'How do we respond to baseless hatred? Wanton love'

Chester — Hundreds of people seeking solace gathered in Chester and Goshen on Sunday, a day after the deadliest attack on Jews in American history.
On Saturday, a gunman murdered 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, in the middle of a baby-naming ceremony.
Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, who led a special memorial and healing service at the Chabad of Orange County in Chester, have a special connection to the place where the massacre happened.
Their 16-year-old son, Duvy, is studying in Yeshivah School of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill, less than a mile away from the Tree of Life Synagogue.
"We all are all among the wounded," said Rabbi Pesach. "The bullet hit very close to home."
When he and Chana turned on their phones Saturday night, after their observance of the Shabbat, "Chana became deeply alarmed when she read the headlines," said Rabbi Pesach. "Was it the synagogue that our son prayed in? Although we are thankful our son is okay, we are in deep pain. Our son is okay — but 11 brothers and sisters were murdered. It could have been our own child. It could have been any of us.
"The bullet was aimed at any Jew any synagogue anywhere in the world. The gunman stated his intentions clear when he announced 'all Jews must die.' It just happened to been in Squirrel Hill, but it could have been anywhere. As such, it’s an attack not just at one synagogue, but all synagogues; not on one Jew, or one type of Jew, but all Jews."
The service, which was somber but uplifting, was attended by members of the community from throughout the county. Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus and Town of Blooming Grove Police Chief Carl Schupp also shared words of support, encouragement, and hope. Several deputy sheriff cars were stationed outside.
The vigil began with lighting a candle for each victim. Rabbi Pesach and Chana led several prayers, and Gabbai Ira Kanis led a prayer of healing for those who were wounded, including several law enforcement officers. Chabad board member Siggy Toback read a statement issued by Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters.
“It’s hard to fathom how a community celebrating Shabbat, a family celebrating the happy occasion of a bris, can end in such horror," said Rabbi Pesach. "It’s hard to fathom how a 97 woman who survived the Holocaust was gunned down, in the United States, in a synagogue in 2018.
"But clearly this evil exists. Anti-Semitism exists."
He and Chana mapped the way forward.
"How, we ask, do we respond to such darkness? What is the remedy to such senseless hatred? What can we possibly do to counter such evil?
"By adding light. We started the vigil by lighting candles. Why candles? Why are candles so prominent in Jewish tradition? Because it speaks of the Jewish approach to darkness....
"If we respond by being afraid to come to synagogue, then terror wins. We must continue to be proud and increase our communal bonds. We must continue – or even add – to our participation....
"Bullets hurt. But we must be stronger than the bullet.
"No doubt, there are other steps that we need to take and discuss. We will be consulting with local law enforcement about our own security protocols and increasing security.
"But, at the same time, we also must focus on increasing in light, kindness and goodness."
Chana added: "How do we respond to baseless hatred? Wanton love."
She made the following suggestions:
"Increase in unity. The attacker harbored senseless hatred toward the Jewish people. We must increase our love toward each and every one of them. We are all one family!...
"Show Jewish pride. Especially now — let's affix mezuzahs on our doorposts; wear our kippahs proudly. We must show that we are proud of our Jewish identity!
"Add a mitzvah in memory of the victims. Whether wrapping tefillin, lighting Shabbat candles or another mitzvah, let’s each add one more act to our routine and dedicate it to the memory of those ruthlessly killed.
"Come to synagogue. We must continue to walk to our synagogues proudly."
She said, "We are here for you. If there is any way we can be of assistance during this difficult time, please do not hesitate to get in touch."
She said to call 845-782-2770, email rabbi@ChabadOrange.com, or visit ChabadOrange.com.
The service concluded with the recitation of the Kaddish – Memorial Prayer, which conclude with the words, “Oseh Shalom” — extolling the virtue of peace. The crowed locked arms together and sang those words in unison, and also sang the song “Am Yisrael Chai” — the Jewish nation is alive.
'Let's make it happen'Rabbi Meir Borenstein of Chabad of Orange County organized a rally on the steps of Orange County Government Center in Goshen, where many moving words were spoken and tears shed as more than 300 local residents looked to one another for comfort and hope. Many elected officials came to offer their support and express the need for greater education and tolerance in Orange County.
Rabbi Borenstein thanked on behalf of the local Jewish community all those who came out to support the fight against anti-Semitism.
He told a story about a student at the Chabad Hebrew School who walked home wearing his kippah (Jewish cap). A car pulled up beside him. The driver threatened his life with terrible words of hate, including, "The Nazis should have finished the job."
"This is insanity," said Rabbi Borenstein. "We must all take immediate action to educate our friends, family, and neighbors, and to never tolerate hate and, more importantly, if you see hatred call it out."
He spoke of the work ahead.
"As a leading Jewish organization in Orange County we take upon ourselves not to stop or slow down," he said. "Rather, we will continue to do more and more good deeds and programs for the community to push away the darkness."
We spoke of the responsibility we all have to educate our neighbors.
"Let's make it happen," he said. "If you weren’t able to make it join the mitzvah — a good pledge that we will send to Pittsburgh on behalf of our county. Take a pic of the good deed card and text it to me (845-664-5141). Make the world a better place! Join Chabad for a class, mitzvah, or any upcoming program and be a partner in helping make our county a place of love and goodness. We have so far gotten back so many cards. Let's keep the pledge cards coming, as we will be sending them all to the synagogue in Pittsburgh to send them comfort."
He thanked the following officials for their support: county Executive Neuhaus and his staff, county legislators, District Attorney David Hoovler, Sheriff Carol DuBois and his department, U.S. Rep. Patrick Maloney, New York State Assembly members James Skoufis and Karl Brabenec, the Village of Goshen Police Department, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, all local officials and all candidates running for office, and the Chabad's volunteers.
"But the main thank you goes out to all of us, the residents here that made an effort to unify and show support," Rabbi Borenstein said.
This Friday night at 7 p.m., Chabad will host a special service in memory of those killed in Pittsburgh. Join Chabad at 12 North Church St. in Goshen.