FYI, my letter to Rabbi Jeffrey Myers: Rabbi Myers – I listened to your words from the last few days. You said , in terms of change: “ … it has to start with you as our leaders.”


You are not listening to your own words.


With respect to this horrific attack on members of your congregation, it could have been up to you to stand up to the root cause: the hate spewed from the top of our country by a false prophet who knows exactly what he is doing in terms of supporting and inciting those who already hate; a false prophet who knows that censuring the NRA will do him no political good even though four guns butchered eleven of your congregants.


Yes, he did not hold the guns; he did not send the bomb packages (to many Jews BTW), or kill those two African Americans in Kentucky, or the countless others over our country but he is directly responsible for this rise in hate.


Yes, American Jewry (I am born Jewish) may finally have their opportunity in this tragic moment to explain the roots of anti-semitism but it is more essential that we speak up for tolerance and safety for all who come here.


You are aiding the hate. You are aiding the NRA. You should be ashamed.


You had the opportunity “to start,” to stand up and deny access to a man who wishes to use your surviving congregation for political purposes only, all the while demeaning them and emboldening more haters. You did not take that opportunity as a brave man, a leader would have done. Those lives will be further lost in vain through your inaction.


My great sympathies to your congregation. My great hope is that re-consider your welcome to this man who is by no means representative of, nor honoring the office of the Presidency.


Sara Jane Boyers

I have started a Facebook event for a protest of Trump’s visit to Pittsburgh. It has gained significant attention already.

I was told that Bend the Arc is planning a protest/march as well so I wanted to share it with you so that we can coordinate our organizing efforts.


Here is the link to my event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2231906467056485/permalink/2231916200388845/?notif_t=event_mall_comment¬if_id=1540846599952091

I just wanted to express my love and support for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. I also want to thank you for the work Bend the Arc is doing on behalf of our immigrant and disenfranchised communities. As a Latina immigrant I have faced my share of racism and discrimination and I am so grateful to Bend the Arc for being supportive of immigrants, refugees and dreamers. At a time when we could turn bitter and cold, we must love even more fiercely and your actions as an organization has made me even more aware that we must all continue to do our part. Thank you for continuing to set the example. From the bottom of heart, I want to thank you. I also want to express my condolences to the community for this disgraceful, cowardly, and disturbing act. We stand with you.

What an unJewish thing to do with your letter. This is NOT the time for politics. SHAME ON YOU!!’

Shame on you for assuming you speak for me. I am a born and raised Jewish member of Squirrel Hill community. Shame on you for assuming you are speaking for me when you say our President is not welcome. Perhaps you should heed the words of Rabbi Myers.

if trump is not welcome to mourn the loss of life, then bend the arc members should stay out of Georgia, until you renounce the lefts bias, thank you very much

Seems to me that all of you need to read the difference of what a nationalist and a white nationalist actually mean. You need to look them up in the dictionary! So here are the difference Nationalism is a political, social, and economic system characterized by the promotion of the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining sovereignty over the homeland. The political ideology of nationalism holds that a nation should govern itself, free from outside interference and is linked to the concept of self-determination. Nationalism is further oriented towards developing and maintaining a national identity based on shared, social characteristics, such as culture and language, religion and politics, and a belief in a common ancestry. Nationalism, therefore, seeks to preserve a nation’s culture, by way of pride in national achievements, and is closely linked to patriotism, which, in some cases, includes the belief that the nation should control the country’s government and the means of production. Here’s the other one, White nationalism is an ideology that advocates a racial definition of national identity. These individuals identify and are attached to the perceived white nation. It ranges from a preference for one’s ethnic group, to feelings of superiority and forms of white supremacism, including calls for national citizenship to be reserved for white people, as in Rhodesia. Now, I’m not a political person at all, but I feel what your trying to do in that letter is totally off base. Plus how dare you all treat one of your own this way. Yes President Trump is Jewish if you treat him this way they you are treating every Jewish person everywhere. If you don’t read what I written than there is no such thing of a Tree of Life,

Thank G-d you are here- and for not welcoming Trump after this. Amen for your courage- if not now when.

More losers for Trump to defeat at the voting booth.

I read Mr. Friedman’s comments about Trump. He is truly deranged and has mental illness. Sick, sick, sick, to blame Trump for a crime he did not commit. You are no better than the people you denounce. Your group is the hate group.

Please consider whether it’s worth organizing everyone to ignore Trump if he comes tomorrow, rather than to show up and protest. I don’t even know if it’s feasible to organize everyone who wants to protest to protest this way, but I suspect he’s coming to town in order to provoke a response that he can then take on the road to rile up his base. I think it’s worth thinking about whether we want to accommodate him. If we know anything about Trump it’s that nothing can hurt him more than being completely ignored.

Leave politics out of it..

That was a powerful statement to President Trump, and I agree with you.

My thoughts are with the survivors, families and all of you in Pittsburgh. Without trying to cheapen your mourning, I understand your anger and frustration with the president. May i recommend your members and all other protesters turn your backs him with holding signs that read, approximately, ‘your hateful rhetoric caused these deaths.’ Understand if you’d rather just mourn and recover.

Please advise if you know where and when Trump is supposed to appear tomorrow and if anything is being organized for protest or pushback before or during his appearance. Many many people want to know details and I will pass along whatever you can tell me.

