Saturday's massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh was more than an attack on the Jewish community, but was also an "attack on America," the church's Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said Monday.
"When American citizens cannot freely and safely worship in their house of worship and celebrate the Sabbath, it concerns me because it challenges the safety and security of all Americans in any house of worship and it's very troubling," Myers told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America."
"Many just see this an attack on the Jewish community. It's not."
Myers was starting services Saturday morning when the the gunman burst into the Pittsburgh temple, shouting anti-Semitic statements and shooting at worshippers. Police shot and wounded the suspect, Robert Gregory Bowers, 46, after three women and eight men ranging from in age from 54 to 97 were killed.
Reportedly, Bowers shouted at SWAT team members that he wanted all "Jews to die," reports ABC.
Myers is being hailed as a hero for saving many of his congregants, noted "CBS This Morning," but he said he's coping "badly" with the trauma and he regrets he wasn't able to save more people.
The rabbi also said he's not sure if the shooter can be forgiven, as the "wounds are too open to answer that. Can you really forgive everybody for all evil is one of those big theological questions and right now I can't answer it."
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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