yet to be released. Many are beginning to doubt it will ever be released. On Friday, Nashville Channel 5 reported during a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association meeting that the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), David Rausch, provided information about the manifesto found at the Nashville shooter's home. According to Rausch, the material found did not provide a clear motive for the shooting and instead consisted of rambling writings. Rausch said the journals did not mention any specific political, religious, or social issues. Instead, the journals seemed to focus on idolizing previous school shooters.This partially contradicts what Chief Drake said during interviews shortly following the shooting. When asked if how she identified had anything to do with her targeting the school Chief Drake responded, “There is some theory to that, we are investigating all the leads, and once we know exactly, we will let you know.”The motive behind the school shooting is still unknown.Hale used "male pronouns" on social media, indicating that Hale was transgender. During the police interview with the parents, the parents stated that Hale was under a doctor's care for an "emotional disorder." What that disorder was and how she was being treated is not known. The Daily Mail reports that Hale, who recently changed her name to Aiden and identified as gay and transgender, was at odds with her Christian parents, who refused to accept her gender identity. The Daily Mail also reported that Hale had to wait to leave their home in order to dress as a man. A source close to the Hale family told the Daily Beast that Hale was autistic but high-functioning — “and relatively recently announced she was transgender, identifying as he/him.”In a video of an art show from 2022, she was still using the name, Audrey. Her LinkedIn profile also had the name Audrey although she listed he/him pronouns. She also signed off on one of her last Instagram messages to her former classmate Audrey (Aidan). Hale graduated from Nossi College of Art & Design in Nashville and worked as a freelance graphic designer and a part-time grocery shopper. Hale won "Most Improved" and "Class Participation" awards from Nossi.She was deeply affected and “heartbroken” over the 2022 death of Sydney Sims, a girl she was “infatuated” with, who had played on the same basketball team in school, according to Samira Hardcastle, a classmate of both girls. Hale had posted a TikTok on a since-deleted account, “iam_aiden10,” dedicated to “Syd” in February. Hardcastle said she had last seen Audrey a month ago and thought Audrey “looked up” to Sydney.Maria Colomy, a former instructor at the Nossi College of Art & Design, who taught Hale, said her transition began around the same time as she was grieving the loss of her friend Sydney.The victims are not big enough victims to merit the same response as real victims.It is unfortunate but not surprising that politicians, activists, and the media will politicize an event to push an agenda or narrative in the aftermath of a tragic event. And let me be clear everyone does it, but the politicization and response, or lack of response, was particularly telling in this instance. In virtually every past mass shooting that took place within a religious or minority community, hatred against the victims' religious beliefs or community affiliation is mentioned. However, the killing of six innocent Christians by a woman who identified as transgender was not given any significance by the Biden administration or the mainstream media.The media's bias is showingOf course, the media reported on the event, provided details about Hale and published obligatory gun control articles. But they never once presented the hypothesis of this being a hate crime. Even in the past, accusations of hate crime or extremism would typically follow an event like The Covenant School shooting. There were no articles about the previous recent shootings perpetrated by transgender individuals, the increased hateful language on social media towards Christians, or the two planned shootings by transgender individuals thwarted by authorities the week following The Covenant School shooting. The media instead focused on making sure that they were using the correct pronouns, and CBS News executives told their staffers, not to mention Hale's transgender identity. “The shooter's gender identity has not been confirmed by CBS News,” a memo obtained by the NY Post stated. “As such, we should avoid any mention of it as it has no known relevance to the crime. Should that change, we can and will revisit.”A freelance reporter for NBC News, Benjamin Ryan, attempted to link the shooting to the Daily Wire, headquartered in Nashville, and its commentators Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh. The tweet has since been deleted, but screenshots are forever. Not surprisingly, the Biden administration and the media were on the same page, but politicians have to politician and take it a step further. Biden's bias is showingIt has been over two weeks since the small community of Covenant Presbyterian was forever changed. Biden has yet to mention the victims were Christian or that a hate crime was committed, even though in the past, he has been very quick to make such connections even when there was no evidence of it being the case. A reminder, this occurred a short time before Easter and within the same week of Trans Day of Visibility. Tenessee had recently been in the news for passing bills restricting drag shows in front of minors and banning medical transition for minors. Also, a protest outside the Supreme Court called “Tran Day of Vengence,” organized by the Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN) was planned for Friday.Biden first publicly mentioned the shooting while delivering remarks at the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Summit in the East Room of the White House. But before he mentioned the shooting, he joked about