A number of people have taken to social media to share touching tributes to Jerry Rabinowitz, who was one of the 11 people murdered in the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27. The other victims have been named as Joyce Fienberg, Rich Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Cecil and David Rosenthal, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. Six other people, including four law enforcement officers, were wounded in the attack.

Michael Kerr, a member of ACT UP – the direct action advocacy group working to positively impact the lives of people living with AIDS – shared a touching tribute to Jerry Rabinowitz.

Kerr wrote:

“My doctor Jerry Rabinowitz was one of those killed in the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting. He took care of me until I left Pittsburgh for NYC in 2004.

“In the old days for HIV patients in Pittsburgh, he was the one to go to. Basically, before there was effective treatment for fighting HIV itself, he was known in the community for keeping us alive the longest. He often held our hands (without rubber gloves) and always hugged us as we left his office.

“So thank you Dr Rabinowitz for having always been there during the most terrifying and frightening time of my life. You will be remembered by me always. You are one of my heroes just like the early ACT UP warriors – some of which I now call friends.”

On Facebook, Rabinowitz’ nephew revealed that his uncle was trying to aid other victims before he was killed:

“I just learned a short while ago that although the shooter travelled within the building looking for victims, Uncle Jerry wasn’t killed in the basement of the building where the congregation was Davening (reciting prayers), he was shot outside the room.

“Why? Because when he heard shots he ran outside to try and see if anyone was hurt and needed a doctor.

“That was Uncle Jerry, that’s just what he did.”