Synagogue Shooting Postpones Senate Candidate Kickoff

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/12/2026) Thursday's shooting at a West Bloomfield Township synagogue, which became national news, slammed the brakes on the kickoff party for a Republican state senate candidate, whose wife taught school at the Temple Israel.

Ryan Berman said he had planned to hold his campaign kickoff party for his 13th Senate District bid Thursday evening at the local Aurora Italiana restaurant until he heard someone had driven a vehicle into the Jewish place of worship.

His wife, Stacie Berman, teaches school at Temple Israel, and was directly affected.

“I was on the scene pretty quickly and still here helping out,” Ryan Berman posted on Facebook this evening. "Luckily, no one was seriously injured, but it’s been very crazy and chaotic. We had to account for all the children and reunite them with their parents. While things are just now settling down, my car is trapped, and we won’t be leaving anytime soon, even if we wanted to.

“While I don’t like the idea of letting a terrorist ‘win,’ by changing our lives or schedule, my first instinct is always to put others ahead of myself, so I’m still here helping out and the temple staff, and not worried about my own event,” he wrote. “Not to mention all the desserts Stacie made are now locked down in a crime scene!”

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a gunman rammed his car into the synagogue at 5725 Walnut Lake Road before 1 p.m., and opened fire on the temple, exchanging gunfire with security guards before he was killed.

Bouchard said at some point the vehicle caught fire.

“No kids, no staff were injured whatsoever, no victims other than one lead security (person) was hit by the car and was taken to hospital for treatment,” the sheriff said, noting the guard is expected to recover.

Thursday’s shooting elicited statements from Southeast Michigan-based political figures, who have been particularly vocal about Jewish-Arab relations.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) said in a social media post that the reports about the Temple Israel synagogue and school shooting are “horrifying” she’s praying for everyone.

“Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan.”

Attorney General Dana Nessel echoed that sentiment, saying in a statement: “Antisemitism has no place in Michigan and cannot be tolerated. In moments like these, it’s more important than ever that we come together, stand with our neighbors, confront hate whenever it appears, and build stronger communities.”

Other lawmakers also echoed that sentiment, although authorities have not yet confirmed that the attempted attack was inspired by antisemitism.

U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed said he was “horrified and heartbroken” to hear the news.

“To my Jewish sisters and brothers, you have a right to worship in peace. You have a right to send your kids to the synagogue in the morning and know they’ll come home safely at night. And you have a right to know that your religious identity and faith practice are respected,” he said. "There is no room for antisemitism in America. So, today and every day, I am standing in solidarity with all of us who value our right to pray how we choose to pray against antisemitism and hate in all its forms.”

Fellow U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) expressed gratitude that the children, clergy and staff at Temple Israel are safe and for the first responders and security guards who ran toward the danger.

“This is not a moment to offer thoughts and prayers and move on,” she said in a statement. “This is a moment to look each other in the eye and say: this is not normal, and we will not accept it as normal.

“Jewish Michiganders should be able to go to school. To shul. To celebrate holidays or drop off their kid at preschool — without wondering if today is the day the unthinkable happens. That is the bare minimum of what it means to live in a free country. We are not meeting it,” McMorrow added.