Watch CBS News

Funeral Services Held For 3 Victims Of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Wednesday was another day of mourning for victims of Saturday's synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill.

Funeral services for Joyce Fienberg, Irving Younger and Melvin Wax were held.

These three lives, all taken far too soon and were all believed to have been targeted because of their faith.

"I think anti-Semitism is a persistent problem for a very long time. Often called oldest hatred. I don't know if we can ever stop it, but we can take steps to reduce it dramatically," said CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League Jonathan Greenblatt.

"We will get through this as a city, country and as they say, hate is everywhere. It happened in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood," said Squirrel Hill resident Steve Gelernter.

Joyce Fienberg

joyce fienberg
Joyce Fienberg (Photo Credit: CBC.ca)

Joyce Fienberg's casket was carried up the stairs and into the Beth Shalom Congregation for funeral services.  Not long after, groups of people started to filter in. Friends, family and people that didn't even know the beloved Pitt research specialist were there to pay their respects.

Fienberg also had a close connection to Carnegie Mellon University. Her husband was the late CMU professor Steve Fienberg.

Rabbi Daniel Yolkut said he met the 75-year-old a couple of times and says the shooting hits really close to home.

"It happened to be that the murderer walked into one of the synagogues in Squirrel Hill, but it just could have been easily one of us," said Rabbi Yolkut.

RELATED LINKS:

Irving Younger

irving younger
Irving Younger (Photo Provided)

Meanwhile, visitation for 69-year-old Irving Younger began at 11:30 a.m. at the Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. A funeral service was then held in the afternoon.

irving-younger-funeral
(Photo Credit: KDKA Photojournalist Aaron Sledge)

Younger lived alone on Mt. Washington.

Neighbors remember him as a thoughtful, helpful and friendly man.

Friends say he also adored his two grandchildren and would often share pictures and stories about what they were doing.

Melvin Wax

melvin wax
Melvin Wax (Photo Credit: Washington Post)

Visitation and services were also held for Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill, at the Ralph Schugar Chapel in Shadyside.

Wax was an accountant who was deeply involved in the Tree of Life Synagogue.

In fact, he was leading Shabbat services in the basement on Saturday.

Those who knew him say he was quiet, but had an incredible sense of humor.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.