NEW YORK — In the wake of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27, prominent New York religious leaders gathered for an interfaith prayer service at Manhattan’s venerable Park East Synagogue on Wednesday, October 31.
The Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, the Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan, joined Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios, and others at the invitation of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, senior rabbi of the synagogue and president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the Vatican’s Observer to the UN Archbishop Bernardito Auza, also attended and spoke in a show of solidarity among the city’s religious, diplomatic, and elected officials. A congregant of the Tree of Life Synagogue, Lauren Myer, was also present.
Findikyan, in his remarks, extolled the spirit of unity among all godly people.
“Despite the very visible differences among us in our approaches to faith, we are united in a vision for humanity that is so much more exalted than what we see around us in recent times,” he said.
He continued: “We must inspire our congregations, and our fellow citizens, to a higher vision of humanity.”