U.S. Jews and non-Jews are packing synagogues and 'showing up for Shabbat'

Elizabeth Warren, a senator of Massachusetts, is set to make an appearance and deliver a prayer at Saturday morning Shabbat at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Mass.

NOVEMBER 3, 2018 12:35

Updated: NOVEMBER 3, 2018 14:13

A large crowd from a wide variety of backgrounds attended a “Show Up For Shabbat” service at the Rodef Shalom synagogue following last Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 2, 2018 (photo credit: REUTERS) — A large crowd from a wide variety of backgrounds attended a “Show Up For Shabbat” service at the Rodef Shalom synagogue following last Saturday's shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 2, 2018

(photo credit: REUTERS)

Elizabeth Warren, the junior senator from Massachusetts and a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, is set to make an appearance at a Massachusetts synagogue Saturday, one of a number of prominent public figures visiting synagogues after the shooting attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Warren will deliver a prayer at the Shabbat morning services at Temple Emanuel in Newton, a Boston suburb with a large Jewish population, as part of the #ShowUpForShabbat campaign organized in response to the deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting last Saturday that claimed 11 lives and left four others wounded.

An initiative of the American Jewish Committee that has been adopted by a host of other Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and individuals, #ShowUpForShabbat encourages Jews and others across the United States to attend Shabbat services this weekend.

Synagogues across the country were filled to capacity for Friday evening services, with worshipers of all faiths who had come to show solidarity with the Jewish community. Politicians, celebrities and citizens across the country tweeted their support for American Jews and their attendance at synagogue. In many communities, Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders shared the pulpit with local rabbis.

We waited hours in the rain to be able to pray for those who lost their lives for their faith. They will never enter a synagogue again. We will. And we will live for what they died for #ShowUpForShabbat #SolidarityShabbat #ShabbatShalom Pix credit: @rosenbergerlm & Meg Kohler pic.twitter.com/1P1jMW7Ie9
— Geovanny Vicente Romero (@GeovannyVicentR) November 3, 2018

Some on Twitter described unheard of turnout for services, and synagogue parking lots overflowing and lines out the door. Some synagogues even performed two services to make sure everyone had the chance to attend that night.

Thanks to all the Gentiles who honored #ShowUpForShabbat at our synagogue this evening. The feeling of community was very powerful.
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) November 3, 2018

Some members of the Jewish community according to The New York Times, including Mr. Schor a member of the Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan said, "Nothing will prevent me from coming [to synagogue].. Our strength comes from daily unity. We draw additional strength from each other in challenging times."

Others, such as Jennifer Mendelsohn, found solace in the unprecidented turnout for Shabbat services and wrote about their experiences on twitter. Mendelsohn wrote, "Tonight was astonishing. HUNDREDS of people came to our synagogue to #showupforshabbat. There was nowhere to park. Nowhere to sit. Not enough prayer books. But we sang and we mourned and we were together and we weren’t afraid. And that was exactly what we needed."

Expressing the sentiment that she no longer feels afraid with her fellow community members by her side, going out of their way to show support on a night where Jews and non-Jews sang together, mourned together and stood up to antisemitism as a country.

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Tonight was astonishing. HUNDREDS of people came to our synagogue to #showupforshabbat. There was nowhere to park. Nowhere to sit. Not enough prayer books. But we sang and we mourned and we were together and we weren’t afraid. And that was exactly what we needed.
— Jennifer Mendelsohn (@CleverTitleTK) November 3, 2018