Julian Edelman pays tribute to Pittsburgh shooting victims with Israel hat

Julian Edelman wears hat with Israel baseball team logo, while Ben Roethlisberger has special cleats made.

NOVEMBER 5, 2018 11:17

Updated: NOVEMBER 6, 2018 11:59

Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts (photo credit: MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP) — Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts

(photo credit: MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

In a show of support with the Pittsburgh Jewish community, New England Patriots star Julian Edelman appeared at a post-game media scrum sporting a blue baseball cap with a big “I” centered in a Star of David. The symbol is the logo of Israel’s baseball team.

Team Israel wore the hat at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where its Cinderella run took the team to the second round.

“I just want to let people in Pittsburgh know, that I’m thinking about them,” Edelman said when asked about the hat. “I’m sending good thoughts and [they’re] in our prayers.”

“It was a big hit to the community and it’s uncalled for, so I’m just letting them know, hey, I’m behind you and I’m supporting you,” the wide receiver said.

Julian Edelman explains his hat and why he is wearing it: To show support to Pittsburgh and the Jewish Community. pic.twitter.com/XsodGEVBRG
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 5, 2018

Eleven Jews were gunned down at the Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27, the deadliest antisemitic shooting in United States history.

Edelman, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots – a team owned by Jewish businessman Robert Kraft – is an eight-year NFL veteran and has played in three Super Bowls. Edelman, whose father is Jewish, has visited Israel in the past.

Kraft and his team have memorialized Jews before, holding a moment of silence for slain American teen Ezra Schwartz prior to a 2015 game. Schwartz was shot to death by a Palestinian gunman while studying abroad in Israel for a year.

Other players paid tribute to the victims as well.

Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, wore cleats with the words “Stronger Than Hate” on them and a variation of the team’s logo with a Star of David during the team’s game on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger wearing these cleats today in response to shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue. Roethlisberger and his wife are close to Michele Rosenthal, who worked in Steelers’ community relations and assists with Ben’s foundation. Michele lost two of her brothers in shooting pic.twitter.com/W3UrHDBb6M
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 4, 2018

Ben Roethlisberger (@_BigBen7) on his custom #StrongerThanHate cleats he wore in today’s @steelers victory. pic.twitter.com/82c53GGzvo
— Chase Williams WPXI (@chasepwilliams) November 4, 2018

Last week, in the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue the Steelers held a moment of silence for the shooting victims.