Rabbi With NJ Roots Hailed As Hero After Pittsburgh Shooting

NEWARK, NJ — To Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the tragic shooting that left 11 people dead at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Oct. 27 wasn’t just an attack on the Jewish community. It was an assault on one of the United States’ most cherished institutions: freedom of religion.

"It was an attack on America," Myers told Good Morning America.

Myers grew up in Newark and lived in Roselle, graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Hebraic Studies in 1977. He served as cantor at Congregation Beth-El in Massapequa on Long Island, as well as Beth Judah in Ventnor, before taking up his post as rabbi and cantor at the Tree of Life Congregation last year, NJ.com reported.

Earlier this week, the Essex County native spoke to ABC News about the harrowing experience of watching gunfire claim the lives of his worshippers.

Although Myers courageously helped some people flee the scene, eight people were left behind in the synagogue sanctuary as the shooter, identified as Robert Bowers, moved from room to room on his deadly rampage.

Seven of those people passed away from their injuries, a fact that haunts Myers, even though many have hailed him as a hero, he told ABC.

“I just lay awake at night wondering, 'Could I have done something?'" he rhetorically asked.

Myers, who is now planning funerals for those who lost their lives in the shooting, told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos about why the tragedy that took place in Pittsburgh should worry the entire nation.

“When American citizens cannot freely and safely worship in their house of worship and celebrate the Sabbath, it concerns me because it challenges the safety and security of all Americans in any house of worship.”

It's likely that Myers would be proud of his former neighbors in Essex County, who echoed his sentiments in a series of vigils and memorials held in the wake of the shooting.

Precautionary security measures were taken across the county, which recently saw an incident involving an explosive device left in a Jewish cemetery in Newark and a bomb threat to a Jewish community center in West Orange.

In response to the shootings, the Essex County Sheriff's Office increased security efforts around Essex County's synagogues and other houses of worship. At Newark Airport, a K9 team "secured" the flag carrier of Israel, El Al Israel Airlines on Saturday, Oct. 27.

"Our hearts are broken and raging, may we be soothed by being together," wrote Elliott Tepperman and Ariann Weitzman, rabbis at Bnai Keshet in Montclair, which held an interfaith vigil of mourning and solidarity with congregants and leaders from nearby Temple Ner Tamid and Shomrei Emunah.

The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ – which hosted a "solemn observance of mourning and outrage" at Temple B'nai Abraham in Livingston on Sunday – wrote that its members are mourning those lost in the tragedy.

"There is no place in our society for this tragic and senseless violence fueled by bigotry and hate," said Federation CEO Dov Ben-Shimon. "We send our support to our sister community in Pittsburgh and stand ready to offer them assistance when needed. May the memory of those lost be a blessing for us all."

• See related article: Essex County Mourns Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, Vigils Planned

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