Out of Darkness

On October 27, 2018, 11 Jews from three congregations were murdered while worshipping in what was the deadliest antisemitic attack in the United States. In the years since the tragedy, incidents of antisemitism and identity-based hate, often coupled with deadly violence, have continued to rise.

We all have a responsibility to respond to such violence and hate with love and action. Indeed, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life, and a survivor of 10/27, often reminds us of a Jewish tradition that teaches us while we may not complete the work, neither can we desist from it. Our work in repairing the world (tikkun olam) is working toward justice and eradicating hate in all forms.

At the Tree of Life, we are creating a new model for a Jewish institution with a national impact - a place that celebrates Jewish life and tradition, a place that remembers each victim and the horror that took place here, and a place that educates and empowers visitors of all ages through experiential learning programs and an engaging museum exhibition.

Our hope is that everyone who engages with us through our programs, every visitor who comes through our building, and every person who attends a lecture, film, or symposium, becomes enlightened and empowered to become an active participant in the effort to rebuild a world without antisemitism and hate.

With the REMEMBER. REBUILD. RENEW. campaign, our work begins now. We invite you to join us. With your help, Tree of Life will be positioned as a leader in the fight against antisemitism on a national stage with diverse partners, while preserving it as a historic Pittsburgh synagogue. Together, we will plant the seeds for a wholly reimagined Tree of Life. It starts with us.

Carole Zawatsky

CEO, Tree of Life