ice cream, which led to a very awkward moment. After this, he wanted to “speak very briefly about the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.” Calling it “sick,” “heartbreaking,” and a “family's worst nightmare.” He then shifted to a call for an “assault weapons” ban. However, Biden does not broach the victims' Christian faith or the fact that the perpetrator was trans. The day following the shooting, Sen. Josh Hawley requested that the FBI investigate the shooting as a hate crime. When Biden is asked if he believes the shooting could be a hate crime against Christians, he responds, “I don't know.” When told that Hawley believes it was, he jokes and responds, “Then probably not.”He does, however, release a Trans Day of Visibility statement accusing “MAGA extremists” of “advancing hundreds of hateful and extreme state laws that target transgender kids and their families.” And when he finally does address the shooting on social media, the Christian faith of the victims is omitted. Suddenly, he is not addressing the clear religious nature of a shooting. He did call for an “assault weapons” ban, though he did not mention the Nashville shooting in the tweet, at least not until a later tweet, where he wrote that "we owe them action." The action, of course, is an “assault weapons” ban. Biden did issue a proclamation directing that flags be put at half-staff in honor of the victims. Four days later, the White House released a statement and fact sheet on Transgender Day of Visibility. That same day on Instagram and Twitter, Biden shared a graphic stating, "Transgender People Deserve Love, Dignity, and Respect." The caption read, “To the Transgender community: we want you to know that you are seen – made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support. And, know this. You are so brave.Affirming your child's identity is one of the most powerful things you can do to keep them safe and healthy.Our Administration will never quit fighting to stop discrimination, stand against unjust state laws, and guarantee everyone the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are.”This administration does not care about its Christian citizens. It doesn't fit well with the political agenda or its voter base. Not when the victims are white Christians, and the perpetrator is trans. But it fully supports the medical transition of minor children, making them lifelong medical patients. During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said (THE FOLLOWING), "LGBTQI+ kids are resilient. They are fierce. They fight back. They are not going anywhere, and we have their back. This administration has their back."Biden is comfortable attributing LGBT and religious hate as motivesIf you are saying, “But we don't know the motive. They haven't released the manifesto.” I would say you are correct; we do not know the motive. But that has never stopped Biden in the past from politicizing religion or the marginalized identity of victims in other shootings and attributing them to unconfirmed motives.On March 17, just over a week before the Covenant School shooting, Biden commemorated the two-year anniversary of the Atlanta-area spa shootings in which eight people — six of them Asian women — were killed. Using the opportunity to bring attention to anti-Asian hate. In his statement, Biden said, “I want you to know that I see you. My administration sees you. And we are determined to end the scourge of gun violence, anti-Asian hate, and all forms of racism and extremism in this Nation.” The only problem is authorities attribute his motive to sex addiction, not racism. In 2022 Biden was completely fine with mentioning the religion of the victims of the 2012 Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, resulting in six deaths. The perpetrator did have a history of white supremacist sympathies. Still, the motive was not confirmed, but Biden was comfortable mentioning it as "the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in our nation's history." He also said that attacks on houses of worship have become more common over the past decade, and “No one should fear for their life when they bow their head in prayer or go about their lives in America.”In 2021, Biden and Vice President Harris released statements to commemorate the three years since the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that left 11 dead. The victim's faith was a central focus of their statements. It is reported that the perpetrator made anti-Semitic comments during the shooting. Again, Biden was comfortable mentioning the victims' faith.Also in 2021, just four months after Biden was sworn in as President, he designated the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a national memorial to honor the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting. He urged Congress to pass laws explicitly protecting the civil rights of LGBTQ people. "Our presence this afternoon makes a very strong statement: Pride is back at the White House," Biden said after being introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, and a young transgender man, Ashton Mota.Only thing is that authorities attribute the motive of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub to an act of Islamic extremism by a 29-year-old U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, it was civil rights activists said the massacre was a hate crime targeting gay men and Latinos that frequented the club.In November 2022, a man entered the LGBTQ nightclub Club Q in Colorado Springs, killing 5 and injuring 25 people. Following the shooting, Biden denounced the targeting of the LGBTQ community.“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence,” he said in a statement. “We cannot and must not tolerate hate.”There was no known motive at the time of his statement, and there still isn't. However, in the footnotes of court filings, it is indicated that the shooter identifies as non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and wants to be referred to with the prefix Mx. Whether this is true or a tactic is not known, just like the motive. Visiting the victimsDepending on the political optics a tragedy can provide will determine if it merits a personal visit, a phone call, a first lady visit, or a lie. