New York leaders gather to honor Pittsburgh shooting victims

The memorial service was led by Israel's consul general to New York, UN Secretary-General and the Archbishop of New York.

By MICHAEL WILNER
Updated: NOVEMBER 1, 2018 16:00
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses a memorial service for Pittsburgh victims at Park East Synagogue. (photo credit: ISRAEL CONSULATE IN NEW YORK)
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses a memorial service for Pittsburgh victims at Park East Synagogue.
(photo credit: ISRAEL CONSULATE IN NEW YORK)
WASHINGTON -- Political and religious leaders gathered at New York's Park East Synagogue on Wednesday to commemorate victims of a massacre of Jews in Pennsylvania over the weekend.
Israel’s Consul General to New York Dani Dayan joined UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, as well as Park East's chief rabbi, Arthur Schneier, to lead the interfaith gathering, which included other dignitaries and at least one member of the traumatized Pittsburgh community.
"Condemnation is not enough," Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said of the event. "The time has come for action. We must fight antisemitism everywhere in the world, just as we fight terrorism."
New York's Park East Synagogue during the memorial service for Pittsburgh shooting victims / ISRAEL CONSULATE IN NEW YORK
New York's Park East Synagogue during the memorial service for Pittsburgh shooting victims / ISRAEL CONSULATE IN NEW YORK
In the modern orthodox, Byzantine Revivalist synagogue, previous host to the pope and prior secretaries general, Guterres called for a “united front” against antisemitism.
“I'm here to express horror and solidarity,” Guterres said. “Horror at the worst act of antisemitism in the history of the United Nations, but solidarity with the victims, the families, and Jews in Pittsburgh and worldwide, and all who reject these acts. I have been rising my voice against the rise of anti-Semitism also in North America.”
“Antisemitism is the oldest hatred of mankind,” he continued. “With the climax in the Roman empire and the middle ages, I will never forget the culmination of the most stupid crime of my own country, the expulsion in Portugal. Stupid because it was so harmful for the country.”
Students from the Park East School offered a musical tribute to the victims before a packed temple.
Dayan, who has jurisdiction over Pittsburgh, addressed the event after returning from the Pennsylvania city on Monday.
“In a few weeks we will meet here for Holocaust Memorial Day, and we will say never again,” Dayan stated. “My friends, never is now. We are not in 1930s Germany, or in Russia at the start of the 20th Century. But now we know history. We know how things develop. Right now is the time to cut antisemitism and bigotry's head. We don't want to be in the dark days of humanity, so we have to take action now in law enforcement and education.”