MINNEAPOLIS -- Surrounded by an estimated 1,500 people inside Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Senior Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said, "May we find our voices to stop this nonsense and stop hate."
Sunday afternoon, the Twin Cities Jewish community hosted a service at Temple Israel in solidarity with the Pittsburgh Jewish community. A gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Six others were wounded, including four police officers.
As people arrived for the solidarity service, Minneapolis police squad cars could be seen outside and security checks took place as people entered the synagogue. Rabbi Zimmerman said they always allocate resources for visible and non-visible security measures but, in light of the attack in Pittsburgh, there was increased security.
"We can build security all day but that doesn't stop or inoculate us from the hate and that's what we have to work on as a systemic issue," Rabbi Zimmerman said.
The service, which was supposed to start at 3 p.m., ran late because there was a line out the door. Rabbi Zimmerman said there were "not enough seats to hold the love."
"I'm glad they're having this service today because I really do need to be with my community right now," said Morgan MacBain.
Rick Linsk of St. Paul added, "You're in a time like this where it's madness, it's chaos and what can you do except be with people, to comfort other people, to get comfort yourself and to show people that we're here for each other. That's what we need to do."
The service started with two minutes of silence followed by blowing the shofar.
"We gather because we believe a tree of life may grow where bullets cut down lives," said Rabbi Aaron Weininger with the Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka.
Rachel Stock Spilker now lives in Mendota Heights but she grew up in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. She once taught Hebrew school at the Tree of LIfe synagogue.
"I was shocked... seeing my neighborhood on the news, the international news, for this is beyond shocking," she said.
Spilker's sister lives two blocks away from the Tree of Life synagogue. No one in her family was hurt.
"I think when bad things happen, we need to be together. And to me, there's no better place to have been today than a synagogue," Spilker said.
Leaders representing all different faiths came together to show their support. There were also Minnesota politicians in attendance from both sides of the aisle.
"It's a moment where we have to remember that we're all together... that Minnesota and America has always stood on this foundation of freedom of religion. That people are going to worship in different ways, they're going to have different political views... we have to understand that's the foundation of America," U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said.
Rabbi Zimmerman said she had chills seeing everyone who came out for the service and added, "The power of the numbers of people who wanted to show up and support the Jewish community is something that is a precious and priceless gift."
Sunday's service was sponsored by the Minnesota Rabbinical Association, Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, St. Paul Jewish Federation and the Minnesota Cantor's Association.
Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul will hold an interfaith vigil for Tree of Life synagogue on Monday at 6 p.m.