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden (can't forget she is a doctor) attended the candlelight vigil honoring the six victims of the shooting at the Covenant School. She did not meet with any of the families or make any remarks. President Biden has made no contact with any of the victims' families or members of Covenant Presbyterian. On May 14, 2022, a shooting occurred at a Tops Friendly supermarket in a predominantly black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 victims. Biden visited Buffalo a few days later and spoke a short distance from the grocery store calling the shooting a “murderous, racist rampage” and “domestic terrorism.” He placed flowers at the memorial near the store, met with the family of the victims and first responders, and condemned white supremacy as a poison that must be rejected.Following the Robb Elementary School shooting in the predominantly Latin community of Uvalde, 19 students died. Biden and the First Lady visited Uvalde and met with the victims' families. In November 2022, Biden and the First Lady called and spoke with the owners of Club Q on Thanksgiving. During the call "reiterated support for the vibrant and strong Club Q family and commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence," according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). On January 21, a 72-year-old Vietnamese man killed 11 people at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, CA, a predominantly Asian community, after an all-day Lunar New Year Festival. Brandon Tsay disarmed the man in the lobby. The shooter fled and was later found dead in a van from a self-inflicted gunshot. The motive was speculated to be a family dispute, but it remains unknown.Biden later visited Monterey Park on March 14, where he met Tsay and announced an executive order to increase the number of background checks. "All have lived lives of love, sacrifice, and service for their families, for their community," Biden said during his remarks. "They represent a bigger story. Who we are as Americans embodying the simple truth that our diversity is the strength of this nation."Finally, if Biden can't visit the families of shooting victims, he lies and says he did. In a 2019 campaign ad, Biden claimed that he visited and met with every one of the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. The problem is that Connecticut State Senate candidate JT Lewis, the brother of one of the victims, says it was a lie."This is a lie," wrote Lewis in a tweet. "Obama came to Sandy Hook and met with every family. Joe Biden DID NOT. In fact, my family was not allowed on Air Force One because we refused to support Obama/Biden gun control efforts."Also, I found no news reports or images that indicated Biden had accompanied Obama to visit the families of the Sandy Hook victims. It's Meseidy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.ConclusionThe city of Nashville and the community of The Covenant School suffered an unquestionably tragic loss. These horrible events have a lasting traumatic effect on the people left behind to pick up the pieces. I am not going to debate the solution or the cause of these shootings. That debate is happening all over social media, the news, and in the halls of Congress. I want to talk about the biased response in the aftermath of this tragedy. While other tragedies affiliated with so-called marginalized communities merited phone calls, visits, and anti-hate remarks and campaigns from our administration, The Covenant School families did not. All they got was a vigil photo op visit from the First Lady, where she didn't even speak, and ice cream jokes from the President before he made any mention of the tragedy. But he did not forget to call for an “assault weapons” ban before quickly shifting to declaring support for the medical gender transition of minors and celebrating Trans Day of Visibility. The media's larger concern was protecting Hale and, by proxy, they believed they were protecting the transgender people. They were all very careful to respect her pronouns and not to mention too often that the victims were Christian unless it was to say how her Christian parents did not support her in her decision to transition. The message is clear, a white Christian community and its victims are not victims enough to merit the same response as those the media and the Biden administration deem true victims. For the media and this administration to care and call out hate, you have to have the right skin color, religion, and/or be LGBTQ.To donate to The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church, click the button below and select “March 27 Fund”Thank you for reading It's Meseidy. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to It's Meseidy at www.itsmeseidy.com/subscribe

In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Pittsburgh City Councilmember Erika Strassburger, the first woman elected to represent her district on the Council. Erika shares her journey from being an environmental organizer to a policymaker, and discusses how to restore public faith in government. She also reflects on the impact of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting on her community and her leadership style and talks about how the tragedy spurred immediate action, from pushing to ban the use of assault weapons to holding gun owners accountable to prevent risks to children and increasing funding for violence-prevention initiatives. Erika shares her approach to building relationships between community members and elected officials, approaching differences with kindness, and so much more. Tune in to this amazing conversation to hear Erika's thoughts on what makes Pittsburgh special!

