“Rabbi

The announcement of the indictment came on the second day of a weeklong procession of funerals for congregants who were killed.

At the start of the vigil titled, “Standing Together,” David Minc, Jewish Community Board of Akron president, recognized the non-Jewish clergy who attended the event and invited Cantor Kathy Fromson of Temple Israel to start with a prayer. Rabbi Chaim Sasonkin also sang Psalm 23.

Cathy Baer and David Friedman, cousins of Rose Mallinger, a victim of the shooting, lit 11 candles representing the 11 victims as Minc read their names: Joyce Fienberg, Rich Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.

When Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan took the podium, he reminded those present they are not alone.

“I could not be more proud of our community tonight with your powerful expression of love here tonight,” he said. “By showing up, you made the first commitment, you are here. As we are mindful of our friends and our family and our neighbors in Pittsburgh and in this city, know that we stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, and – I think more importantly – heart to heart.” must have the courage to love beyond our differences that regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, political affiliations, the problem that plagues this nation belongs to us all. Now is the time to have the strength to love.”

The Rev. David M. Nelson, senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Akron, represented the non-Jewish community when he made his remarks and said now is a time to have strength to love another. He also expressed his dissatisfaction that one politician in “the highest office” did not have the moral courage to speak out against hate.

At the close, Hazzan Matthew Austerklein of Beth El Congregation in Akron said thank you to those who attended to show love.

“In this moment of sadness this moment of grief, look around,” he said referring to the number of Jews and non-Jews present. “What an amazing blessing, what an amazing sign of light.”

Publisher’s Note: David Minc is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors.

Search over 125 years of Cleveland Jewish history at cjn.org/archive at cjn.org/archive

“We still have a long way to go for the people of this nation to live up to its truest meaning,” he said. “Racial and religious prejudice is an ever-present evil that exist in the fabric of our nation. We