Victim known to SA rabbi

ADELAIDE Rabbi Shoshana Kaminsky’s said that her friend Daniel Leger, who was critically injured during Saturday’s hate-fuelled tragedy, is “essentially the rabbi for Dor Hadash” – a reconstructionist congregation that frequently holds services at Tree of Life synagogue.

“Dan had the keys to the building, he was one of those people who came early and made sure everything was open for the day’s proceedings,” said Rabbi Kaminsky, who served as a rabbi 25km northwest of Pittsburgh prior to leading Beit Shalom Adelaide since 2006.

“It is the most faithful shule goers who are there at 10am on a Saturday morning,” said Rabbi Kaminsky. “Dan is a very centred, genuine person … It is the philosophy of Dor Hadash to not have a rabbi, and Dan has conducted their funerals on many occasions.”

Leger, a 70-year-old hospital chaplain and retired paediatric oncology nurse, was at Tree of Life to lead a Torah studies group on Saturday, and has undergone intensive surgery since the attack.

“I had a close friend that was in hospice and she adored Dan. I think that speaks to what a remarkable person he is. He could find a way to be with her during that time,” said Rabbi Kaminsky, who also distantly knew Dr Jerry Rabinowitz – one of the eleven people killed.

“From time to time, I would be a rabbinic consultant for Dor Hadash, and Jerry was part of that congregation,” she commented.

Painting a picture of the “closeness and intimacy” that characterises Squirrel Hill, Rabbi Kaminsky remarked, “It has around two dozen synagogues within quite a short radius, and of all different denominations … There is a community feeling that you don’t see in many parts of the world, because people don’t live in the same neighbourhood and they don’t have quite the same tight-knit connections. All of my friends in the Pittsburgh area are just completely devastated.”

In a heartwarming show of support, Beit Shalom held a vigil for Pittsburgh on Sunday.

“We had three Christian clergy, a Muslim in the community read prayers of peace as part of the service. It has been an opportunity for them to express solidarity with the Jewish community too,” said the rabbi.

SOPHIE DEUTSCH