Woodbridge Synagogue Remembers Pittsburgh Shooting Victims

On Sunday, people around the world paused with Pittsburgh.

They remembered the lives lost one year ago during the deadly attack at the Tree of Life synagogue.

The Jewish community in Connecticut is still on high alert, especially after a recent threat to a Bridgeport synagogue.

There were extra police on watch as special events were underway at the community building of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven in Woodbridge.

“We will keep our community safe. But we will do it in a way that does not impede us enjoying all that we have and living our lives,” said Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven CEO Judy Alperin.

Around the state, Jewish locations were on alert just days after bomb threats were made against a synagogue in Bridgeport.

Sunday is the one-year anniversary of the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.

Andy Sarkany lived for years in Pittsburgh, even visiting the Tree of Life Synagogue where the shooting took place.

“The Jewish community was always very solid, very supportive. When I heard what happened, it was really a shock,” said Sarkany, who is a member of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.

He’s also a Holocaust survivor.

“Any kind of a tragedy shakes you up. But particularly the hatred and antisemitism which is rampant today, not only in the United States but also all around the world causes all the terrible situations which are occurring,” Sarkany said.

Inside the Woodbridge center, there’s a memorial to the 11 lives lost in Pittsburgh.

There’s also a proclamation from Governor Ned Lamont calling Sunday “A day of action to combat antisemitism.”

“We come together as a community as we remember that horrific slaughter of that innocent people in Pittsburgh and we need to stand together because we say from strength to strength we cannot allow this to happen,” said Jeffrey Hoos, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven president.

In fact, one of the events was sold out with hundreds of people. A sign some say of the strength of this community.

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