The people of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were victims of a hate-motivated mass shooting on Oct. 27, when 11 people were shot and killed. A vigil was hosted by Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Chabad on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale campus on Monday Oct. 29.
Even though this tragic act of violence occurred miles and miles away, members of the NSU community showed up to pay their respects and take a stand against the evil that occurred.
The vigil began with a candle lighting ceremony honoring each of the 11 victims. Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz of the Chabad at NSU encouraged the audience to fight this “intolerance of tolerance” with the light of kindness. Students and faculty members were involved with the ceremony. Shelby Kisliuk provided a student’s perspective in her vigil address, and Professor Gary Gershman recited a prayer. The audience was then asked to join together in song by singing “Gesher Tzar Me’od.”
A student lights a candle in honor of one of the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Students line up to light a candle for each of victims of the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pa. The names of the eleven victims were read by students before each candle was lit as part of Jewish tradition. Or Greenwald, director of Jewish student life at Hillel, said, “We read names out loud as a conscious step towards never forgetting those we have lost in life and now in their death.”
Gary Gershman, professor in the department of history and political science, recites a prayer after the moment of silence.
Or Greenwald, director of Jewish student life at NSU’s Hillel, leads those in attendance in a moment of silence for the victims. Greenwald conducted the vigil.
Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz speaks to the crowd about changing the world through good deeds.
Members of the community gather outside the Student Affairs Building for the vigil held in honor of the 11 victims of the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Shelby Kisliuk, president of JLSA, speaks to those gathered for the vigil. Kisliuk provided a student’s perspective on the tragedy.
Students and faculty members gather for the vigil held by the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Chabad at NSU.
A large crowd of NSU students and faculty members paid their respects for the 11 victims that were killed in a Pittsburgh, Pa. synagogue shooting.
Members of the community demonstrated their support and unity as they attended the vigil held by the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Chabad at NSU for the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting.
Students watch on as the vigil put on by the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Chabad at NSU begins. Students came together to honor the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pa.
President George Hanbury meets with Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz after the vigil.
President George Hanbury speaks with Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz after Schwartz’s speech at the vigil held in honor of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting victims. Schwartz urged the audience to respond to this hate with compassion. He urged the audience to choose mitzvah, a good deed.
Eleven candles were lit in remembrance of the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
Faculty members participated at the vigil, too. They were encouraged to take a mitzvah card and choose to do a good deed.
After Rabbi Aryeh Schwartz spoke, students and members of the NSU community fill out mitzvah cards. Mitzvah is the commitment of a good deed to fulfill religious obligation . The amount of mitzvah cards in the box was a sign of unity and pledge to choose light and love when faced with evil.
Students and faculty members in attendance were encouraged to fill out mitzvah cards and to light candles
The message shared at the vigil held in honor of the victims shot at The Tree of Life synagogue was to fight darkness by choosing to do good.
Those in attendance of the vigil were encouraged to fill out one of these mitzvah cards. The mitzvah cards gave options of different ways to spread light.
A candle was lit after the name of each victim was read at the beginning of the vigil held by the Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach and Chabad at NSU. The candles remained lit for the remainder of the ceremony and shone as reminder of the message shared that night: to choose light.
