CNN reported that photos of the aftermath of the arson attack show a portion of the building devastated by the fire, with furniture destroyed and the floor covered in ash.
By Rachel Avraham
The suspect accused of attempting to murder Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro by setting fire to the governor’s residence in Harrisburg on Saturday night following the governor hosting a Passover Seder with his wife, four kids, two dogs, and another family, cited “what he wants to do to the Palestinian people” in justifying the antisemitic arson attack, PennLive reported. The governors home sustained significant damage, but fortunately everyone was evacuated in time and no one was injured.
In a post on X, Shapiro described how he and his family “woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
CNN reported that photos of the aftermath of the arson attack show a portion of the building devastated by the fire, with furniture destroyed and the floor covered in ash. According to the report, images also show the walls and ceiling blackened and feature some remnants of the Passover dinner the governor hosted Saturday night – like a “Passover Crafts” sign.
According to Arutz Sheva, the suspect Cody Balmer called 911 after committing the arson attack and claimed that Shapiro needed to know that he “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.” Arutz Sheva reported that the warrant also states that Shapiro’s Jewish faith was part of what motivated Balmer’s antisemitic attack, as well as “perceived injustices to the people of Palestine.”
Arutz Sheva reported that Balmer confessed to harboring intense animosity toward Governor Shapiro. According to the report, he told investigators he would have attacked the governor with a hammer if given the opportunity and acknowledged he was aware people might have been inside the home at the time of the arson.
Governor Shapiro emphasized to CNN his refusal to be “deterred” in his work. “If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured, I will find a way to work even harder than I was,” he said. Shapiro also highlighted his pride in his Jewish faith. “If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: we celebrated our faith last night, proudly. No one will deter me or my family, or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”
The Times of Israel noted when Shapiro was being vetted as a potential US vice presidential candidate, he faced significant criticism from far-left members of the Democratic party over his views on Israel, even though they were to the left of other contenders who weren’t Jewish, thus highlighting the antisemitism that Shapiro faces as a Jewish politician in the United States. Judaism and Israel have always been a very important aspect of Shapiro’s life.
“I stand before you, a proud American of Jewish faith who just took the oath of office to be the 48th governor of this great commonwealth on a bible from the Tree of Life synagogue, the scene just four years ago of the deadliest act of antisemitism in our nation’s history,” he declared during his inaugural address in January 2023.
“I grew up raised in an observant Jewish home,” Shapiro told the Jewish Chronicle. “I went to day school at Forman [Hebrew Day School in Elkins Park] and then Akiba [Hebrew Academy in Merion Station], now Barrack [Hebrew Academy. Akiba is actually where I met my wife in the ninth grade. So, we were both raised in similar environments. Every Friday night was reserved for Shabbat dinner, and typically, Saturday morning was spent in shul — we belonged to Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park.”
Shapiro recounted that he visited Israel when he was in high school and actually returned to the Jewish state in order to propose marriage to Lori, who is now his wife. Thus, Israel was also very important for him, as it marked the place where his marriage to his beloved wife began.
“We’ve raised our children in many ways the same way that we were raised — an observant Jewish home, a kosher home, and by the way, kosher at our family home and at the governor’s residence. Our kids all went through the same day schools we did and are living observant lives, and we’re very proud,” Shapiro said.
He emphasized to the Jewish Chronicle that Shabbat has always had a special place in his heart: “Shabbat — just knowing that every Friday night we would be together around the table for special family time — that, to me, was always sort of a special moment that I looked forward to. And it’s something Lori and I have tried to give to our kids, and I think they look forward to it as well every week.”
Shapiro emphasized that Judaism also inspired him to pursue a career in public service: “My faith is very important to me. I’m very proud of my faith. I live my life as a proud American Jew. Faith has not guided individual decisions I’ve made on policy or what have you, but it has guided the very central question I’ve had to answer in my life, which is, what do you want to be when you grow up? And what do you want to do with your life?”
Several politicians wrote messages of support for Governor Shapiro after the arson attack with Vice President JD Vance calling it “really disgusting violence.” He added on X: “I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.”
Tom Ridge, a Republican who served as Pennsylvania governor from 1995 to 2001, called images of the damage “heartbreaking” in a post on X. “All of us should feel safe in our homes, especially when that home is our state’s official residence,” he wrote.
Photo from Maryland GovPics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Shapiro#/media/File:Gov._Shapiro.jpg