On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul Kengor's daughters were across the street while a tragedy unfolded at the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mass murderer of 11 innocent people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh will go on trial in April. The Justice Department is seeking the death penalty. What do we think of that? Two questions present themselves. First, if we were to look for wisdom from Jewish sources, should the Tree of Life mass murderer be sentenced to life in prison, or the death penalty? One of the strongest arguments against the death penalty is concern that the justice system might makes a mistake and convict and execute an innocent person. That is not a concern here. There is 100% certainty that on October 27, 2018, at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the defendant murdered 11 innocent human beings. If we know that he did this unspeakable act of evil, would the primary Jewish source suggest that this is one of the rare times we would favor capital punishment, or not? Remember, however, that mass shootings in America are tragically and depressingly all too common. If you believe that the defendant in the Tree of Life murders should receive the death penalty, would you advocate for the same result for all the defendants guilty of murdering innocent people in mass shootings? There are a heartbreaking lot of them. Second, with what organ do we decide this question: our head or our heart? You will remember the first question in the famous debate of Governor Dukakis and Vice President Bush in 1988. If Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would the Governor support the death penalty? The Governor answered all head, no heart, and many thought he lost the election in that moment. Are feelings of anger, revenge, and tribal connection appropriate or not appropriate as we think about the worst massacre of Jews on American soil in American Jewish history coming to trial in a few weeks?

Why has there been a rise in antisemitic tropes, speech, and acts in recent years? Why have cultural moments of change in the West often led to the emergence of violence against Jewish people? And how might the Jewish American experience shed light on how all of us can live in tumultuous times? On this episode, Yuval Levin and Russell Moore respond to these complex questions. Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. As the founder of National Affairs, a senior editor at The New Atlantis, a contributing editor at National Review, and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Levin is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the modern conservative movement. Levin shares some of his experiences as a Jewish American. He reflects on the fact that modern America is the safest place to be a Jewish person in the history of the religion while also noting that “even in America … Jews seem to stand in for the outsider” in the cultural imagination. They talk about the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue, the remarks of Kanye West, and the way America interacted with religious minorities after the September 11th attacks. And they discuss the influence of technology, the effect of hyperconnectedness, and what it might look like to raise children to have moral commitments. Tune in for a nuanced, thoughtful discussion that covers religion, government, and what it means to be part of American life. Resources mentioned in this episode include: American Enterprise Institute The Immigrant Advantage by Claudia Kolker “The Red-Pill Pusher” by Damon Linker “Federalist No. 10” by James Madison “Opiates of the Masses? Deaths of Despair and the Decline of American Religion” by Tyler Giles, Daniel M. Hungerman & Tamar Oostrom “Deconstructed: The Implosion of Progressive Organizing” Hadassah Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and Azurae Phelps CT Administration: Christine Kolb Social Media: Kate Lucky Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Production Assistance: coreMEDIA Audio Engineer: Kevin Duthu Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Video Producer: John Roland Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Which Murderer's Episode 34 Season 5 the girls cover the important topic of Prejudice