Ivanka Trump in the White House after Nikki Haley announced her resignation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Oct. 9, 2018. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
(JTA) — In the aftermath of the horrific shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left at least 11 dead, prominent Jews on Twitter are speaking out about their identity and sharing messages of solidarity.
Ivanka Trump said she stands with the Jewish people and called the gunman, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, a “depraved bigot and anti-Semite.”
America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite.
All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh.
We must unite against hatred & evil.God bless those affected
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 27, 2018
The CEO of the Anti Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, shared words of devastation:
We are devastated. Jews targeted on Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) October 27, 2018
Bari Weiss, The New York Times opinion writer, shared that she was a bat mitzvah at the synagogue and that people were checking in with her.
There is an active shooter at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh. Major Conservative synagogue in Squirrel Hill where I was bat mitzvahed. Saturday morning services is the most crowded time of the week. https://t.co/xRSvVxkWtF
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) October 27, 2018
I'm used to calling Israel to see if everything is ok. Very strange to get those calls in the other direction. Thank God, my family is safe. But the Pittsburgh Jewish community is like a shtetl–this is what makes it so special. We all know one another and feel like family.
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) October 27, 2018
Broadway star Ben Platt used the moment to push a political message.
We can’t go to the movies
We can’t go to church
We can’t go to synagogue
We can’t go to a mosque
We can’t go to a concert
We can’t go to school
We can’t go to work
So we have to go to the polls.#GunSenseCandidates
— Ben Platt (@BenSPLATT) October 27, 2018
Actress and “Girls” creator Lena Dunham urged people to send their prayers to the Jewish community.
I don’t talk about my Jewish faith a lot, but it’s a huge part of my life, family and heart. It is painful & tragic to see a place of prayer cleaved by bigotry & hate, yet again. Please return our shalom to us with prayers & active support of the Jewish member of your community.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 27, 2018
Actor Josh Gad, known for roles in “Frozen” and “The Book of Mormon,” shared how he also belonged to the synagogue.
I went to school in Pitt. I attended services at this Temple. I don’t know what to say anymore or how to say it. Words have clearly lost all meaning because we are doing NOTHING to stop incocent masses of people in schools, Churches and now Temples from being killed in droves https://t.co/Lerc7kg10w
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) October 27, 2018
Actress and singer Bette Midler shared her sympathy for the families of the victims.
To the families of those who died in the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, my deepest and sincere sympathies. This horror is escalating day by day. If only we had LEADERSHIP that would actually take steps to stop it.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 27, 2018
Jewish actor and comedian Michael Ian Black shared the poem “We Remember Them” by Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Reimer in memory of the victims.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) October 27, 2018
“Seinfeld” actor Jason Alexander said he had “no words.”
There are no words. Or rather, there are words that would bring change, but our leaders don’t have the courage to say them. So, all we can do is say prayers. #TreeOfLifeSynagogue – our hearts continue to break.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) October 27, 2018
Howard Fineman, the editorial director of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, also shared how the Tree of Life synagogue was at the center of his Jewish upbringing.
My God #TreeofLife synagogue in #Pittsburgh is the loving, dignified place where my sister and I attended, and our parents taught, Sunday school; where I was bar mitzah; where my sister wore to class a velvet jumper my mother made; the deep Jewish roots of my own tree of life.
— Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) October 27, 2018
Emily Nussbaum, a New Yorker writer, shared how close to home the shooting hit for her, as her family was at synagogue services.
My husband and kids are at shul, I had to stay home on a work deadline, this news from Pittsburgh comes through. What an awful day. My heart goes out to everyone at Tree of Life.
— Gremliny Nussboo (@emilynussbaum) October 27, 2018
The U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, shared a statement:
Today the residents of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill community are in mourning in the aftermath of a terrorist shooting attack shattering Tree of Life synagogue’s Shabbat services. We are heartbroken and pray for the victims and their families, including the brave police.
— David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) October 27, 2018
Jake Tapper, the Jewish CNN anchor, pointed out a misconception about Conservative synagogues.
PSA: A synagogue being “conservative” is not a statement about the political beliefs of its members. Conservatism is a denomination within Judaism akin to Reform, Orthodox, Reconstructionist. It has Zero to do with how one feels about the GOP or Trump or whatever.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 27, 2018
New York Times writer Dave Itzkoff commented on President Donald Trump’s statement that the synagogue should have had more armed guards during the bris ceremony that was happening at the time of the shooting.
armed guards at a bris, sure https://t.co/c655mMOtx1
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 27, 2018
Jewish actress Alex Borstein, from the “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” also assailed the president’s response to the attack:
If they had protection OUTSIDE, maybe a President & followers that didn't spew hate & violence. If they/we had this we might stand a chance. https://t.co/Yes3y0dRAF
— Alex Borstein (@AlexBorstein) October 27, 2018
Harry Enten, a former 538 writer who’s now an analyst for CNN, shared a powerful quote from Daniel Pearl, the Jewish journalist murdered in Pakistan in 2002, before Pearl was beheaded.
"My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish."
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) October 27, 2018
Adam Eli, a Jewish community organizer and LGBTQ activist, shared a message of unity and told his followers to check in on their Jewish friends.
“All Jews are responsible for each other – כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה” To the Jewish people now is time for UNITY. Let us put aside any differences and gather tonight together. #Pittsburgh
— Adam Eli (@aewerner) October 27, 2018
Text your Jewish friends and tell them you love them. But actually call or text them and RT this pic.twitter.com/qP4G3oynQP
— Adam Eli (@aewerner) October 27, 2018
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