At Candlelight Vigil On Thursday, Show Of Strength And Unity Is Called The Best Response To Violence

Rabbi Joshua Franklin stood in front of a packed Jewish Center of the Hamptons on Thursday evening and started his remarks with a single word:

“Wow.”

The multi-denominational vigil held at Rabbi Franklin’s East Hampton synagogue drew a crowd of at least 500, beyond standing room only. The night was a show of unity and support for the Jewish community, even as those gathered mourned the 11 men and women gunned down at Shabbat services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in suburban Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 27.

Rabbi Franklin admitted he was “quite blown away” by the turnout for the vigil, which was sponsored by synagogues on the South Fork, but also included clergy from throughout East Hampton, Southampton and Riverhead, and a crowd that included dignitaries and people of all faiths.

“The world is much smaller than we think, and I think that’s why we’re all here,” Rabbi Franklin told the gathering. “Being here, we get to see the beauty of community.”

Later, Rabbi Franklin noted that the shootings at the Pittsburgh synagogue were the result of “the hatred of an individual, not of a community.” Citing the chants heard at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, a year ago—which included antisemitic sentiments, such as “Jews will not replace us” and “Blood and soil”—he noted that the goal is to keep such hatred “marginal” and not allow it to become the “new normal.”

“We will create what’s normal. We are the masses here tonight,” he said, saying responding to acts of violence with what he called “radical community” gatherings, like Thursday’s vigil, was the best answer, and they were happening all over the country.

“Millions of people from all faiths are supporting the Jewish community, and supporting one another. This is the ‘new normal,’” he said.

Rabbi Daniel Geffen of Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor noted the diversity of the crowd gathered on Thursday and said, “‘There are no words.’ I’ve uttered this phrase many times in my life, but never so many times as I have in the past few days.” Of the turnout on Thursday, he said, “It’s really touched my heart.”

Rabbi Geffen, at times choking back tears, said the focus of the vigil should be on the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, but he also noted that the incident had the potential to spread fear both in the Jewish community and beyond. He acknowledged, with a breaking voice, that he had worried about his own community and family being “in the crosshairs” in recent days.

“But fear is not what we need right now,” he said. “Fear did not keep us home tonight.” What was important, he said, was to heal, “rise up from the floor” and to “combat the evil growing right under our noses.”

Various members of the South Fork and Riverhead clergy lit individual candles for all 11 victims of the shooting. East Hampton Village Police Chief Michael Tracey led a prayer for law enforcement officers, dedicated to the six officers injured responding to the Tree of Life Synagogue shootings.

East Hampton Village Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. spoke briefly, noting, “Without rhyme or reason, so many lives were snuffed out by an act of bigotry and hatred.”

He added, “What is it going to take for us to come together with the common thread of humanity as we look ahead? … It’s got to change. … We are all God’s children. Let’s work together to make it a better world.”

Debra Stein, cantor for the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, led the gathered in several songs and prayers, including one, “Tree of Life,” written by musician Nefesh Mountain to commemorate the loss of life at the Pittsburgh synagogue. Its closing lyrics:

“I’m angry and tired of this great divide/but I sing nonetheless with love on our side.”