Light Within the Darkness

Melvin Wax, Irving Younger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Rose Mallinger, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Joyce Fienberg, and Richard Gottfried.  These names will forever be cemented in history as victims of the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in American history.  Say their names.  Do not forget these names.  These innocent victims died for absolutely nothing.   

On Saturday morning, October 27, 2018, a terrorist, whose name is not even worth mentioning, killed 11 innocent people who were merely proclaiming their faith, while also injuring many more.   His motives were centered around white supremacy and intolerance of other religions.  His actions were despicable and unwarranted.  This heinous crime has affected the entirety of Pittsburgh in more ways than you can imagine.   

But within the dark shines the brightest light.  I have never seen a community come together in the way Pittsburgh has.  The monster who tried to kill our spirit was unsuccessful.  When you try to knock down a city like Pittsburgh, you will be met with the strongest display of hope and resilience you could ever imagine.  Thousands stood in the cold to honor the victims, to stand for what is right.  Cans are set up everywhere to raise money for local Jewish community centers.  Fundraisers are starting left and right to help lift our friends back on their feet.  There may be Jews and Christians, Muslims and Atheist living in Pittsburgh, but we are all family.  We are all the same.  You cannot knock one of us down without expecting the rest of us to come back stronger.  We do not fight with hate.  We fight with love and support.  We fight knowing that hate will not advance our message.   We fight knowing that tomorrow will be a better day full of light and warmth, because we are better than those who fight with fear.   

My greatest thanks go out to the first responders, the policemen and women who put their lives on the line to save their community members.  The EMT’s who restlessly fought to keep the victims alive while getting them to more permanent care.  My deepest respect for the Jewish doctors who worked endlessly to keep their brothers and sisters alive and every other doctor who did the same.  Without all of these people, the outcome may have been a lot worse.  Without these examples of light, darkness might have been easier to follow.   The Pittsburgh Community cannot thank every responder enough.  You are our heroes.   

So where does Pittsburgh go after this?  That has yet to be fully determined.  With that said though, I see a community rising to the occasion.  The full effects of domestic terrorism have been felt, but that does not mean we are scared.  We are hurt, but we are   turning that hurt into love.  I know my community, and I know we will rise.  Love always wins.  And Pittsburgh?  Pittsburgh is love.  

With love, 

Sam Rose