Rabbi Androphy consoles congregants after Pittsburgh shooting

Following the mass shooting of the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, Rabbi Ronald Androphy, of the East Meadow Jewish Center, reached out to his congregants to let them know what steps the temple was taking to prevent such an event from happening in their community.

“We mourn the tragic loss of life and extend our condolences to the bereaved families,” he wrote in a letter. “We offer our prayers for a speedy recovery to all those who were wounded. We are thankful to the officers of Pittsburgh Police Department who responded so quickly and captured the gunman.”

Androphy then said that the temple leadership had an emergency meeting following the shooting to discuss what would have to be done to bolster security even more at the temple.

Currently, the temple has its doors locked and congregants must be buzzed in before entering. There are also security cameras and a panic button. He is planning to have a guard present for the duration of Saturday morning services. Those attending services will now enter through the rear entrance, where the guard will be stationed.

“It’s just a terrible shame that any synagogue or house of worship should have to take these measures to counteract the openness they’ve always had,” he said. “But we’re not afraid to gather as a congregation.”

Richard Bowers, 46, who opened fire at the Tree of Life Congregation, had posted an anti-Jewish message on his Gab social media account, according to multiple reports, and it read: “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered,” he said. “Screw your optics, I’m going in.” That was at 9:49 a.m.

Five minutes later a 911 call was made to the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center about an active shooter. Police were dispatched. Shots were exchanged. Bullets from Bowers AR-15 assault rifle and possibly three handguns struck 17 people, killing 11 and injuring six, including four police officers. His words after being taken into custody according to police were, “All these Jews need to die.”

Bowers, who was also shot, was charged by federal officials with 29 criminal counts, including obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs — a hate crime — and using a firearm to commit murder. He also faces state charges, including 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation.

Immediately after news of the shooting broke, many took to social media, especially Twitter to react to the mass shooting. It was the 294th such incident this year in the United States. A mass shooting is defined as four or more individuals being shot or killed in the same general time and location.

Anti-Semitism appeared to be a motive for the shooting, Bowers targeted the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society for his ire. It is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees. The Anti-Defamation League has reported that anti-Semitic incidents in the United States has risen by 57 percent in 2017 from 1,267 in 2016 to 1,986. The largest increase since the ADL began tracking in 1979.

Only once since 1979 has the ADL recorded more incidents: 2,066 in 1994. Since then, the incidents had mostly declined. There were small increases in 2014 and 2015. Then, in 2016, the count began to rise.

“Our country must address the all-too-pervasive hatred that has afflicted our society,” Androphy said. “We pray for the day when people can attend their synagogues, churches, and mosques without fear of attack.”