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Mayor Peduto Calls On Pittsburghers To Hold Moment Of Silence As Tree Of Life Remembrance

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Mayor Bill Peduto is calling for a moment of silence and reflection across the city Tuesday morning in memory of the 11 lives lost two years ago at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

Tuesday marks two years since the horrific attack at the synagogue.

Mayor Peduto is calling for the moment of silence at 9:54 a.m., exactly two years after the shooting.

"My thoughts continue to be with everyone impacted by this senseless tragedy. May the memories of our lost community members continue to be a blessing," Mayor Peduto said in a statement.

Mayor Peduto said before planning this year's commemoration in the midst of the pandemic, the city reached out to each family who lost loved ones and the greater Jewish community.

"We're not ready to be at a point in the city where a large event would be appropriate. And certainly, we have enough politics happening around us where we don't need to politicize or try to turn it into something that it's not," said Peduto.

Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life will host a virtual commemoration ceremony later that day to honor the victims. It's set to get underway at 7 p.m.

Remembrances started virtually over the weekend.

A prayer service, hosted by a group of religious and community organizations, was streamed on Facebook.

They lit a candle for each victim – Rose Mallinger, Richard Gottfried, Melvin Wax, Joyce Fienberg, Jerry Rabinowitz, Irving Younger, Daniel Stein, Cecil and David Rosenthal, and Sylvan and Bernice Simon.

If you want to take part in this year's commemoration, click here.

"There's a lot of hate out there right now and certainly, we can each do a little bit to lessen it," said Peduto. "I'd ask everybody to reflect on how we can be better as individuals and how we can help to spread love and not spread as much hate."

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