Robert Kraft Visits Pittsburgh Synagogue, Site Of Mass Shooting

Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the New England Patriots in the latest iteration of a rivalry that has been known more for controversial calls than big plays. Last season’s matchup was highlighted by the Jesse James non-catch that sparked debate across the league and forced the competition committee to reassess the catch rule. Granted, this drop didn’t sink the Steelers considering that Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception on the very next play, but it caused frustration among players and fans.

Whether this year’s iteration repeats this trend remains to be seen, but both teams are in desperate need of a victory. The Steelers need to take down the Patriots in order to stop a losing streak and preserve the minuscule lead in the AFC North.

Sometimes, however, there are things that are far more important to the world than whether a team wins or loses a football game.

NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Sunday morning that Patriots owner Robert Kraft flew to Pittsburgh a day early in order to visit the Tree of Life synagogue. This was the site of a massacre where a gunman shot 11 people. Kraft also attended service at Rodef Shalom, where he was invited to speak by the rabbi. The Patriots owner delivered a message partially in Hebrew while paying his respects.

The unspeakable tragedy in Pittsburgh happened on October 27th when a gunman opened fire at a local synagogue, killing 11 people and wounding six others. The incident occurred Saturday morning, and the suspect was detained by law enforcement on the scene. This massacre became one of the worst moments in the area’s history and caused a stir around the world. 

The Steelers paid their respects the following morning before a game against the Cleveland Browns, taking a moment of silence in respect. Following Pittsburgh’s win over Cleveland, Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin opened up his press conference by offering his condolences to anyone suffering from the tragedy. 

“Let me start by representing our organization and saying that our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday’s shooting, the Squirrel Hill community and the community of Pittsburgh at large,” said Tomlin, who eschewed his usual Saturday pregame talk to the team to instead discuss the tragic events that transpired earlier in the day. “I am a member of the Squirrel Hill community, personally, and words cannot express how we feel as members of this community. We are prayerful.”

While this rivalry may be quite bitter considering the frequent battles that affected the playoff race, it’s a positive sign that there is respect between the two cities. Kraft speaking during a service and paying his respects to the synagogue should only help mend any issues that exist due to the history.