A Pittsburgh rabbi has urged America’s political leaders to “stop the words of hate” at a vigil to mourn the deaths of 11 congregants who were shot at the city’s Tree of Life synagogue.

Thousands gathered at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall on Sunday, which is just two miles from the scene of the shooting, with about 1,500 others listening to Sunday’s service outside.

The rabbis of the three congregations based in the Tree of Life shul hugged on stage at the conclusion of the vigil.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told mourners: “I want to address for a moment some of our political leaders who were here. Ladies and gentlemen, it has to start with you as our leaders.

“Stop the words of hate. If it comes from you, Americans will listen. You don’t have to follow the prone to evil path.

“We can also be prone to good. If you decide to take that path, it starts with speech. Words of hate are unwelcome in Pittsburgh.”

Eight men and three women died when a man stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday morning and opened fire on the congregation, who were in the middle of a baby-naming ceremony.

The victims ranged in ages between 54 and 97, and included a husband and wife and two brothers. Bill Peduto, the city’s mayor, called “the darkest day of Pittsburgh’s history”.

Robert Bowers, of Baldwin, Pennsylvania, has been charged with 29 federal crimes, including 11 counts of murdering victims exercising their religious beliefs.