Standing at the foot of the iconic LOVE statue on campus, hundreds gathered in a ceremony of unity and grief following the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Penn President Amy Gutmann, Rabbi Josh Bolton, the Shabbatones a cappella group, and members of Penn Hillel each spoke to the pain that the Penn community feels. But amidst the grief, there was hope. The power of community speaks volumes, from Penn to Pittsburgh to everyone facing adversity in challenging times—the message brought forth is that no one is alone. Quoting the Mourner’s Kaddish, Gutmann reminded the crowd—Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh: All of us will look out for one another.
“Do we give in to fear, to hatred, to despair, to the seeming chasms of our differences?” Gutmann asked. “Or do we stand up, not just today but every day, and look out for one another? We will do that, and there will always be a way forward, a hope undimmed, a resolve reaffirmed.”
