web1_121560314-d65c90dd10654675a8826ae3f6a0f167.jpg

Trump: End birthright citizenship for some US-born babies

web1_BowersRendering.cmyk_.jpg

Alleged synagogue shooter in court as Trump plans visit

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Sitting, standing and crowded into corners, legions of silent heads softly began to recite the words of the 23rd Psalm.</p><p>&#8220;The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,&#8221; they began in unison, filling the Jewish Community Center of the Wyoming Valley with the sound of communal prayer Monday night.</p><p>&#8220;Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,&#8221; they continued.</p><p>An estimated 400 people filled the center&#8217;s South River Street hall &#8212; with more spilling out into the lobby and hallways &#8212; to remember the 11 people who perished Saturday when police say <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/722968/ap-sources-at-least-10-dead-in-pittsburgh-synagogue-attack" target="_blank">a lone gunman opened fire inside a Pittsburgh </a><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/722968/ap-sources-at-least-10-dead-in-pittsburgh-synagogue-attack" target="_blank">synagogue</a>.</p><p>The dead were Jews, gathered on the Sabbath to practice their faith. Those who came to the JCC on Monday included Jews, Christians, Muslims, lawmakers, law enforcement &#8212; men, women and children, young and old, who professed their sorrow as well as their solidarity.</p><p>&#8220;You all are here tonight because we all need comfort,&#8221; Rabbi David Kaplan, of Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Congregation Ohav Zedek, told the group. &#8220;We are all mourners.&#8221;</p><p>Speaker after speaker, who included city, county and state officials and other faith leaders, emphasized themes of healing, tolerance and compassion. They included Wilkes-Barre City Administrator Ted Wampole, Luzerne County Councilwoman Sheila Saidman, state senators John Yudichak and Lisa Baker, and state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski.</p><p>Dr. Ibrahim Almeky, president of the Islamic Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, was there. So was Catholic Monsignor Vince Grimalia, Rev. Dr. Robert Zanicky of the First Presbyterian Church and other Jewish faith leaders.</p><p>&#8220;What happened breaks every human heart,&#8221; Almeky said. &#8220;Terror has no religion, no faith.&#8221;</p><p>Indeed, members of Pittsburgh&#8217;s Muslim community have been leaders in fundraising for the victims&#8217; families.</p><p>Rabbi Larry Kaplan of Temple Israel &#8212; no relation to David &#8212; underscored a bittersweet irony for the audience.</p><p>&#8220;He was convinced that Jews &#8212; all Jews &#8212; are the curse, and he was the cure,&#8221; Kaplan said of <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/723225/alleged-synagogue-shooter-in-court-as-trump-plans-visit" target="_blank">alleged shooter Robert </a><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/723225/alleged-synagogue-shooter-in-court-as-trump-plans-visit" target="_blank">Bowers</a>.</p><p>But Bowers, who was himself shot by police, was treated at Pittsburgh&#8217;s Allegheny General Hospital. There, Kaplan said, Bowers was treated by Jewish medical staff in a hospital whose president is not only Jewish but a member of the congregation that Bowers is accused of attacking.</p><p>Many public events begin with the national anthem. This one opened with a prayer for the dead, and <a href="https://youtu.be/OXH7FjkDmvU" target="_blank">closed with those same voices belting out &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner,&#8221; some wiping away </a><a href="https://youtu.be/OXH7FjkDmvU" target="_blank">tears</a>.</p><p>Why? To emphasize, Kaplan said, that America stands united.</p><p>He also expressed thanks to those who have embraced the Jewish community in this dark hour.</p><p>&#8220;The outpouring of support in our own community is intense,&#8221; Kaplan said. &#8220;Just look around.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Attendees light candles before entering the Jewish Community Center auditorium in Wilkes-Barre on Monday night for a vigil to remember the shooting victims at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Attendees light candles before entering the Jewish Community Center auditorium in Wilkes-Barre on Monday night for a vigil to remember the shooting victims at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cindy Levinson and Liz Gronski light candles in memory of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cindy Levinson and Liz Gronski light candles in memory of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Attendees at the Jewish Community Alliance light candles before entering th auditorium for a vigil to remember the shooting victims at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil2-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Attendees at the Jewish Community Alliance light candles before entering th auditorium for a vigil to remember the shooting victims at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rabbi Tzvi Pearlman reads a psalm during the vigil. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Rabbi Tzvi Pearlman reads a psalm during the vigil. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Community members packed the Jewish Community Center and listened from the windows outside while a vigil for the shooting victims of Pittsburgh happened inside Monday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil6-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Community members packed the Jewish Community Center and listened from the windows outside while a vigil for the shooting victims of Pittsburgh happened inside Monday night. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rabbi David Kaplan speaks to a packed auditorium at the Jewish Community Alliance about the shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday.	 </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil7-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Rabbi David Kaplan speaks to a packed auditorium at the Jewish Community Alliance about the shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday.	 </caption5><photoCredit5>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Community members packed the Jewish Community Center and listened from the windows outside while a vigil for the shooting victims of Pittsburgh happened inside Monday night. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil5-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Community members packed the Jewish Community Center and listened from the windows outside while a vigil for the shooting victims of Pittsburgh happened inside Monday night. </caption6><photoCredit6>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rabbi David Kaplan speaks to a packed auditorium at the Jewish Community Center about the shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL103018Vigil3-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>Rabbi David Kaplan speaks to a packed auditorium at the Jewish Community Center about the shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday. </caption7><photoCredit7>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Roger DuPuis</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Hundreds pack JCC in Wilkes-Barre for shooting vigil