Local Politicians, Community Leaders Join At Memorial Service For Pittsburgh Synagogue

On Monday night, community and political leaders gathered at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation for a memorial service in honor of the 11 killed at a Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue over the weekend.

Nearly every speaker –– both religious and political ––  warned of divisiveness. Rabbi Dennis Sasso told the crowd to leave with a commitment not only to pray but to take action.

"Let us not ignore the proliferation of guns in our country and the lack of a hate crimes law in our state," Sasso said. 

Indiana is one of five states without hate crime legislation. But after a Carmel synagogue was vandalized this summer, Gov. Eric Holcomb has called for a hate crime law.

Before the service, the assistant director of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council David Sklar said the tragedy was a shock but that anti-semitic sentiments have been on the rise.

"We’ve never experienced anything over my 10-year career like we have over the last two to three years," Sklar said. "Unfortunately, I think this was a culmination and now we have to turn our focus to how we prevent it from happening again."

Many politicians attended the service. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said our country’s divisions are not accidental.

"Anti-semitism is not new to this country," Hogsett said. "What is new is its resurgence -- everywhere, even here."

There were local speakers from a Methodist Church, the Muslim Community Association and several Rabbis at the service. Those in attendance included Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-Brownsburg) and Congressman Andre Carson (D-Indianapolis).