Pittsburgh, PA – The mayor ordered increased police protection of the city’s Jewish community and synagogues in the wake of a fatal shooting at a Jewish center in Seattle.
“We want members of the Jewish community to feel confident and comfortable that they can worship without any fear on Shabbas” said Dick Skrinjar, spokesman for Mayor Bob O’Connor. Uniformed and undercover officers are involved in the patrols, he said.
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“What a sad commentary it is that religious institutions have to protect themselves from people who hate them,” said Rabbi Alvin Berkun, rabbi emeritus of the Tree of Life Congregation. “The Jewish and Muslim communities have not had any friction in Pittsburgh … but when there’s a terrible attack like in Seattle, you have to be cautious.”
The increased protection will last “until we decide the community is comfortable enough we can return to pre-conflict levels of protection,” Skrinjar said.
About 40,000 Jews live in Pittsburgh, according to the 2004 Census Report.
We should also get a hold of guns for self defense. Who knows if the police are going to do there jobs if there is chas veshalom a tragedy.
It should be done by every single Jewish org . We Jews should demand extra protection.