The Jewish Council for Public Affairs is shocked and saddened by the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

“We are very close to the Pittsburgh Jewish community, and are horrified by this atrocity,” stated David Bernstein, President and CEO. “We express our profound condolences to the families of those killed, and our wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded. We commend law enforcement for their reported quick and decisive response, and are disheartened that police officers were shot in the line of duty.”

The assault is a direct attack on Judaism and America’s Jews. It represents the single most violent incident against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States. This anti-Semitic hate crime is a sad reminder of our continued need to fight hate in every quarter and with every means.