A rabbi from Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue said the attack in a Pittsburgh synagogue last month was “troubling” and “shocking”.
An American gunman shot 11 worshippers dead in a massacre in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, October 27.
Rabbi Mendel Lew said the attack has had an impact on the Jewish community in Stanmore.
He commented: “We have become accustomed to a collection of violence across the world, but what made this more troubling was that it was in a Synagogue, during prayers, and those prayers were violated in a terrible and shocking way.
“You don’t generally hear too much of this kind of attack happening in America. When you see violence against any religion of any type, not just Jews, it makes you anxious and concerned.”
Rabbi Lew said that the Stanmore synagogue prayed for those who died in the attacks.
He said: “We said prayers that Sunday (following the attack) but also the following Shabbat. We dedicated it to what happened and I said some words in my sermon.
“I mentioned that the fact we, synagogues and churches, need security is in itself recognition of the vulnerability of our community, and it’s a terrible stain, particularly in Europe.
“We’re very grateful to police in this country, who ensure we are as safe and secure as possible.”
The rabbi added: “It’s very important to create stronger relations between all of us to ensure we are safe.
“Every individual is as precious and valuable as another and we should respect each other no matter our differences, both in terms of Judaism and beyond it.”
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