Students, faculty and staff from San Diego State University came together Wednesday and read a Jewish prayer for healing.
"I decided to come out here because I wanted to support the Jewish community on campus. I'm not Jewish myself, but I have some very dear friends who are," said Gabi Medina, a student.
On Saturday, a 19-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire at the Chabad of Poway synagogue, killing a 60-year-old woman and injuring three others.
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Marshall Cotta, a Jewish student, along with several other students, wrote post cards to the congregation of the synagogue to show them their support.
"I came to write a card because I feel that there is strength in knowing that even however far away, that there are people behind you and hope is a strong thing. You know, it's a good message to send," Cotta said.
Authorities are investigating Saturday's shooting as a hate crime. Just a few weeks ago, the Black Resource Center at San Diego State was vandalized. Students said it's difficult to process these acts of hate, especially when they hit so close to home.
"I know for the black community, there were many emails sent out to all students, addressing it and many meet ups for students to come together and show support and just the welcoming environment and the positive, on top of such a negative that this school creates is really great," Medina said.
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Faculty at the university said it's especially important to start a dialogue about these difficult situations at a young age.
"The students on our campus are the same age as the alleged perpetrator of this hate crime so I think it's very important. I think they need avenues to unpack their confusion, their grief, their anger and that's part of what we do in the classroom, but we also have to come together outside of the classroom to do that as well," said Risa Levitt Kohn, head of the Jewish Studies Program at SDSU.
