Impact of California’s synagogue shooting being felt in MS

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Members in the Jewish Community continued to mourn after a gunman opened fire during the middle of service this weekend in California.

One person was killed and three others were injured in the shooting.

The tragedy may have happened on the West Coast, but it’s being felt by many in Mississippi.

“Anytime a member is attacked we all feel it,” said Doug Bedsaul, who’s attended Temple B’Nai Israel for more than two decades. “We all know that could have just as easily have been us.”

In the past, having this type of attack happen while service was taking place never even crossed Bedsaul’s mind, but now that’s changed.

“You never think it’s going to target you, at the same time it’s something that we are aware of,” he said. “As we see it happen, and it seemingly is happening more often, we are aware that it could happen to us.”

Bedsaul said he doesn’t know why his community is being targeted, and it’s that unanswered question that’s causing a sense of uneasiness to linger.

“In this case, we don’t have a clear answer of why, or someway to explain it,” expressed Bedsaul. “In addition to the loss that you feel, in addition to the targeting that you feel, there’s also this lack of understanding, so some confusion that comes along, and that just adds to the troublesome nature of the whole situation.”

The Starkville man believed one way to stop these evil attacks from happening is to spread more love throughout the world.

However, until then, he and his congregation are also looking at more physical answers.

“We do have a security plan in place and we have a security team,” said Bedsaul. “I can’t detail some of those measures that are in place, but we certainly have the security of our congregants in mind.”

The Jewish community has always prided itself on resilience.

Now, Bedsaul said they will continue to rely on that strength and each other to help make light of such a difficult and dark time.

“Hopefully it sends a message to potential assailants and to the rest of society that, hey we are strong people,” said Bedsaul. “We’re not going to be threatened by people who might want to see us disappear, and at the same time our doors are always open.”

This incident marks the second time in six months that someone has opened fire at a synagogue.

The gunman in Saturday’s attack, 19-year-old John Earnest, pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday.

He’s charged with one count of Murder on a hate-crime circumstance and three counts of Attempted Murder in connection to the shooting.