SARASOTA, Fla. -- A vigil was held Monday in Sarasota to mourn the 11 people killed during Saturday Sabbath services at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Sarasota resident Iris Nahemow spent most of her life in Pittsburgh and was very involved with the Tree of Life Synagogue where this weekend’s shooting happened. As dozens of people gathered to remember the lives lost, Nahemow talked to us about victims and the outpouring of community support.
A prayer for peace: Members of Lakeland synagogue honor Pittsburgh victims
What does it mean to you to know that so many people in Sarasota are coming to honor your friends killed?
“I am touched," Nahemow said. "This is how we’re supposed to be toward each other. We’re supposed to be loving, supportive and caring, not killing each other.
"Not hating. That’s not why we are here.”
When you learned of the shooting you obviously were in shock and disbelief. When you see the pictures and hear stories of survival from people you knew, what can you tell me about those people?
“When I first learned of the shooting I thought, how can this happen in Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh welcomes everyone. Then I started hearing from my grandchildren in Pittsburgh. We’re all in shock," Nahemow said. "These were good people. These are my friends. Joyce Fienberg is a woman who worked with my husband.
"When you talk about David and Cecil Rosenthal were the sons of one of my friends. Cecil was like a teddy bear. He was always so loving. He would come over and say, 'How are you Iris? How is your husband?
“I believe Daniel Stein was in my Sunday School class. There is such a gap in the community because of this. These were people we all knew, we all loved. We greeted them, they greeted us.”
Many people are saying they are not going to let hate win. Do you agree with that sentiment?
“Absolutely. The only way to deal with this is to show more love toward each other," Nahemow said. "I don’t want the hate. I want the love.”
Federal prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty against suspected gunman Robert Bowers.
Thousands of mourners held a memorial service Sunday night at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh.
On Monday, Floridians stood in solidarity with their Jewish brothers and sisters up north.
The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee held a public event called “Vigil for Tree of Life: A Community in Solidarity.”
It was originally scheduled to take place inside the Beatrice Friedman Theater on The Larry Greenspon Family Campus for Jewish Life on McIntosh Road in Sarasota but it was moved to the Sarasota Fairgrounds (behind Robarts Arena), 3000 Ringling Blvd.
There was extra security on hand with police officers checking bags and waving metal detectors for all of those attending the vigil.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