Murders. Mel starts us off with the tragic and historically important story of Emmett Till before Holly goes into the ongoing case of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting. Shoutout to NEW MUMMY Caitlin for the great suggestion! And congrats on your beautiful baby boy. Also shoutouts to Mark and Emma Jo - thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions.In this episode you will get your long awaited squirrel and pigeon updates, Mel has a very interesting take on Pigeon drug smugglers, there is some dispute on animal regulation v. Holly doing what she wants, Mel gets very confused near the end of the episode and Holly gets away with breaking the legal restrictions that were placed on her. We think. Production, recording and post production completed by Holly who has found a miniature backpack to put on a pigeon in order to slip Consulting Producer Craig an episode for editing.Holly edited this week. All complaints should be sent directly to Mel while Consulting Producer Craig refuses to answer the door to a Pigeon wearing a backpack.Big thank you to all our listeners for subscribing, leaving fantastic reviews and sending in great theme suggestions. WE HAVE MERCH! www.whichmurderer.com - CLICK ON THE MERCHANDISE TAB FOR A LINK!WARNING - Explicit language, content and themes (plus whatever else will cover us legally). All opinions stated are our own and case information was gathered from legitimate sources within the public realm.Pre-recorded in Scotland

Bob is having License Plate problems - Thinking about the victims, families and Jewish community here in Pittsburgh today on the anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting - TJ Watt returned to practice Steeeelers - Rihanna is back with "Lift Me Up" from the Wakanda Forever soundtrack - Go Go Kenny Pickett - Trick or Treating times Facebook Comments - Taylor Swift Easter Eggs - Gary is being an assclown this halloween - Skechers said nah to Ye - The naked streak continues... This time it was a naked guy with a big stick - We Power Rank our Top 5 worst candies - Where did Halloween and Trick or Treating come from?

New allegations against Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker, less than two weeks before Election Day. A second woman now says Walker paid for her abortion and even drove her to the clinic, after she initially decided not to go through with it. Walker calls the allegations a lie. This comes in the midst of a very tight race that could help determine control of the Senate. In Pennsylvania, the Democratic Senate candidate, John Fetterman, is responding to concerns about his debate performance Tuesday night. Fetterman used a closed captioning device because he's recovering from a stroke. High rates are sending both buyers and sellers into mortgage rate sticker shock as affordability is still a major challenge. Police investigating Monday's deadly school shooting in St. Louis say the suspect had the murder weapon taken from him nine days before the attack, but somehow, he got it back. The man who drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin last year now faces life in prison. Darrell Brooks was convicted yesterday of six counts of intentional homicide and 61 counts of reckless endangerment, plus nine other charges. Today marks four years since a deadly, anti-semitic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. To remember the victims, and reflect on the hate that fueled the massacre, CBS News correspondent, Elaine Quijano, spoke with Tree of Life's rabbi, Jeffrey Myers. A very revealing look at the war in Ukraine, from an American volunteer who fought in it. Ukraine's army is preparing to try and recapture the key southern city of Kherson, and fighting off Russian attacks in the northeast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An amendment that's looking to eliminate race-based hair discrimination was introduced in York the other day. Pennsylvania is one of a number of states that'll get millions in federal funds to restore the Chesapeake Bay. The renovated site of the Tree of Life Synagogue will include a nonprofit institute which has one goal: ridding the world of antisemitism. And, appropriately on May the Fourth, stars will look like they're warring above Pennsylvania over the next couple of days.

