Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: Funerals Begin

PITTSBURGH, PA - A long line of family, friends and community members waited to enter an Oakland synagogue on Tuesday to pay their last respects to two brothers gunned down in the bloody massacre at the nearby Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday. The funerals for Cecil, 59, and David Rosenthal, 54, were the first funerals after that deadly attack.

Two hearses and police vehicles were parked outside of the Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. The funerals began at noon.

The brothers seldom missed services at Tree of Life. From the nearby ACHIEVA group home where they lived with others with intellectual disabilities, they would make their way to the synagogue each Saturday.

"Cecil's laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit," Chris Schopf, ACHIEVA vice president of residential supports, said on Sunday shortly after the pair was identified as among the dead by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. "Together, they looked out for one another. They were inseparable. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around."

Their funerals were standing-room only, and attendees included Jews and non-Jews alike, city officials, and many members of the Pittsburgh Steelers' organization, as the brothers's sister used to work for the team, reports The New York Times.

>>> Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack: Jewish Community Rallies For Healing

Also on Tuesday, the funeral for Jerry Rabinowitz was held at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

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Other funeral arrangements for the victims:

• Irving Younger

Visitation: Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m. Rodef Shalom.
Funeral: Cot. 31, 1 p.m., Rodef Shalom.

• Joyce Fienberg

No visitation
Funeral: Oct. 31, 10 a.m. Beth Shalom Synagogue, Squirrel Hill

• Sylvan Simon, Bernice Simon

Visitation: Nov. 1, 11 a.m., Ralph Schugar Chapel, Shadyside
Funeral: Nov. 1, 12 p.m, Ralph Schugar Chapel:

• Melvin Wax

Visitation: Oct. 31, 11 a.m. Ralph Schugar Chapel
Funeral: Oct. 31, 1 p.m., Ralph Schugar Chapel

• Rose Mallinger

Visitation: Nov. 2, 11 a.m. Rodef Shalom
Funeral: Nov. 2, 1 p.m., Rodef Shalom

• Richard Gottfried

Visitation: Nov. 2, 2 p.m., Ralph Schugar Chapel
Funeral: Nov. 2, 4 p.m., Ralph Schugar Chapel

• Sylvan Simon, Bernice Simon

Visitation: Nov. 1, 11 a.m., Ralph Schugar Chapel
Funeral: Nov. 1, 12 p.m, Ralph Schugar Chapel

• Daniel Stein

Services will be private.

Photo: Eric Heyl/Patch staff.

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