In a statement on Friday, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh announced the formation of a New Zealand Islamophobic Attack Emergency Relief Fund, with people able to donate online to “show New Zealand and the world how we are all stronger together.”
Meryl Ainsman, chair of the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said: “Unfortunately we are all too familiar with the devastating effect a mass shooting has on a faith community,”
“We are filled with grief over this senseless act of hate. May those who were injured heal quickly and fully, and may the memories of the victims forever be a blessing.”
Six hours after the fund opened, more than $20,000 had been raised via hundreds of donors. By Sunday, thousands of donors were said to have given money, and traffic to the Jewish Federation’s website was so high that it crashed on a number of occasions.
Brian Schreiber, president of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Pittsburgh, described how “the Muslim community was here for us in our time of need.
“Our responsibility is to be there right back, in their time of need, to support them so they don’t feel alone in that journey.”
Josh Sayles, director of the Community Relations Council of the Pittsburgh Federation, told Haaretz that ““In the wake of the Tree of Life shooting, the Muslim community banded together and raised over $240,000 for us.
“I hoped against hope that, four and a half months after October 27, we would never have to step up in the same way for the Muslim community or any community, anywhere, as a result of a mass shooting. But given what they did for us, we did not have to think twice.”
