Mike Pence got a rabbi who is really a Christian to pray for synagogue dead.

On Monday, Pence led a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan where prayers were said by Rabbi Loren Jacobs, who is affiliated with the Messianic synagogue Shema Yisrael. “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, God and Father of my Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, and my God and Father too,” Rabbi Jacobs intoned. During the prayer, he also condemned the “hate-inspired shooting in synagogue in Pittsburgh.”

A rabbi referring to Jesus as the Messiah is, of course, an unusual event but Jacobs is no ordinary rabbi. He is, in fact, a Christian. Shema Yisrael is a synagogue devoted to Messianic Judaism, which is to say, towards a faith that mixes Jewish cultural practices with a variation of Christian theology.

Saturday’s synagogue shooting, which left 11 dead, is believed to be the worst anti-Semitic motivated killing ever on American soil. To mourn that event with a rabbi who is not really a rabbi, speaking for a group that is actually Christian, is deeply disrespectful.

Pence’s decision was widely criticized:

I am not Jewish but would imagine this to be SO disrespectful to those who lost theirs lives, their grieving families and communities. Shameful day in politics today.

— Em (@elchsa) October 30, 2018

I am so embarrassed by Trump & Pence. Did Pence believe a Jew for Jesus rabbi would be preferable when the Synagogue had been attacked 2 days ago by a racist supporter of he & Trump?? I’m a Catholic. They damned well better get an Archbishop when a Catholic Church is attacked.

— Joyce Hoffmann (@Wilhemina12418) October 30, 2018

as a jew, let me tell you how bad it is.
jews for jesus is an evangelical group funded by the southern baptist conference, with a goal to convert jews. that's their only mission.
and to do it when american jews are being killed just for being jews, is heinous.@vp https://t.co/zrZmhbqPbR

— pop!goestheweasel ????????️‍???? (@mikeytheweasel) October 30, 2018

Normally, a Rabbi would open with Kaddish, a prayer for the dead – and list names of those taken. And blessings to the community at risk, Jews, immigrants, etc. Here, it is instead a prayer for Republican candidates to win on November 6 and a blessing for Mike Pence.

— Rafael Shimunov ???? (@rafaelshimunov) October 30, 2018

This stunt by @VP perfectly encapsulates how little the Trump White House respects Jews – he brought a fake rabbi IN A TALLIT to a campaign event 3 days after the most deadly anti semitic attack on US soil #Shame https://t.co/qYxXXqrsq4

— Blue Painter (@Redpainter1) October 30, 2018

Abhorrent isn't a strong enough adjective for how Trump's administration and followers have responded to this hate crime. Every time I open the news the cognitive dissonance between needing to stay in the loop and wanting to keep my sanity makes me feel like my soul is splitting. https://t.co/V6qxQJenEO

— Lauren (@wrought_thought) October 30, 2018

This is not a “whoops” or a matter of no rabbis being available.

Pence knows all there is to know about messianic groups. He is a messianic evangelical Christian.

He knows this “rabbi” represents a group whose goal is to convert and “save” Jews.

Pence is making a statement. https://t.co/fm7V8DfPyh

— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) October 29, 2018

WATCH:

In response to antisemitic white nationalist attack, Vice President Mike Pence opens campaign event with a Christian Rabbi. pic.twitter.com/5iMLx1V3NH

— Rafael Shimunov ???? (@rafaelshimunov) October 30, 2018