Members of the Jewish community in Butler County were shocked and shaken in the wake of Saturday's mass shooting in Pittsburgh.

Police took the suspected shooter, Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh into custody Saturday. He is accused of entering Tree of Life Congregation, which is located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Saturday morning and opening fire while shouting anti-Semitic statements.

Eleven people were killed and six more wounded, including four police officers, according to authorities.

Jack Cohen, founder of the Cranberry Jewish Group, said he heard only limited information shortly after the shooting.

“It's very very sad for our entire community, for everyone,” Cohen said. “You know you never thought these things would come to your own backyard.”

Cohen said he had been to the Tree Life synagogue many times and had friends who are members there.

“There is nobody that has faith that would do such a heinous crime,” Cohen said.

Cohen said the Jewish community needs to support each other and ask for the support from the greater community too. “I'm sure everybody is saying prayers,” he said. “It doesn't

matter what faith you are.”

Eric Levin, president of the B'nai Abraham Congregation, said he married his wife 22 years ago in the synagogue where the shooting occurred.

“It's absolutely heartbreaking,” Levin said.

He said his brother and sister-in-law still are members of that congregation. He said his brother called him before news broke of the shooting.

“He called to tell me what was going on,” Levin said. “I could hear all the sirens on in the background.”

Levin said this is an emotional time for him and many who have connections to the Tree of Life Congregation.

“In the world that we live in today, I guess we shouldn't be so surprised when something like this happens,” he said. “This is just devastatingly emotional and heartbreaking.”

Larry Berg, a member of B'nai Abraham Congregation, said he has never been to the Tree of Life synagogue, but he has friends that belong to it. He said he spent all morning trying to reach them on the phone to make sure they were alive and unharmed.

“Everybody's really shaken by this because it's really too close,” Berg said.

Berg said he continues to pray for the victims and survivors. He said the shooting has also prompted reflections on the threat posed to those who practice their faith in a minority religion.

“There's no question that there's a great deal of anti-Semitism in this country. Periodically it erupts in violence,” Berg said. “I think most of us hold our breath hoping it's not going to happen to us.”

Berg said anti-Semitism has found ways to hide in today's society, and he said the country's cultural and political climate has not directly encouraged the hate of minorities but has fostered that hatred through ignorance. He said people have forgotten the freedoms for which America stands.

“Besides prayer, I think we have to think twice about what's causing this atmosphere of hate and discontent in our country,” Berg said. “We have to realize what America really is and what it means to us individually.”

Berg said religious leaders all over the country will begin looking at new ways to keep their worshippers safe. He said shootings like this can't continue to happen when people are most vulnerable.

“This is a wake up call that maybe we need to do more than we're doing now,” Berg said.

Levin said the question of safety has become a top priority for every religious institution, including those in Butler County.

“I think that is a question that most board of directors for most religious institutions are going to be grappling with moving forward,” he said. “We're no different from anybody else. We're going to have to look into security measures. Even though we're a small town. We're not

immune.”

Levin said it is important to come together without regard to religious identity. He said shootings like Saturday's have happened at Christian churches, Muslim mosques and now Jewish synagogues, at places where people are unarmed and figuratively and literally raising their hands in peace and praise to their respective god.

“If it was any religious institution, everybody needs to come together,” Levin said.

He said the victims families and the survivors of this shooting will need support.

“At this point right now, what more can you do except to be there if asked and to send good prayers and thoughts to not only the families of the victims but the survivors who were also inside because they witnessed it,” he said. “This is going to be so hard for them.”

He said people should do whatever they can for those affected in this time of need.

“If there is anything our smaller community can do to support the larger community, we hope they will reach out to us, and we will be there for them,” Levin said.