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PITTSBURGH, PA – After surviving an anti-Semitic attack last year, the Tree of Life congregation, located in Squirrel Hill, started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for New Zealand’s devastated Muslim community.

Sam Schachner, president of the congregation whose Tree of Life building suffered a similar tragedy where 11 members were killed in a shooting explained, “We’re unfortunately part of a club that nobody wants to be part of, and we wanted to reach to New Zealand in the same everyone reached out to us.”

The congregation president recalled how overwhelming the support was for his community, from people of all faiths, after they suffered their tragedy. They were determined to offer the same kind of hope and compassion to Muslims in New Zealand.

On Friday, a 28 year old white supremacist, shot and killed dozens attending prayers at Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  As of Sunday the death toll had risen to 50 when authorities uncovered another body when removing the other deceased from the scene. Additionally, 36 more people remain hospitalized.

In under 24 hours, the synagogue had raised $2,736 of its $100,000 goal. Moreover, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh also is raising money to help the victims in New Zealand. Additionally, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh also is working to raise money for the victims in New Zealand.

Finally, people from the Tree of Life congregation attended Sunday classes at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh as a show of support for those gunned down in New Zealand.