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The Hebrew greeting "Shabbat shalom," meaning "peace," was recited many times throughout the evening, by members of all faiths present.
The local community gathered Friday night at Emanuel's Temple in Gastonia – Gaston County's only synagogue – to mourn the 11th lives in a recent shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, and a shot at death in Kentucky last week. Both shoots are being investigated as hate crimes.
Every seat was filled in the Emanuel Temple with followers of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths.
"This week-end was a time of sadness, with grief, with fear," said Charlie Brown, spiritual leader at Temple Emanuel, at congregation of about 50 members. "… But we're blessed because we have so many people of different faiths, of different beliefs, of different backgrounds coming here today with us. And for that, I'm really grateful. "
The synagogue held an abbreviated Shabbat service, as per tradition on Friday evening, followed by remarks from local faith leaders from all three Abrahamic faiths. Many are members of the Gaston Interfaith Trialogue, an organization formed almost two decades ago, and one of the three Abrahamic faiths.
"Said Richard Boyce, of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Charlotte, who said his son-in-law has related who worship at the Pittsburgh synagogue, Tree of Life. "But I, have a Christian, should not be with you, but ask for your forgiveness, for all the times we have Christians have failed."
Rafat Hamam, of the Islamic Society of Gastonia, professed that faithful Muslims, Christians and Jews "have an obligation to build a better community to solve the seed of understanding, and tolerance, and respect the Torah and the Bible and the Quran God's commands. "
"Let us stand together in unity against thoughts of anti-Semitism, racism, Islamophobia, bigotry, and any action that follows," he said.
The Rev. Lauren Sease Vanacore, of the First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, said those in attendance are responding to the call to "repair the world, one act of unity at a time."
"We are going to share the world together, we reject indifference, violence and hate," she said. "Instead, we choose to embrace the desire to understand, to be peacemakers, and to witness to God's love for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality."
Mark Epstein, a congregation member at Temple Emanuel, expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of the community at the service, calling it "like a big, warm spiritual hug." But he said much more needs to be done to help erase antisemitism .
He said that racism and anti-Semitism has emerged again, even in the wake of World War II and the Holocaust, where more than 6 million Jewish people perished in Europe. He urged people to use hateful language that "feeds the beast of anti-semitism," and to implore others to do the same.
Pittsburgh shoots and the two victims in Kentucky, and the recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish, Hebrew memorial prayer for the deceased.
Brown advocates for peace among all people and faiths.
"There is one thing that we should not disagree with, and that is hatred, the expression of hatred and acts of violence that stem from hatred," said Brown. "When we leave, let us bear witness to God's presence in our lives, and carry the message of caring, and community, and love. Shabbat shalom. "
You can reach Eric Wildstein at 704-869-1828 or Twitter.com/TheGazetteEric.
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