Monday, October 29, 2018
Senate Adjourns In Memory Of Victims
Today, Senate President Karen Spilka and I moved that the Senate adjourn today in memory of the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as the victims of the shooting in Kentucky.
Last week, we witnessed one of the worst weeks of hate in our country’s recent history. Pipe bombs sent to prominent Americans. Two people shot in Kentucky, apparently due to the color of their skin.
Eleven lives cut short in a place of worship in Pittsburgh.
Today, we remember those of all ages whose lives were ended too soon, and those whose voices were silenced.
Among the 13 we remember today were a dentist; a grandfather buying poster board for his grandson; a physician at the forefront of HIV treatment; a couple who had been married in the same synagogue 60 years earlier; a research specialist; and a pair of inseparable brothers.
We remember the good they did in the world; the good that was left to do, and all that they represented to their loved ones and communities. The Jewish Talmud teaches us,
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Today, in the names of those who perished by hate while committing an act of faith; in the names of those who were murdered for the color of their skin, we promise to not be daunted by grief, and to continue to do justly.
We asked for a moment of silence in memory of:
Rose Mallinger, 97
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66
Cecil Rosenthal, 59
David Rosenthal, 54
Bernice Simon, 84
Sylvan Simon, 86
Daniel Stein, 71
Melvin Wax, 88
Irving Younger, 69
Joyce Fienberg, 75
Richard Gottfried, 65
Maurice Stallard, 69
And Vickie Jones, 67
May their memories be a blessing.
