Summer Lee Introduces Resolution Recognizing the Fifth Commemoration of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, Honoring the 11 Precious Lives Lost, and Condemning Anti-Semitism in All its Forms

Summer Lee Introduces Resolution Recognizing the Fifth Commemoration of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, Honoring the 11 Precious Lives Lost, and Condemning Anti-Semitism in All its Forms

Joined by Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Full PA Democratic Delegation, 63 Representatives 

(Pittsburgh, PA) — Today, Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced a resolution cosponsored by all eight Democratic members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation and 63 Members of the House, recognizing the fifth commemoration of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, honoring the eleven precious lives lost, and condemning antisemitism in all of its forms. This resolution is also endorsed by Bend the Arc Jewish Action

Lee said, “Today, solemnly marks five years since the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting — a heinous, antisemitic attack that claimed the lives of eleven members of our community. In this time of tremendous pain and heightened trauma, it’s crucial that we reaffirm our commitment to one another and to the values of compassion, tolerance, and unity that define us at our best.

“On the morning of October 27th, 2018, during Shabbat service, three Jewish congregations faced an unimaginable horror that not only shattered the sanctity of their place of worship but also sent shockwaves of sorrow through hearts across the nation and across the world. 

“The eleven members from the Dor Hadash, New Light, and Tree of Life congregations who were killed that day were not just statistics, they were beloved members of our community:

“Bernice & Sylvan Simon

Cecil & David Rosenthal

Joyce Fienberg

Richard Gottfried

Rose Mallinger

Jerry Rabinowitz

Daniel Stein

Melvin Wax

Irving Younger

“They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, and colleagues. They were members of a vibrant community, who sought solace, peace, and unity within the walls of their synagogue. They inspire me to work even harder to confront the root causes of antisemitism, hatred, racism, and bigotry so that no community has to live in fear of such senseless violence ever again.

“When I visited the synagogue this past February, I met with congregation leadership and several family members of those murdered. I was profoundly moved – both by the unimaginable pain of what I saw and the beautiful conversations I had. 

“When Reverend Manning spoke at the funeral of Rose Mallinger, the last of the 11 victims to be laid to rest, he said: ‘You are not alone… We mourn with you. We’re here for you and that will never change.’ I commit myself to building bridges between marginalized communities and fighting for a world without hate. I want our Jewish siblings to know that we are in this fight together – every day, for as long as it takes. 

“By building bridges between marginalized communities, together we will dismantle the systems of hatred and work to ensure that Pittsburgh is stronger than hate and safe for every member of every community.” 

Congressman Chris Deluzio said, “This resolution marks a dark and terrible day in the history of Western Pennsylvania and the history of our country,” said Rep. Deluzio. “As we remember those lost in this horrific act of violence, hearts are especially heavy in Western Pennsylvania as our community also processes the horrors of Hamas’s deadly terrorist attack in Israel. We must all recommit to the fight against the scourges of antisemitism and hate.”

Link to the Resolution

71 Cosponsors: Alma Adams,  Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff,  Jamaal Bowman, Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, Cori Bush, Andre Carson, Matt Cartwright, Greg Casar, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, J. Luis Correa, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Suzan DelBene, Chris Deluzio, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Lizzie Fletcher, Maxwell Frost, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Al Green, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chrissy Houlahan, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Dan Kildee, Andy Kim, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ann Kuster, Barbara Lee, Susie Lee, Ted Lieu, Seth Magaziner, Jennifer McCClellan, Kweisi Mfume, Gwen Moore, Kevin Mullin, Grace Napolitano, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Donald Payne Jr., Scott Peters, Stacey Plaskett, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Bobby Scott, Terri Sewell, Melanie Stansbury, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Nydia Velázquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Susan Wild, Frederica Wilson