The Minister will visit the scene of the attack, meet the local community and participate in the funerals of those killed in the attack.
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: OCTOBER 28, 2018 00:43
Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett announced Saturday night that he would depart immediately to Pittsburgh following the shooting incident at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in which 11 people were murdered.The minister will visit the scene of the attack, meet the local community and participate in the funerals of those killed in the attack.“When Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, the people of Israel feel pain,” Bennett said. “All Israel are responsible for one another the State of Israel is deeply pained by this terrible antisemitic murder. Our Jewish brothers and sisters came under a murderous attack while at prayer. Our hearts go out to the families of those killed, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured, as we pray this is the last such event. Jewish blood is not free.”Bennett said he would offer strength to the Pittsburgh Jewish community and its leaders and examine how Israel can offer assistance. As Diaspora Affairs Minister, Bennett has made a point of assisting American communities when tragedies have happened, including following last year’s Hurricane Harvey which caused flooding in Houston.Bennett ordered the director-general of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry to send emergency and resilience teams to Pittsburgh to provide the Jewish community with psychological assistance.