A message on the one-year marking of the attack by Hamas on Israel is being met with harsh criticism from members of the Pittsburgh Jewish community.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Congresswoman Summer Lee released the statement on Monday.
Read the following statement below:
Rabbi Aaron Meyer with Temple Emanuel of South Hills said he was “emotionally devastated to read the statement.”
Meyer said the leader’s message “has only been deepened by your politically-charged and morally-equivocating statement.”
“To misappropriate the language of ‘massacre,’ displacement,’ and ‘suffering’ is to further marginalize the Jewish community on a day we are grieving.
Full message here.
Accomplished businessman and developer Herky Pollock, who has “close relationships” with both Gainey and Innamorato, says the leaders, including Lee, “owe an apology over this statement.”
Pollock told Umbridge with Palestinian victims getting “top billing” in the statement and said that October 7th was a day to remember the victims in Israel.
“There are ample days to remember those Palestians who have died and pay them their due and remembrance,” part of the message from Pollock said. “October 7th is not one of those days. This is not a day for equal time and equal sorrow.”
You can read Pollock’s full message here.