Thousands packed into Temple Emanuel in Denver for a vigil Sunday night that was attended by a who’s who of politicians and faith leaders
“A basic trust in America has been violated”: Denver turns out in force to share in the pain of Pittsburgh and the Jewish community
Denver came out in force Sunday night, joining cities across the nation in sharing in the pain and sadness of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. Thousands of people packed into Temple Emanuel for a tearful, uniting vigil.
“This is not OK,” Gov. John Hickenlooper proclaimed to a standing-room-only crowd that overflowed into rooms beyond the Denver Jewish congregation’s massive sanctuary.
Scott Levin, the regional chief of the Anti-Defamation League, said the attack Saturday at the Jewish temple in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood answered unequivocally the question: “Is anti-Semitism still a thing?”
“Yes,” he said, “anti-Semitism still exists.”
For Colorado, a state that’s experienced more than its share of mass violence, the evening vigil seemed to lean on the shared trauma of the metro Denver area and now Pittsburgh. The sea of mourners at Temple Emanuel was quick to give standing ovations as speaker after speaker talked of a show of force to battle growing instances of hate in the state and beyond.
Rabbi Joe Black, of Temple Emmanuel, estimated on Monday that between 3,500 and 4,000 attended Sunday evening’s remembrance.
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