Community gathers at UHC in response to Tree of Life attack: ‘We, too, will never yield to evil’

Student Rabbi Jonathan Falco stood at the sanctuary bimah and read the names of the 11 Pittsburgh dead, then invited the congregation to rise for El Ma’alei Racham’im, the prayer for the souls of the departed.

“The victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue were robbed of their opportunity to fulfill the commandment to keep and remember and celebrate the Sabbath. Tonight, we move forward with doing just that — continuing our Shabbat service and celebrating in their memory,” Jonathan said.

Some 100 people attended Shabbat services Friday, Nov. 2, at United Hebrew Congregation’s historic Temple Israel, six days after the fatal attack on Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

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UHC members join Stand Against Hate Candlelight Vigil at Vigo County Courthouse

Members of the Terre Haute Jewish community gathered with their neighbors on Monday evening, two days after the Oct. 27 attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, for a Stand Against Hate Candlelight Vigil at Vigo County Courthouse.

“That could have been my synagogue. It could have been my church. That could have been my home or my school,” UHC’s Brent Silver told WTHI-TV News.

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Flowers on Temple steps send a message: ‘Everyone is welcome in Terre Haute’

Two days after the fatal attack on Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, UHC Secretary Norma Collins arrived at the Temple to find, beneath the weathered wooden door, beside one Ionic pillar and at the top of the old limestone steps, a single bouquet of flowers.

Later, a member of a local church stopped by to offer words of support. “You are so welcome in Terre Haute and please call this your home,” the man told Norma. She added, “Everybody seems very caring.”

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UHC expresses solidarity with Tree of Life victims; Shabbat service to welcome guests

United Hebrew Congregation expresses its solidarity with the Tree of Life congregation in Pittsburgh, Pa., and our brothers and sisters in the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh that has been the target of a horrific, anti-Semitic mass murder.

Words are inadequate to express our sadness.

We extend our condolences to all those who lost loved ones in this massacre.

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