A Family's Shame

Everyone has to have heard about the terrible shooting at a Synagogue here in Poway, CA.  A 19-year old who is obviously sick and deranged opened fire on a congregation on Passover, killing 1 and injuring 3 before fleeing and being arrested later.  To say that this has shaken the community is a very large understatement.  We just don't have kind of crap happening here.  But as is always the case, there are other aspects of the crime that don't get a lot of attention.

It turns out that this kid was schooled right here in North San Diego County, goes to college here, and that there were supposedly no outward signs of his hate.  He comes from a normal family in a normal subdivision with normal ups and downs.  There was literally nothing to indicate that he had turned to hate and that hate had manifested itself as hatred of the Jews.  Like I said, by all outward appearances this family is just like yours and mine.

So imagine this happens to you on a Saturday.  Could you gather yourself to release this statement two days later? Obviously, their hearts are broken, they are ashamed, and they will never be the same.  I have no sympathy for this kid who committed such a terrible crime, but you have to feel for these parents.  Tradgedy has struck.  And it has not just struck a Synogogue.  It has struck this community.  And it has descended on this family.  My prayers are with them.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible attack on the Chabad of Poway synagogue.

"But our sadness pales in comparison to the grief and anguish our son has caused for so many innocent people. He has killed and injured the faithful who were gathered in a sacred place on a sacred day. To our great shame, he is now part of the history of evil that has been perpetrated on Jewish people for centuries.

"Our son's actions were informed by people we do not know, and ideas we do not hold. Like our other five children, he was raised in a family, a faith and a community that all rejected hate and taught that love must be the motive for everything we do.

"How our son was attracted to such darkness is a terrifying mystery to us, though we are confident that law enforcement will uncover many details of the path that he took to this evil and despicable act. To that end, our family is cooperating with investigators. We ask only that the media and the public respect our privacy and allow the criminal justice system to work.

"Our heavy hearts will forever go out to the victims and survivors. Our thanks go to the first responders who prevented even greater loss of life and the well-wishers who have supported us. And we pray for peace."