After receiving the news of the Oct. 27 synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, freshman Ella Roether said she felt the Jewish community unite in the midst of mourning.

“I was really sad, and I was scared,” Roether said. “It is definitely a hard time and makes (the Jewish community) more scared-(it) makes them (need) more protection. But they also become closer with one another which creates a stronger bond.”

According to the New York Times, 11 congregants of the Tree of Life Synagogue were murdered during Shabbat services Oct. 27 in an alleged anti-Semitic act.

Roether, who attended the ceremony at Temple Israel honoring victims of the Pittsburgh shooting Oct. 28, said she believes the event provided a hopeful message.

“I thought it was really cool and and a really meaningful thing to see all of these people, Jewish and non-Jewish coming together with warmness but also hoping for a better future,” Roether said. “I thought that it was a really cool thing to be a part of.”

According to social studies teacher Kara Cisco, she led a class discussion regarding the Pittsburgh shooting to reflect the importance of the shooting’s impact.

“A threat to one person’s humanity is a threat to everyone’s humanity and that’s kind of what I want my students to understand and we have been talking a lot about like how divisive everything feels right now and how we are in a historical moment,” Cisco said.

Senior Anand Datt said this hate crime adds to his embarrassment about the United States’ recurring mass shootings.

“It’s very disappointing that shootings are still happening in America, especially targeting ethnic groups,” Datt said.

Cisco said openness to others was also a topic that her class covered.

“We kind of talked about what are some things we can do to promote the idea that were all are welcomed here,” Cisco said.