Toronto native Joyce Fienberg among the dead in Pittsburgh attack, temple says | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Toronto native Joyce Fienberg among the dead in Pittsburgh attack, temple says

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TORONTO - A Toronto woman was one of 11 people killed in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a rabbi from one of Toronto's oldest Jewish congregations said Sunday.

A statement posted on Facebook by Rabbi Yael Splansky said 75-year-old Joyce Fienberg grew up in the Holy Blossom Temple community, which is located in north Toronto and has over 6,500 members.

Splansky said Fienberg was married at the temple, and her confirmation photo is on its wall of honour.

"I did not know her. She was married here before my time. But I walk past her every day," said Splansky.

Deanna Levy, a spokeswoman for the temple, said the photo is of Fienberg when she was 16 years old.

"She has family members in our congregation and in Toronto. May her memory be for a blessing," said Levy, adding that the temple had services Sunday morning.

"Right now we are just offering comfort to families.... We are just trying to stay strong."

The Associated Press reports that Fienberg spent most of her career as a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center, studying learning in the classroom and in museums.

On Saturday, a gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue and opened fire during worship services, killing eight men and three women, before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him.

The victims' ages range from 54 to 97 and include a pair of brothers and a husband and wife.

The accused, 46-year-old Robert Gregory Bowers, is facing 29 criminal offences. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.

— with files from The Associated Press

News from © The Canadian Press, 2018
The Canadian Press

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