Your recent letter to the media (you said it was to Trump but really wanted to just have media publicity) truly shows what cowards you are. You attempt to place the blame on Trump when he had NOTHING to do with the crazed murder who committed these atrocious acts. This evil person is just that….Evil. To try and accuse Trump for instigating violence is truly hypocritical when those on the left ARE actually promoting, encouraging and committing violent acts. You try to make Nationalism into “White” nationalism. To those of us who share the idea of Nationalism, it simply means that we take care of OUR country first. We take care of OUR citizens first. We don’t want anyone to be able to enter this country illegally. We don’t want Illegal Immigrants to absorb benefits and resources that should be given to American citizens whom have lived and worked here all of their lives and actually invested into the system. The fact that you mention Islam as one of the groups that should be protected shows that you are simply fake and don’t really represent the beliefs of those you claim to represent. Those who worship in the islamic faith would as soon have you dead and kill you themselves given the opportunity.

You won’t defend yourselves, You won’t defend your faith, You won’t defend your Country. You are Cowards.

It is tragic that you would choose to politicize the murder of 11 innocent Jewish people by trying to shift blame from the Nazi, Trump hating murderer onto the President, who is clearly, unequivocally, a friend of the Jewish people. It is also terribly poor form and lacking in class. The blood is not yet dry and you capitalized on this. Shame on you. Let people grieve.

Forced socialism is a human right violation.


The D’s, socialists and leftists message of constant and continue class warfare results in ANTI SEMITISM and hate of the communities or groups who are financially better off, Jews. If you can not see the facts or hear the class warfare rhetoric and anti Israel on the left and DNC.


Obama stabbed Israel on his way out while Trump moved our embassy to Jerusalem on the way in. WAKE UP….YOU ARE PUTTING JEWISH LIVES AT RISK.

You’re not Jews. You are a bunch of self hating Anti-Semite pseudo-“Jews”, and you are not a part of us. In fact, you are among our worst enemies. We’re not worried, though. Evolution will take care of you. In a couple of generations your descendants won’t even remember their Jewish roots. We survived 2,000 years of Anti-Semitic persecutions, we’ll survive you as well.

עם הנצח לא מפחד מדרך ארוכה

You are an embarrassment to all Americans, let alone American Jews. You are the typical cowards or perhaps KAPOS of world Jewry! The sediments of your misguided nuttiness is written very eloquently in the comments previously stated.

I am running for Senate Dist 46 is SWPA. I wanted to forward an article to you about my opponent. I am incensed, especially as my wife is Jewish. I just thought you guys should know so we can do everything we can to keep this woman from getting reeleected.


https://www.gooseinthegallows.com/bartolotta-endorsement/

Congratulations on your recent eloquent open letter to Donald Trump!

SHAME ON YOU. I WISH A CURSE UPON YOUR HOUSE.

The writers of this letter are clearly ignorant of facts. President Trump is a lover, supporter and advocate of Israel and the Jewish People. He supports the state of Israel. He moved the United States Embassy in Israel to the capital city of Jerusalem. His own daughter converted to Judaism. His administration is pursuing a permanent, Middle East peace process and policy. I am so happy to hear that Rabbi Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Synagogue is open and welcome to inviting the President to his Synagogue; it is a nice step in the process of grieving and healing. The writers of this disdainful letter present no facts; they are instead mired in identity politics and the misery that is their inevitable outcome. I am ashamed that these people would try to represent the face of our beloved city of Pittsburgh. President Trump, as a gay man, you are always welcome to come to Pittsburgh. I thank you for your words, your leadership, but most of all, your support of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Please realize President Trump loves the Jewish people, he loves Israel. He moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem and his daughter and son and 3 grandchildren are devout orthodox Jews. You will never have a President more loyal, loving and caring for the Jewish people than President Trump. He has even lower the flag to half Mass at the White House and other military and government buildings. I grew up back in the Pittsburgh area and am heartbroken about this horrible crime to my Jewish friends. Please help President Trump to bring love and healing to the Jewish Community. Thank you.

I am no Trump supporter, but unless your letter embodies the sentiments of all leading voices in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, you are guilty of sowing the same kind of hatred and division that POTUS does. Want to know what would be really courageous? Convene a meeting with people who disagree with you – and then write the same letter. The letter would be stronger – and you would have people on the other side SUPPORTING your efforts to make progress. Of course, naming and shaming an enemy is a better fundraising tactic if that is your goal.

I am a 65 year old Jewish lady, and I don’t understand that your statements concerning the president and your ascribing to him the hatred demonstrated in the shooting at Tree of Life. President Trump is the best friend and ally that Israel has ever had, and obviously, the only one who moved the embassy to Jerusalem. He was the first president to have a rabbi on his inaugural prayer team, and loves his Jewish daughter and son-in-law. There happen to be large groups of African American people for Trump, which are some of the other minorities you seem to believe he is against. I do not understand the “white nationalist” label that is being attached to the president. Has has worked to regain basic morality in the United States, which we as Jews should appreciate, and also to regain respect for citizens of faith, which we as Jews should likewise appreciate. I am thankful that the Rabbi at Tree of Life has said that of course, the president is welcome to visit at any time. The Jewish people have always been respectful, gracious, and hospitable. If the president does visit Pittsburgh, I hope that you will be such a representative of our Jewish people. We are praying daily for the families of those killed or injured, and for all at Tree of Life and all Jews in Pittsburgh, that Hashem will comfort and heal. Shalom.

I’m stunned that you would use this occasion to further the media lies … Trump NEVER said he was a “white” nationalist … a nationalist, just as YOU claim to be, but CNN and BSNBC added the racism to smear him … your actions truly sadden me, and sully the memory of the slain .

I am not Jewish but I am a Squirrel Hill person and support you.

If you plan a protest for Trump’s visit I would like to join you if that is ok. Best wishes

Mark Bunker