Students at Brown reflect on shooting at their synagogue in Pittsburgh

After a massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people, hundreds of people in Providence were moved to remember the victims in a candlelight vigil Monday.

Elmgrove Street was shut down around the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, as speakers from several faiths joined together to remember the lives lost.

But for the Wells family, the tragedy hits a little closer to home. Jakob, his brother and sister are all students at Brown, but they’re originally from Pittsburgh and worship at the Tree of Life synagogue that was targeted.

“Incomprehensible as to how something like this can happen, anywhere really, but especially so close to home,” Wells said. “SWAT teams walking through my neighborhood, walking outside the Tree of Life. It really hit me.”

Wells’ family was thankful they were out of town on the day of the shooting,but Jakob said they knew all of the victims.

The siblings and friend who was a frequent visitor to the Synagogue lit the 11 candles at the vigil in memory of the people killed.

“Members of the synagogue who were really phenomenal people to see in passing,” he said. “I think they contributed so positively.”

For the Jewish community in Providence it was a time for reflection and reaching out to support those in Pittsburgh.

“When one of us is hurting, all of us are hurting,” said Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz. “Painful, familiar, and uncomfortably fresh at the same time.”

“Makes me feel like we’re all in it together,” said Avital Chatto of Providence.

But for Wells, the message Monday was clear.

“Rise against and rise above and overcome hate and bigotry,” he said.

Wells is also calling on President Trump and other lawmakers to put into place common sense gun control.