CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two senior rabbis with the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte said they were stunned to hear the news this morning as services were wrapping up.
One of the rabbis said this was the first time in 41 years he allowed people pull out their cell phones in order to call friends and family in the Pittsburgh area and check on them.
"When any house of worship is attacked, all houses of worship are attacked," said Asher Knight, a Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte rabbi with Temple Beth El.
There was a noticeable security presence on the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte campus today.
Rabbi Murray Ezring of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte was wrapping up his Saturday service.
"Somebody came in and called me off the pulpit," Ezring said. "There was a sense of shock when I made the announcement through the congregation and an audible expulsion of air."
The rabbis said in light of recent events at United States houses of worship, they are continuing to tighten their security and heighten their awareness.
"If Tree of Life can be attacked with live ammunition in the middle of a Shabbat morning service it can happen to anyone anywhere," said Ezring.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte says now they have tightened security and heightened awareness.
"Unfortunately we in the Jewish community are all too familiar with temples and synagogues being targeted of senseless acts of hatred," Knight said. "This is not the first time something like this has happened."
They want to make sure people feel safe when they come to worship, and remember those who lost their lives in this attack in Pittsburgh.
"We send our prayers of comfort and healing to those who've been affected by the tragic and senseless shooting," Knight said. "We gather in support of those survivors and those families who were affected, the tree of life synagogue and the Pittsburgh community."
The rabbis plan to continue to pray for the community in Pittsburgh while also trying to comfort their own congregations through this tragedy.
