BuyerBeware wrote:
The only way I could be any more disgusted is if he turns out to be one of ours.
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I do not know about the terrorist but two of the victims were neurodiverse.
A 97-year-old, an elderly wife and husband: These are the 11 victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacreQuote:
The Rosenthal brothers, Cecil and David, were long-time members of the Tree of Life synagogue, according to J.E. Reich, who grew up in the neighborhood the brothers called home. Reich said the brothers were developmentally disabled and lived together. The two had Fragile X syndrome, a genetic disorder that often results in mild to moderate intellectual disability.
Cecil Rosenthal loved to greet people at the door of the synagogue before services “not out of obligation, but out of joy,” said Reich, a reporter who has written for online websites such as Jezebel.
Achieva, an area organization that helps the developmentally disabled, put out a statement Sunday that said both brothers had a deep love of community and life.
“If they were here, they would tell you that is where they were supposed to be,” said Chris Schopf, Achieva's vice president of residential supports.
“Cecil’s laugh was infectious," Schopf added. "David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they looked out for one another. They were inseparable. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around.
Tree of Life Synagogue Victims Remembered as Guardians of Their FaithQuote:
David and Cecil Rosenthal, brothers in their 50s, were almost always in the synagogue, greeting everyone who came with a “Good Shabbos” and a ready prayer book.
Everyone with ties to Tree of Life knew the Rosenthal brothers, who turned up every week and always stood at the back.
“They’ve been fixtures there for as long as anyone can remember,” said Jeffrey Solomon, the chief executive of Cowen Inc., a New York-based financial services company, and a lifelong member of the Tree of Life congregation. “They were what we call ‘shomerim,’ people who guard the religion even for the rest of us who don’t go all the time,” said Mr. Solomon, who is related to the brothers by marriage.
David Rosenthal, who was 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, had developmental disabilities but lived independently. They often spent their days at the nearby Jewish Community Center, where they spoke warmly to anyone they met.
I’ve said this many times, having nothing to do with this tragedy: You can feel what is good in the world when you talk to them, because they only talk to you about good things,” Mr. Solomon said. “To say that everyone in the Pittsburgh Jewish community knows them is not even a remote exaggeration. They were both active participants in so much of life.”
Mr. Solomon said he grew up in the community with the brothers, who were together constantly and often spoke joyfully about their extended family.
“Today we talk about inclusion, but they were just part of the community, and I didn’t think anything about it," Mr. Solomon said. “It was my introduction to the fact that there are people like that and they are just like the rest of us.”
“It doesn’t make any sense to me," he added. "They didn’t deserve this.”
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
It is Autism Acceptance Month
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
28 Oct 2018, 7:19 pm
