Yo-Yo Ma perform in ceremony honoring Pittsburgh shooting victims - watch
The ceremony also included several prayers for the souls off the deceased and for healing those who survived.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFA visitor views a makeshift memorials outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, in 2018.(photo credit: ALAN FREED/REUTERS)
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed in a commemoration ceremony held in honor of the 11 people who's lives were lost on October 27, 2018, during an attack on three Pittsburgh synagogues: Congregation Dor Hadash, New Light Congregation/Tree of Life and Or L’Simcha Congregation.Maggie Feinstein, director Healing Partnership, explained the purpose of having the ceremony despite the social distancing required as a way to reflect on the lives of the people who died and the impact the event had on the community itself.Yo-Yo Ma spoke about what one should say during times of crisis, citing his friend Mister Rogers, who said: "When there's a crisis, you can always look to the helpers," before playing a song dedicated to those who've been helping others since the day of the shooting.The ceremony also included several prayers, both for the souls of the deceases and for healing the community. The event was held virtually on Tuesday, and was organized by the NGO Healing Partnership, which provides support for and connections between individuals and their loved ones who were impacted by the 2018 attack, as well as others suffering from similar hate-induced trauma.Robert Gregory Bowers, a neo-Nazi antisemite and conspiracy theorist, murdered 11 congregants on October 27 in the attack. He was later charged with 63 federal crimes, many of which are capital offenses, as well as 36 charges in Pennsylvania state court.
