On Saturday, a gunman stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue, killing 11 people in what the ADL called the deadliest attack ever on Jews in the United States.
The horrific, hate-filled minutes were a raw manifestation of anger, division and anti-Semitism.
But the response has been the opposite as faiths and cultures came together in grief and solidarity.
Crowdfunding campaign “Muslims Unite for Pittsburgh Synagogue” has raised more than $200,000 to help the shooting victims.
?“We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action,” the donation page says.
The campaign is organized by the Muslim-American non-profits?CelebrateMercy?and?MPower Change. It’s hosted by LaunchGood, an online crowdfunding platform for the Muslim community.
The campaign page invites all faiths to contribute, and the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh will work directly with the Tree of Life Synagogue to distribute the funds to the injured victims and grieving families.
“The Pittsburgh community is our family; what happens to one of us, is felt by us all.” The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh said in a statement on this attack.
?This unifying sentiment is one of the fundraiser’s main tenets.
“Through this campaign, we hope to?send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that?there is no place for this type of hate and violence in America.” the LaunchGood page says.
An immigrant’s campaign to help
Shay Khatiri, an Iranian immigrant studying in Washington DC, was also inspired to help. He launched the Tree of Life Synagogue Victims campaign on GoFundMe on Saturday with a goal of $50,000. Khatiri has been inspired by the outpouring of support. More than 10 thousand people have donated, raising over $800,000.
“Everyone talks about how divided we are. But in such a tragic moment, Americans are always powerful and indivisible in trauma,” Khatiri said.