CARBONDALE -- A Carbondale police car was prominently parked outside of the Beth Jacob Temple Sunday evening as nearly 170 people, representing multiple faiths, packed the synagogue for a memorial service to honor the victims of Saturday's massacre in Pennsylvania.
Eleven people were killed and six others injured when a gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh Saturday morning, armed with an AR-15 and three handguns.
Organized by Sam Goldman, the leader of Beth Jacob, the Sunday service brought people together to stand against what Goldman described as "history trying to repeat itself."
"What did these 11 people do that they should be targeted, slaughtered?" Goldman asked those gathered at the service. Goldman's late wife, Lois, grew up in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
Goldman was one of three religious leaders asked to speak briefly at President Trump's political rally Saturday afternoon, more than an hour before the President arrived. He got the call from the Trump campaign Saturday afternoon.
"The President said he could use a Jewish prayer," said Goldman, who added that the prayers he offers are "not political."
Father Bob Flannery of St. Francis Xavier in Carbondale was also asked to speak at the Trump rally, and he was at Beth Jacob on Sunday night as well.
Neither Goldman or Flannery said they would have attended the rally on their own, but said they felt a sense of duty once asked. Both were told that Trump would like to meet them, but neither remained until he arrived. Both said they were uncomfortable with the "subject matter" at the rally.
"I looked up and saw the airplane (Air Force One) overhead and said to myself, 'It's time for me to go' and I left," said Goldman.
Sunday night's service opened with an impromptu quartet of Edward Benyas, Michael Barta, Sophia Han and Juan Carlos Siviero, who performed at Shryock Auditorium on the SIU campus earlier in the afternoon.
Benyas took a brief minute to introduce his fellow musicians, pointing out that Barta is the son of a Holocaust survivor.
The Rev. Bob Morwell of Carterville's First United Methodist Church was among the first to arrive for the service.
"I'm here to show solidarity with the Jewish community," he said, "to stand against this monstrous evil."
Morwell's father, Charles Morgan of Murphysboro, was among the first wave of U.S. soldiers to liberate the death camps at the end of World War II.
"That scarred him forever," he said.
Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry, also an early arrival for the service, described Saturday's attack as "just heartbreaking."
"One of the things this country was founded on was freedom of religion," he said. "There are good people of faith in all religions and they need to be protected."
Henry said the escalated incidences of violence across the nation defy common sense.
"It seems like there's a fundamental change in part of society that this (violence) is an answer to their issues," he said, calling that change "unfortunate."
According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. have surged nearly 60 percent since 2017.
A steady stream of speakers representing a number of faiths stood to speak.
"This is what happens when we don't live according to love," said Hugh Muldoon.
"We can't let language go unchallenged," said Iman Haqq.
"Love is all there is," said Acanya Jyotituishananda.
Flannery brought a message from Pope Francis.
"May the Most High welcome the dead into his peace, comfort their families and support the wounded," he read. "In reality, we are all wounded by this inhuman act of violence. May the Lord help us to extinguish the outbreaks of hatred that develop in our societies, strengthening the sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values, and the holy fear of God, who is Love and Father of all."
Flannery also read a statement issued by the U.S. Bishops' Conference.
"To our brothers and sisters of the Jewish community, we stand with you. We condemn all acts of violence and hate and yet again, call on our nation and public officials to confront the plague of gun violence. Violence as a response to political, racial, or religious differences must be confronted with all possible effort."
The Leaders Parliament of the World's Religions also sent a message for the service. Part of that statement read, "The Jewish people, alongside other peoples who faced genocide, know deeply the experience of historical rupture; today is one of those days when the memory of hate is too present once more."
Goldman spoke last, and got right into politics.
"So we come to the fundamental question of what kind of people do we want to be?" he said. "You are given an opportunity to answer that question next week by casting a Democratic ballot."
Goldman continued, urging "each and every one of you to think in your hearts what is right for you and to remember the privilege (of voting)."
He urged people to "vote with a conscience interested in helping others ... vote with love in your heart. Let us not lose the privilege we have. Remember, there are people who need us."
