Following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, religious leaders focus on pastoral care, reflect on living faith in public
09/15/2025 08:28:54 AM
Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University. The shooting occurred during a public event, while Kirk was responding to questions from the public.
The tragedy hit “very close to home” for his congregants, said Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City. Some attendees had been about 20 feet from the stage at Utah Valley University when Kirk was shot.
Rabbi Spector offered pastoral care to those present, whom he described as “traumatized” by the attack.
“Charlie Kirk went to so many universities, and for it to happen here and all of a sudden our state be global news is really scary,” he said.
Spector noted a teaching from the Talmud: “When you take an innocent life, it’s as if you’ve destroyed the entire world.”
He emphasized that Kirk’s method of engaging with ideas was “not hurting anybody.” Respectful argument is encouraged in Judaism, he said, so long as the goal is learning from one another.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do,” he said.
“What Charlie Kirk was doing was something that needs to be done more in our world, which is talking with people who have profound disagreements,” Rabbi Spector said, noting that Kirk also gave others the chance to share their perspectives.
Tue, October 28 2025
6 Cheshvan 5786