On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul Kengor's daughters were across the street while a tragedy unfolded at the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018. Dennis Peterson shares memories of his Appalachian storytelling grandfather, Paw Summers. Elisabeth Elliot, author of Through Gates of Splendor tells us the story of Operation Auca, an attempt by five American missionaries to reach the Auca tribe (considered the most dangerous in the world) of eastern Ecuador. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)   Time Codes: 00:00 -  Father Receives Daughter's Text during Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre 10:00 - My Grandpa the Storyteller 23:00 - Through the Gates of Splendor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Donny sits down for an honest conversation with the editor of Common Sense and the host of the podcast Honestly with Bari Weiss, Bari Weiss. Bari was previously a staff writer and editor for the Opinion section of The New York Times, and the two dive right into her brave resignation from the prestigious paper. They go on to discuss the importance of following your curiosity, her thoughts on Spotify and Joe Rogan, her connection to the Tree of Life Synagogue, and being guided by your inner north star. But first, Donny breaks down the brands at the center of the zeitgeist, naming AirBnb, Andrew Cuomo, Google, and The Academy Awards among many others in his weekly “Brands of the Week” segment.  Be sure to rate, review, and follow to get the latest episodes as soon as they drop. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Chime - Go to http://www.chime.com/donny to get started Huel - Go to http://www.huel.com/donny for free shipping + a shaker and t-shirt Mint Mobile - Go to http://www.mintmobile.com/donny to cut your wireless bill to $15 a month Follow: @donnyjaydeutsch @bariweiss See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the recent controversy surrounding Whoopi Goldberg and her remarks about the Holocaust, with the recent hostage situation at a Texas synagogue, with generational trauma and anti-Semitism on the brain, Why We Theater re-releases this episode from Season 1 with a new intro and new context. Dig into Tony Award winner Steven Levenson's play IF I FORGET with Steven himself and experts Rabbi Shuli Passow (B'nai Jeshurun in New York City) and scholar Judah Isseroff. Watch IF I FORGET on BroadwayHD. Michael's monologue, as performed by Tony Award nominee Jeremy Shamos, appears with the permission of Roundabout Theatre Company, which premiered IF I FORGET Off-Broadway in 2017, and Steven Levenson. Referred to in this new intro Watch: Whoopi Goldberg shares thoughts on the Holocaust on The View Debra Messing tweets a helpful response to Goldberg Banning of "Maus" in schools.... and the subsequent nationwide results Hostage situation at Texas synagogue Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA What is Zionism? Referred to in this episode “The Rise of Social Orthodoxy: A Personal Account” by Jay P. Lefkowitz “The Problem with ‘Social Orthodoxy'” by Joshua R. Fattal, a critical response to Lefkowitz “What is the Talmud? Definition and Comprehensive Guide”, Yehuda Shurpin Who is Theodore Herzl? Who is David Ben-Gurion? Who is Sheldon Adelson? Who is “Adolf Eichmann”? Who is Hannah Arendt Neveragain.com Anti-Defamation League: Fighting Hate for Good What is Jerusalem Syndrome”?   Create the change Learn more about Judaism — knowledge facilitates compassion with “Introduction to Judaism” OR “The Basics of Judaism” Name anti-Semitic incidents as such, report them, and speak out against them Use Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide Learn about The New Israel Fund, which envisions a Jewish and democratic state Fight for justice guided by Jewish values with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) Be aware of your own bias — it's evolutionarily built in us to be tribal and we need to self-examine our thoughts and introduce dissenting viewpoints If you are Jewish and looking for ways to become involved: Choose a small tradition and incorporate that into your home, like lighting candles on Friday night for Shabat or saying the “Shema” before bed each night Take inspiration from B'nai Jeshurun's The Jewish Home Project In COVID, many synagogues have moved services online; explore to find a place that feels right to you   Why We Theater is a product of part of the Broadway Podcast Network, edited by Derek Gunther, and produced by Alan Seales. Follow us @whywetheater on Instagram & Twitter. Our theme music is by Benjamin Velez. Hear more at BenjaminVelez.com. Our logo is by Christina Minopoli. See more at MinopoliDesign.com. Special thanks to Genesis Johnson, Dori Berinstein, Leigh Silverman, Patrick Taylor, Tony Montenieri, Elena Mayer, Wesley Birdsall, and Suzanne Chipkin.   Connect with Ruthie! RuthieFierberg.com Instagram: @ruthiefierceberg / @whywetheater Twitter: @RuthiesATrain / @whywetheater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lloyd SegalFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaLloyd Segal (born 22 March 1948) is the President of the Los Angeles Real Estate Investors Club, author, real estate investor, mentor, and national public speaker.[1][2] He is also the former President of the Will Rogers Polo Club.[9]Early life and educationLloyd Segal was born and raised in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He is the eldest of five children of Seretta (nee Ruben) and Harold Segal, both business leaders in Pittsburgh.  