‘Shaken, lost and broken’

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This article was published 31/10/2018 (2677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers — no matter whether Jewish or gentile — gathered together in solidarity, in remembrance, and, in the end, in hope at a vigil for the 11 members of the Jewish faith who were gunned down in their place of worship in Pittsburgh on the weekend.

“It’s terrifying what happened,” Rochelle Zimberg said as she sat among hundreds of people inside the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue at a vigil organized by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg on Tuesday night.

“They were gathered together at the same time as it happens around the world. Everyone prays and then goes to eat.

“I am here to be in solidarity with Pittsburgh.”

Liberal MP Jim Carr was one of the 11 people chosen from the community to light a candle for each of the victims. “I’m here to mourn with the community and to send my prayers to the victims and the families,” he said as he arrived at the vigil.

Outside the synagogue, so many people came that vehicles were forced to park several blocks away into the residential areas nearby.

While several police officers stood outside the synagogue at Academy Road and Wellington Crescent, there was none at the doors themselves, not even security. The only people there were armed only with smiles, an outreached hand, and badges that said “greeter.”

But it was a sobering moment when Matthew Leibl, one of the synagogue’s rabbis, began his words from the podium by not only greeting everyone, but also ensuring that people who had never been there before look around to see where the closest exit was.

“Jews are not unfamiliar with tragedy,” Leibl said.

“Yet this is something new to us. We have never seen this type of attack before in North America… we are all still fairly shaken, lost and broken. Can it happen again? Can it happen even here?”

But Leibl said seeing the crowd in front of him gave his congregation — and the Jewish people here and beyond — hope when they see so many people who are non-Jewish join them.

“It is something new and refreshing and it gives us hope — it reminds us we are not alone.”

Laurel Malkin, the federation’s president, also thanked all of the politicians who came to bring support, as well as Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth.

Besides Carr, numerous other politicians came to show solidarity including Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson, Mayor Brian Bowman and Coun. John Orlikow, NDP leader Wab Kinew, Liberal leader Dougald Lamont, along with 16 Manitoba MLAs of all political stripes.

“By extension, this was an attack on all of us,” Malkin said.

“It is a day that will live in history as the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in North America. For many of us, it is beyond comprehension.”

The massed participants sang O Canada. They prayed together. They watched as memorial candles were lit for all 11 victims. They linked arms together. They sang the Israeli national anthem.

Elaine Goldstine, the federation’s chief executive officer, said it was seeing all this and the packed synagogue that gave her comfort after the weekend tragedy.

“It’s heartwarming. It’s overwhelming,” Goldstine said.

“We’re such an amazing community and they came out tonight. Everybody was together. It doesn’t matter what your faith is, this is what Winnipeg is all about.”

Parmjeet Gill, secretary of the Sikh Society of Manitoba, said “we feel really sad what happened.

“All over the world we should be together. It’s nice to come together and stand with them shoulder to shoulder.”

Sandy Popham uses a motorized wheelchair and had to use Handi-Transit to get to the vigil, but she wanted to be there.

“I was definitely moved to come and show my solidarity,” Popham said.

“I sent out emails and phone calls to my Jewish friends, but I also felt I wanted to be present. And it helped me. You have to make yourself definitely show your opposition to this type of hate and anti-Semitism.

“You can’t be silent.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca