People from all different faiths, from all over Northern Virginia, gathered in the Temple Rodef Shalom Synagogue on a Tuesday night. They attended in solidarity for the eleven people killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh during a Shabbat service, as well as the two African American men shot while shopping at a Krogers in Kentucky.

“These crimes are crimes against the America we love. These are attacks on us all,” Senior Rabbi Amy Schwartzman said

However, instead of growing fearful from the attacks, the service stressed the importance of joining as a community to combat hate.

“Let us begin by pushing back against the hatred, the intolerance, and the isolation that brought about the murder of these innocent souls. Let us strengthen our community by reaching out to one another as we do in this congregation on every Shabbat every Sabbath,” Schwartzman said at the beginning of the service, calling for everyone to introduce themselves to their neighbors.

Schwartzman continued on to give an example of two important Jewish figures – Abraham and Sarah – and explain how their tent had doors on all four sides and was open to all types of people. She showed that this is the example the Jewish community should follow in the wake of the Pittsburgh attack.

“Many people feel fear and anger, anxiety and outrage, and some want to close those doors, to hunker down and to huddle close to their own. While Jews and so many others need to be together now, we will not close our doors,” Schwartzman said. “We will not let the most egregious attack on the American Jewish community since our history on this land keep us from fulfilling our mandate from our ancestors, Abraham and Sarah, a mandate to reach out, to build community, to welcome the stranger, to love our neighbors, and most of all to stand together.”

The community did indeed come together; around two or three thousand people gathered that evening, including many influential leaders in the Jewish community, senators, and congressmen.

“[The service] was all throughout the synagogue because the people couldn’t all fit in one room,” said Schwartzman’s daughter, junior Eliana Moss.

Besides sermons from Schwartzman and the other Rabbis, there was traditional Jewish music as well as a candle lighting ceremony for the victims.

“Although it was a sad event, it was a very hopeful and passionate-filled event as well, so the tone was very welcoming. And being in the diverse community with everyone supporting each other is what provided that sense of love and hope, and that loving tone,” Moss said.

The service ended on this tone of togetherness and hopefulness.

“We are united. We are united by our commitment to be a community of love, and tolerance, and respect. To raise up what God has given us and empowered us to use and to make the world a better place,” Schwarzman said in her final statements.