On October 27, 2018, eleven worshippers from three congregations were killed by a gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Six years ago today, the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh shattered our sense of security.
11 people lost their lives that day.
As we remember the victims, we vow to fight antisemitic hatred and violence and to protect our communities. pic.twitter.com/4k2414jfeZ
— World Jewish Congress (@WorldJewishCong) October 27, 2024
The anniversary also comes with the one-year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks in Israel, where more than 1,000 people were killed.
Rabbi Seth Adelson of Congregation Beth Shalom, a synagogue near Tree of Life, said, “The trauma here runs deep in our community. You can’t really separate the trauma of Jews being attacked in Pittsburgh and Jews being attacked in Israel.” The Tree of Life attack was perpetrated by an extremist who targeted Jews for their aid to immigrants.
Antisemitism has been on the rise nationally since the October 7th attack by Hamas and the ongoing war that followed. Jewish people, especially those in Pittsburgh, fear for their safety with the heightened occurrence of antisemitic incidents.
Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership which aids those impacted by the Tree of Life attack, said, “The similarity of what Oct. 7 and Oct 27 hold together is a question of safety for Jews.”
According to a recent survey, nearly two-third of Jews feel less secure than they did one year ago. Antisemitic incidents have also surged on or near the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, as well as on college campuses across the nation.
Every year, the Jewish community in Pittsburgh commemorates the anniversary of the Tree of Life attack. The ceremony, held at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, included a candle lighting by family members of the eleven victims. Dried flowers that were used in a memorial following the shooting were also on display at the commemoration.
Most of the Tree of Life synagogue was demolished to make room for a new building that will include a memorial and a museum to help combat antisemitism.
