Pittsburgh native Jeff Goldblum at a loss after 'devastating' and 'infuriating' synagogue shooting: 'I'm searching'
The mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday hit close to home for actor Jeff Goldblum.
The Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom star grew up in the city, not far from where 11 people were killed — and six injured (including four police officers) — by a lone gunman who walked into the temple shouting anti-Semitic statements. Goldblum put pen to paper to try to express his feelings about the “devastating” and “infuriating” incident and shared his thoughts on Instagram.
A post shared by Jeff Goldblum (@jeffgoldblum) on Oct 29, 2018 at 9:46am PDT
“I was born and raised in Pittsburgh,” wrote Goldblum, who is a father of two young sons with his wife, Emilie Livingston. “Near Squirrel Hill. These events are devastating. And infuriating. I send my love and deepest sympathies to everybody who’s grieving. What can we do that’s positive, active? I just made a gift to HIAS. Perhaps that. And vote. I’m searching.”
Goldblum, who was called “the pride of West Homestead,” Pa., by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette a few months back (the city also hosts an annual Jeff Goldblum Day), was raised Jewish, attended Hebrew school at a local synagogue, and had a bar mitzvah, he has said. Talking about his childhood in Pittsburgh, he said in March, “It was very happy times.”
On Monday, the suspect in the deadly mass shooting, Robert Bowers, appeared in front of a judge — in a wheelchair — for the first of many court appearances. Federal officials charged Bowers with 29 criminal counts, including the obstruction of the exercise of religious beliefs. He also faces state charges.
On Sunday, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto hit back at President Trump’s calls for armed guards in synagogues, saying officials should “not try to create laws around irrational behavior,” but rather take guns “out of the hands of those looking to express hatred through murder.” Trump plans to visit the city on Tuesday, but Peduto — as well as other city officials — have asked him to postpone the trip.
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