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PRINTER'S NO. 1354
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
214
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, SOLOMON, TURZAI, STEPHENS, LONGIETTI,
ULLMAN, STURLA, McCLINTON, MILLARD, FREEMAN, SANCHEZ,
DONATUCCI, SCHLOSSBERG, LEE, DiGIROLAMO, KORTZ, DeLUCA,
MARSHALL, MURT, COMITTA, KRUEGER, HILL-EVANS, FIEDLER, ZABEL,
O'MARA, KINSEY, T. DAVIS, INNAMORATO, ROTHMAN, YOUNGBLOOD,
RAVENSTAHL, SAMUELSON, CALTAGIRONE, WARREN, A. DAVIS,
SAINATO, READSHAW, SAPPEY, NEILSON, ISAACSON, HOWARD,
MULLINS, MARKOSEK, D. MILLER, HARRIS, MIZGORSKI, McCARTER,
DUNBAR, SCHLEGEL CULVER, KULIK, SHUSTERMAN, PASHINSKI, RAPP,
SCHWEYER, EVERETT, DERMODY, CAUSER, KIRKLAND, GOODMAN,
TOEPEL, STRUZZI, SAYLOR, BULLOCK, KLUNK, THOMAS, PICKETT,
JOHNSON-HARRELL, DRISCOLL, BRADFORD, FEE, BURNS, HAHN, ROZZI,
KENYATTA, SNYDER, MATZIE, KAUFER, MADDEN, DeLISSIO, RADER,
LAWRENCE, BIZZARRO, FLYNN, BARRAR, RABB, ROEBUCK, KIM,
CARROLL, VITALI, FRITZ, BOYLE, HANBIDGE, BOBACK, HARKINS,
CIRESI, CONKLIN, HELM, JONES, CRUZ, WEBSTER, DALEY, McNEILL,
KOSIEROWSKI, SCHMITT, DAVIDSON, SIMS, DEASY, MULLERY, TOOHIL,
ORTITAY, BRIGGS, GAINEY, B. MILLER, DAWKINS, OBERLANDER,
NELSON, BURGOS, MALAGARI, OWLETT, O'NEAL, HOHENSTEIN, RIGBY,
FITZGERALD, ECKER, MERSKI, EMRICK, MEHAFFIE, WHEATLEY,
DELLOSO, GAYDOS, MACKENZIE, COOK AND DELOZIER, APRIL 10, 2019
INTRODUCED, APRIL 10, 2019
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Designating April 10, 2019, as "Stronger Than Hate Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On October 27, 2018, tragedy struck Pittsburgh's
Squirrel Hill neighborhood, which is home to a vibrant, diverse
and loving Jewish community; and
WHEREAS, Several different Jewish houses of worship,
including Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Reform
have long been a part of the fabric of that community; and
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WHEREAS, The Tree of Life synagogue building is home to three
congregations, Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha, New Light and Dor
Hadash, each with its own distinct voice and faithful community
of thinkers and worshipers; and
WHEREAS, The coexistence of disparate congregations in the
Tree of Life building offered a spiritual place for a diverse
population of Jews living in Squirrel Hill and Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, With the exception of New York City, Pittsburgh is
the last Jewish community in the United States in which the
majority of its members still reside within the city, largely
because of the still-flourishing cultural and religious life of
the Squirrel Hill neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, As the popularity of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood
has grown, it has become a community that enjoys ethnic and
religious diversity, both holding onto its Jewish identity and
history and celebrating the gifts that new populations bring;
and
WHEREAS, While the General Assembly must remember in sorrow
the tragedy of the loss of 11 souls, we should also celebrate
their lives, their contributions to their community and the
family and friends who loved them; and
WHEREAS, Joyce Fienberg, who was a retired researcher at the
University of Pittsburgh and a community volunteer, was known
for her willingness to pitch in and help anywhere that she saw a
need; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Richard Gottfried was known for his love of
golf, reading, running and fine wine, as well as providing free
dental care to refugees and immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Rose Mallinger, known as "Bubbie" by all of her
relatives, who worshiped at the Tree of Life Synagogue for more
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than 60 years, was 97 years old and amazed all who encountered
her with her energy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz was known for his bowties, his
laugh and for being a skilled and compassionate doctor whose
practice was a safe place for HIV patients in the early years of
the disease; and
WHEREAS, Cecil Rosenthal, described as the "honorary mayor of
Squirrel Hill," was known for his concern for others and his
love of swimming; and
WHEREAS, David Rosenthal was known for his strong work ethic
and his love of anything related to the police or fire
department, and while the Rosenthal brothers lived with
intellectual disabilities, that did not stop them from having
rich, full lives that brought joy to all who encountered them;
and
WHEREAS, Bernice Simon, a former nurse, died along side the
love of her life, husband, Sylvan Simon, a veteran and a retired
accountant, and the two of them were known for their sweet,
funny banter with one another and their love of the symphony;
and
WHEREAS, Dan Stein, who was a salesman for a plumbing supply
company, a driver for a funeral home and a former substitute