The family belonged to the Tree of Life Synagogue, where Segal celebrated his bar mitzvah.Segal attended Wightman Elementary School and Taylor Allderdice High School, graduating in 1966. In high school, Segal was on the cross-country, basketball, and debate teams. In the summer after graduating high school, Segal worked for Jett's Traveling Circus and Petting Zoo, traveling all over the Midwest. During his senior year, Segal was the student producer of the television program “Our Place” on WQED-TV. During the summer of 1965, Segal attended Camp Graylag in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. The camp was owned and operated by legendary Boston Celtic and basketball Hall of Fame star Bob Cousy.Segal attended Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, from 1966 to 1970, graduating with honors in Business Administration, pre-law.  In his freshman year, Segal was a disc jockey on WTBU-AM, the university's popular radio station.  During his senior year, Segal was Concert Director, producing musical concerts on campus, including The Who, James Taylor, the Jefferson Airplane, Richie Havens, Dione Warwick, Seals & Crofts, Buddy Miles, Tim Hardin, Chamber Brothers, Tom Rush, Melanie, Chicago, and Chuck Berry.  After graduation, Segal hitch-hiked across Europe and then spent a year as a volunteer at Kibbutz Amir, in Kiryat Shimona, Israel.After taking two years off, Segal attended Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1975. During his junior year at Southwestern, Segal originated the University's Speakers Program and acted as its Chairman. He brought such legal scholars to the school as former U.S. Supreme Court Judge Tom Clark, attorney Louis Nizer, Watergate attorney (and future TV star) Fred Thompson, former attorney general Ramsey Clark, author Mark Lane, Secretary of Interior Stewart Udall, Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, attorney F. Lee Bailey, Robert Kennedy's campaign director, Frank Mankiewicz, California Supreme Court Justice Stanley Mosk, and Congressman Paul McCloskey.  At the end of the school year, Segal was awarded a “Distinguished Service Award” by Southwestern's Student Bar Association.  In his senior year, Segal was elected President of the Student Bar Association.  During his senior year as President of the SBA, Segal also wrote a weekly column entitled “The President's Message” in the law school newspaper, “The Commentator.”  In addition, Segal wrote an opinion piece entitled “Glut of White Faces” which was published in the January 1975 edition of Juris Doctor national magazine.  By the end of his senior year, Segal was selected for the 1974-75 edition of the “Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”  Southwestern's Student Bar Association also honored Segal with its highest award, “Certificate of Distinguished Service,” the first time a student had won the award two years in a row.  On March 9, 1975, the American Bar Association (law student division) honored Segal with an award for “In recognition of Outstanding Contribution.”  Segal also studied international law at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.[11]CareerSegal began his legal career in 1977 as an attorney at Diamond, Tilem, Colden and Emery, in Beverly Hills, California, specializing in entertainment law, with an emphasis on music performers and recording artists. In 1978, Segal transitioned to Of Counsel to the law firm so that he could open..

On Wednesday, October 27, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will ask residents to observe a moment of silence and reflection at 9:54 a.m. That was the moment the shooting started at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood in 2018. The antisemitic attack left 11 worshippers dead, and wounded two other congregants and police officers. Listen to Mayor Peduto recount what it was like to comfort and protect not just the city he led, but his neighbors and friends, after America's deadliest antisemitic attack three years ago. Then, for our closing segment, Shabbat Table Talk, Manya Brachear Pashman speaks with Liel Leibovitz of Tablet Magazine's podcast Unorthodox, to discuss how the Pittsburgh community united following the tragedy. ____ Episode Lineup: (0:40): Mayor Bill Peduto  (20:46): Manya Brachear Pashman and Liel Leibovitz ____ Show Notes: Crossover with Tablet's Unorthodox: How the Jews Went Right in Britain

The murder of eleven Jews at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue three years ago in October 2018 was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. On this episode, journalist Mark Oppenheimer, author of the new book Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and The Soul of a Neighborhood, joins Commonweal editor Dominic Preziosi for a wide-ranging discussion of the aftermath of that event. Oppenheimer focuses not on the shooting and the gunman, but rather on the century-old currents of Judaism in Pittsburgh, the variety of religious beliefs and practices visible after the attack, and the resilience of Squirrel Hill. For further reading: -      ‘Death at the Tree of Life,' Wesley Hill -      ‘From Trotsky to Soros,' James J. Sheehan -      ‘The Author and the Expert,' Tzvi Novick

On this episode of Our American Stories, Paul Kengor tells the horrifying story of when his daughters witnessed the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Officer Wendy Caldwell shares her experience being the oldest rookie cop in Houston, Texas; and Bruce Paddock tells the untold story of generic drugs. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.