‘Hate can be unlearned.’ Hundreds gather for vigil in wake of shooting rampage

Prayers and songs of unity were raised in Lexington Wednesday night to express solidarity in the wake of Saturday’s shooting rampage at a Pittsburgh area synagogue.

“We all know hate is learned but it can be unlearned,” Fayette County Superintendent Manny Caulk told the crowd. “But you know what else can be learned? Love.”

The response to Lexington’s Wednesday night vigil was so great that it was moved from Temple Adath Israel to the Fayette County Public Schools Central Office auditorium. The turnout nearly filled the 725-seat hall.

The crowd applauded when Mayor Jim Gray said: “Sadly, I ask where are our leaders who should be trying to unite us? Leadership should start at the top.”

Sitting in the audience were U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and Amy McGrath, opponents in the race for the Sixth District congressional seat. They stood to be recognized but did not speak.

Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weather also called for unity and love.

“We must focus on the path of unity,” Weathers said. “Love is the light for out path to unity. ...We’ve got to love each other.”

Thirteen candles were lit during the service to remember not only the 11 shot and killed at Tree of LIfe synagogue in Pittsburgh but also the two African-Americans shot and killed at a Kroger a week ago in Jefferson County. A shofar or ram’s horn was blown before the name of each victim was read.

A gunmen entered the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday morning yelling “All Jews must die!” as he opened fire. Eleven people were killed and six were wounded, including four police officers.

The suspect, Robert Bowers, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on 44 counts. Funerals for the victims began Tuesday and continue through the rest of the week.

Before the Lexington vigil, Raphael Finkel, a member of Ohavay Zion Synagogue in Lexington, said he was shocked by the shootings in Pennsylvania.

“One believes it can’t happen here but that’s pretty close to home,” said Finkel, a University of Kentucky computer science professor. “It’s a continuation of things that are happening more and more frequently in the states and around the world because of the increased level of xenophobia and attacks on immigrants and attacks on anyone who isn’t exactly like you..”

The Anti-Defamation League has reported an increase across the country in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment. Total U.S. incidents rose from 942 in 2015 to 1,986 in 2017, the ADL reported.

In Kentucky, there was one incident reported in 2015, none in 2016 and five in 2017.

In January, a vandal destroyed the sign in front of the Jewish Student Center near the University of Kentucky campus.

This story was originally published October 31, 2018 at 9:06 PM.