teacher, was known for being quick to help others, unpretentious
and a great fundraiser for his congregation; and
WHEREAS, Melvin "Mel" Wax was an accountant who, after
retirement, made use of his unique abilities with numbers to
track Pittsburgh Pirates statistics and was known for his quick,
silly humor and his commitment to attending services every
single week; and
WHEREAS, Irving "Irv" Younger, who owned a realty company and
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was a former high school baseball coach, was known for his
delight at becoming a grandfather and his willingness to help a
stranger; and
WHEREAS, On the morning of October 27, 2018, the victims
mentioned above and their fellow worshipers were beginning
services or setting up for their activities at the Tree of
Life*Or L'Simcha synagogue building; and
WHEREAS, A gunman entered these congregations and killed 11
residents of this Commonwealth in the largest deadly act of
anti-Semitism in United States history; and
WHEREAS, Daniel Leger and Andrea Wedner each suffered gunshot
wounds and survived; and
WHEREAS, Due to the courageous response by law enforcement,
first responders and local medical professionals, lives were
saved; and
WHEREAS, Officers Anthony Burke, Timothy Matson, Daniel Mead,
Tyler Pashel, John Persin and Michael Smidga were injured as
they attempted to stop the shooter; and
WHEREAS, The Jewish Community Center immediately made itself
the central contact point for families of victims and others
affected by the attack, creating a comfortable place for
devastated community members to access information and services
amidst the confusion; and
WHEREAS, Jewish Family and Community Services marshaled
mental health resources to provide the entire community with
counseling services, making therapists available for individuals
and dispatching mental health professionals to schools, medical
facilities, senior centers and more; and
WHEREAS, Just hours after the attack, thousands of
Pennsylvanians converged on the streets of Squirrel Hill and
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individuals and groups across the world responded to this
tragedy to pray, mourn, demonstrate and support those in need;
and
WHEREAS, The American Jewish Committee responded to the
attack by asking Jews and non-Jews to "Show up for Shabbat," and
synagogues throughout the world welcomed in strangers of all
faiths to share their heartbreak and show solidarity against
anti-Semitism; and
WHEREAS, The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, the broader Muslim
community and so many diverse communities throughout the region
reached out with compassion and wholehearted support in a way
that showed the world that acts of violence will only serve to
further unite faithful people across religions and traditions;
and
WHEREAS, In the painful aftermath of the attack, the singular
phrase that arose from the heartbroken city of Pittsburgh became
"Stronger Than Hate"; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly thanks the first responders,
rabbis, staff, lay leadership and hundreds of members of these
synagogues who helped their family and friends; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly thanks the doctors, nurses and
countless medical professionals who treated the injured; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly thanks the rabbis and
volunteers of the two Chevrah Kadisha, or burial societies, that
sanctified the dead; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly thanks the Jewish Federation of
Greater Pittsburgh, Jewish Community Center of Greater
Pittsburgh and Jewish Family and Community Services of
Pittsburgh and the countless volunteers and donors of every
faith and background in Squirrel Hill and around the world;
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therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly designate April 10, 2019,
as "Stronger Than Hate Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly honor the 11
Pennsylvanians who lost their lives and made significant
contributions to their communities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly recognize the wounded,
the survivors and the family and friends who have personally and
intensely felt the senseless tragedy of these few minutes of
mass violence; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly stand against the violent
hatred shown toward fellow Pennsylvanians and others on the
basis of religion or targeted at those who seek to pray
peacefully in the house of worship of their choice; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the congregations of Tree of Life*Or L'Simcha, New Light and Dor
Hadash and the families of Joyce Fienberg, Dr. Richard
Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil and David
Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax and
Irving Younger.
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