Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told CNN on Monday that President Donald Trump is welcome at their synagogue and would not cave to prodding from an anchor who seemed to want him to say that the president is to blame.
During the interview, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota asked Rabbi Myers if he blames anyone “beyond the gunman” for the deadly attack on his synagogue.
“I don’t really foist blame upon any person. Hate does not know religion, race, creed, political party. It’s not a political issue in any way, shape, or form. Hate does not know any of those things,” Rabbi Myers said.
VIDEO:
"There is the possibility of hate in all people, but there is also the possibility of good. … Good will always win out over evil," says Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting. https://t.co/MzgRpYAVy6 pic.twitter.com/1GG07rEUZa
— CNN (@CNN) October 29, 2018
Unsatisfied with his lack of finger pointing, Camerota asked, “what lights the match of hate?”
“I think you’re raising one of those great questions that people far smarter than I can answer,” Myers responded. “I do recall this: if we look in the Bible after the story of the flood and Noah, God regretfully says to Noah, ‘I have learned that man from his youth is prone to evil,’ which is, you would think, a horrific thing for God to tell us.”
“The message I get from that is, yes, there is the possibility of hate in all people. But there is also the possibility of good,” he continued.
.@CNN asks Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers if @realDonaldTrump is welcome at his synagogue after Saturday's shooting.
Myers: "The President of the United States is always welcome. I am a citizen, he is my president. He is always welcome.”https://t.co/pfSMeNrRdI pic.twitter.com/SiI0xdpGhh
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) October 29, 2018
When asked if the president would be welcome at the synagogue, Myers did not hesitate in saying that he is.
“The President of the United States is always welcome. I am a citizen, he is my president,” Myers quickly responded. “He is always welcome.”
