Pittsburgh

As a Jewish community organisation, we acutely feel the pain of the families of those who were murdered at the weekend in Pittsburgh. That a Holocaust survivor was spared a similar fate because he arrived at the synagogue as the attack was happening inside only extends our empathy.

As well as targeting Jews because they were Jews, the gunman also attacked the Tree of Life community because they campaigned and sought to help refugees, something that profoundly resonates with us. As Jews, we know from our history the sense of displacement and persecution; the community in Squirrel Hill, like many other faith and non-faith groups around the world, were trying to help the downtrodden today, to restore a modicum of dignity.

In contrast to the hatred of the attacker, the initiative of two US Muslim groups to launch an online fundraising appeal to support the Jewish community in Pittsburgh is heartening to see. More details are at http://www.launchgood.com/

In sympathy for the community of Squirrel Hill

Michael Newman, AJR Chief Executive. 29 October