Family and friends who gathered to remember the life of slain Miami journalist Steven Sotloff at a memorial service Friday expressed hope that the death of the 31-year-old journalist at the hands of Islamic militants would not be in vain.
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Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest was expecting upwards of 1,000 people for the 1 p.m. memorial, which was open to the public. Sotloff had attended the temple's elementary school and his mother, Shirley, had worked as a teacher there.
"I have lost my son and best friend, but I know his passing will change the world," a tearful Arthur Sotloff told the gathering. "I want to speak from my heart but my heart is broken."
"I'm so proud of my son for living his dream, he will always be in my heart and memories," Shirley Sotloff said.
Temple Beth Am Rabbi Terry Bookman presided over the memorial and said the grief felt was for "what might have been."
"Though we are aware of the geopolitical significance of his death, let us not forget there is a grieving family devastated by their loss, and let this service begin their healing," Bookman said. "Steven was taken from us because of what he represented: freedom and the equality of all people."
"Hearing kind words from people does a lot of good to help them feel better," Temple Beth Am's Robert Hersh said before the service Friday. "I've spoken to the Sotloffs as late as last night, they're holding up as reasonably well as they can."
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Marco Rubio all attended the service.
Sotloff, a Miami native who freelanced for Time and Foreign Policy magazines and studied journalism at the University of Central Florida, was killed by the Islamist terrorist group ISIS in a video released earlier this week. He had vanished a year ago in Syria and was not seen again until he appeared in the recent ISIS video that showed fellow journalist James Foley's beheading.
Gov. Scott has directed all flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff Friday in memory of Sotloff.
"Ann and I join all Floridians, and Americans, in grieving with the Sotloff family today. Those who murdered Steven are evil, and evil must be confronted and destroyed," Scott said in a statement.
The Dolphins are also planning to hold a moment of silence for Sotloff before their season opener against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium Sunday.
