Meditations on Synagogue Mass Shooting & Domestic Terrorism in the USA

I wish to express belated condolences for the 11 innocent souls brutally murdered (and 6 injured) in their place of worship at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue, over the weekend.

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I can only imagine what (American) Jews must be feeling, now, after the Pittsburgh shooting & stand with them in solidarity — wishing the victims’ loved ones healing & one day peace.

The leaders of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh have stated that:

President Trump, you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you stop targeting and endangering all minorities.

Yet, even though the gunman yelled: All Jews must die, Trump seems to have difficulty denouncing this as anti-semitism & instead we hear Kellyanne Conway speaking of anti-religiosity:

The anti-religiosity in this country that is somehow in vogue... making fun of people who express religion, the late night comedians.

Again, bizarrely blaming the media like her boss and even going so far as to say : the president is trying to heal the country.

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This must only add insult to injury... with a documentation of hate crimes on the rise, and murderous bigots emboldened by this divisive, dangerous president —who continues to incite violence out of one side of his mouth, then has the gall to call for ‘love, peace and harmony’ out of the other.

Hard to stay focused and not lose hope these days, but I believe that is this administration’s cynical strategy and we must remain even more vigilant.

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Also worth remembering (amid these calculated tactics of distraction) that, just last year, Jewish institutions received bomb threats and cemeteries were destroyed; just as, of course, mosques were burned and Muslims targeted since Trump assumed office.

Some small good news that has come out of this tragedy is that American Muslims have raised more than $120,000, since Saturday, for the families of those killed and injured in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, in a demonstration of interfaith solidarity.

CelebrateMercy and MPower Change , non-profit Muslim organizations, launched an online drive to raise funds for the synagogue within hours of the shooting. It reached its target of $25,000 in a mere six hours.

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UnitedAgainstHate IAmJewishToo StrongerTogether