Phoenix-Area Jewish Community Shaken After California Shooting

By Matt Kling
Published: Monday, April 29, 2019 - 6:56pm

Saturday’s shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, has left members of the Jewish community horrified.

Rabbi Robert Kravitz, president of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis, said he’s alarmed by the increase in hate-based incidents in the country, dating back to 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. That’s when a man drove his car into a crowd, killing a woman who had been protesting a gathering of white supremacists.

“I believe we’re seeing this increase," Kravitz said, "because permission has been granted from the highest levels to do and to say anything they please and there is no situation which is off limits.”

Kravitz said leaders should be using their platforms to stop hate-based incidents, and reconsider the nation’s gun laws.