Brazilian soccer team wears names of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims

SAO PAULO (JTA) — Players for one of Brazil’s largest soccer teams wore uniforms featuring the names of the Pittsburgh shooting attack victims during a match on Sunday.

Each of the 11 players of SC Corinthians Paulista team wore a jersey with the name of one of the 11 Jews murdered at the synagogue during the Brazilian Championship tournament match against Botafogo in Sao Paulo. The Corinthans lost 1-0.

“The massacre in Pittsburgh during the Jewish religious service has hurt our fundamental values. That’s why we took the decision to honor the victims of this irrational act of violence and call for all peoples to co-exist in harmony and respect of differences,” Corinthians President Andres Sanchez said in a message.

In partnership with the Sao Paulo Jewish federation, the shirts will be auctioned and the money collected go toward the construction of a monument against intolerance. The rest will be donated to Ten Yad, a Jewish charity fighting hunger in Brazil.

A gunman entered Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 during Shabbat morning synagogues, and killed 11 members of the various congregations that meet there.

“These things cannot be repeated. Each of us must be an example aiming at a better world. Remembering and repulsing acts of prejudice is the best way to fight such outbreaks of barbarity. Baruch Dayan Haemet,” Sanchez added, using the Hebrew expression meaning “blessed is the true judge,” which is said when one hears news that someone has died.

Founded in 1910, Corinthians is one Brazil’s most popular soccer teams with over 30 million fans. A holder of several national and international titles, it was listed by Forbes as the most valuable soccer club in the Americas in 2017, worth $576.9 million.

“It is an unprecedented initiative. As a Jewish activist and a Corinthians supporter, I feel honored and greatly represented by understanding that the message against hatred against Jews must be emphasized and disseminated for all,” Persio Bider, president of the Organized Jewish Youth organization, told JTA.

Special ceremonies to honor the Pittsburgh victims were held in several Brazilian Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools and clubs.