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Memorializing Tragedy at a Pittsburgh Synagogue Through Faith, History and Good Works Memorializing Tragedy at a Pittsburgh Synagogue Through Faith, History and Good Works
(7 days later)
PITTSBURGH — In early September, James Young, an international expert in public memorials, came to speak to the local Jewish community.PITTSBURGH — In early September, James Young, an international expert in public memorials, came to speak to the local Jewish community.
It had been nearly a year since 11 worshipers were shot to death by an anti-Semitic gunman at Shabbat service — months of therapy, of reciting their names in the mourner’s kaddish, of tending to the endless, agonizing logistical demands of mass tragedy. It had been nearly a year since 11 worshipers were shot to death by an anti-Semitic gunman at Shabbat service — months of therapy, of reciting their names before the mourner’s kaddish, of tending to the endless, agonizing logistical demands of mass tragedy.
Professor Young had some thoughts about the process of commemoration, mostly urging them not to feel rushed about it. But he also had ideas about the nature of a memorial itself: how there needed to be a balance of the intimate and personal with the larger communal and civic context, mass killings now having entwined Pittsburgh with places like Charleston and Parkland and Columbine and Las Vegas.Professor Young had some thoughts about the process of commemoration, mostly urging them not to feel rushed about it. But he also had ideas about the nature of a memorial itself: how there needed to be a balance of the intimate and personal with the larger communal and civic context, mass killings now having entwined Pittsburgh with places like Charleston and Parkland and Columbine and Las Vegas.
What he discovered on his arrival was that the three congregations that shared the Tree of Life synagogue had, each in its own traditionally Jewish but slightly different ways, already been living out something very much like the ideal memorial he was describing.What he discovered on his arrival was that the three congregations that shared the Tree of Life synagogue had, each in its own traditionally Jewish but slightly different ways, already been living out something very much like the ideal memorial he was describing.
The deliberately small New Light congregation was immersed in intimate and deep reflection. The civic-driven members of Dor Hadash were fighting to change things that allowed the tragedy to happen. And the Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha congregation has been coming to terms with the fact that it had become the public face of the tragedy, far beyond the Jewish faithful of Squirrel Hill, and would need to plan accordingly.The deliberately small New Light congregation was immersed in intimate and deep reflection. The civic-driven members of Dor Hadash were fighting to change things that allowed the tragedy to happen. And the Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha congregation has been coming to terms with the fact that it had become the public face of the tragedy, far beyond the Jewish faithful of Squirrel Hill, and would need to plan accordingly.
“The Pittsburgh community,” Professor Young said, “gets this at its core.”“The Pittsburgh community,” Professor Young said, “gets this at its core.”
Memorializing the worst anti-Semitic attack in United States history will draw the world’s attention to Pittsburgh this weekend, marking a year since that grim Sabbath morning. There will be community service opportunities, Torah study sessions and an official memorial service on Sunday night.Memorializing the worst anti-Semitic attack in United States history will draw the world’s attention to Pittsburgh this weekend, marking a year since that grim Sabbath morning. There will be community service opportunities, Torah study sessions and an official memorial service on Sunday night.
But the process of memorial here began almost as soon as the attack had ended. It was almost instinctive, combining a sense of history, a sense of justice and deep understanding for the place of remembrance in Jewish belief.But the process of memorial here began almost as soon as the attack had ended. It was almost instinctive, combining a sense of history, a sense of justice and deep understanding for the place of remembrance in Jewish belief.
“Jewish people have a long memory,” said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of the New Light congregation.“Jewish people have a long memory,” said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of the New Light congregation.
Many of the survivors grew up in these three congregations, the children of older members whose roots ran even deeper. They also happened to be full of Pittsburgh university faculty — historians, scholars and archivists — for whom recording history was second nature. A member of Dor Hadash was the former director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives in Pittsburgh; the current director of the program had spent the months before the shooting archiving the historical papers of Dor Hadash and New Light.Many of the survivors grew up in these three congregations, the children of older members whose roots ran even deeper. They also happened to be full of Pittsburgh university faculty — historians, scholars and archivists — for whom recording history was second nature. A member of Dor Hadash was the former director of the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives in Pittsburgh; the current director of the program had spent the months before the shooting archiving the historical papers of Dor Hadash and New Light.
“It’s a combination of the fact that it’s truly historic, and it’s a community that appreciates this value of being able to go back and connect with older things,” said Eric Lidji, the current director of the Rauh archive, who along with members of the congregations has spent the past year cataloging thousands of objects that were left or sent by sympathetic mourners. There are thousands of them — small stones, handwritten letters, works of art — and before being given to congregants or to the archive, most are sitting behind the glass doors in the empty Tree of Life lobby.“It’s a combination of the fact that it’s truly historic, and it’s a community that appreciates this value of being able to go back and connect with older things,” said Eric Lidji, the current director of the Rauh archive, who along with members of the congregations has spent the past year cataloging thousands of objects that were left or sent by sympathetic mourners. There are thousands of them — small stones, handwritten letters, works of art — and before being given to congregants or to the archive, most are sitting behind the glass doors in the empty Tree of Life lobby.
It is often said by members of the congregations that the tragedy had concentric circles of grief: the families, the congregations, the local Jewish community, the larger Pittsburgh community and on out. From early on it was clear that Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha, the congregation for which the synagogue building was named and which lost seven members in the shooting, was going to become the public symbol of the attack.It is often said by members of the congregations that the tragedy had concentric circles of grief: the families, the congregations, the local Jewish community, the larger Pittsburgh community and on out. From early on it was clear that Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha, the congregation for which the synagogue building was named and which lost seven members in the shooting, was going to become the public symbol of the attack.
Earlier this month, the Tree of Life congregation announced its ambitions to return to the site, and to rebuild and expand. It will include classrooms, exhibit areas and space for the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, nearby Chatham University and any other synagogues that would like to join — a “center for Jewish life in the United States,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said in statement.Earlier this month, the Tree of Life congregation announced its ambitions to return to the site, and to rebuild and expand. It will include classrooms, exhibit areas and space for the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, nearby Chatham University and any other synagogues that would like to join — a “center for Jewish life in the United States,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said in statement.
There will also be a memorial on the site, said Jeff Letwin, a member of the congregation who helped run a committee to discuss building plans. Whether that becomes the primary memorial for the shooting is not yet decided.There will also be a memorial on the site, said Jeff Letwin, a member of the congregation who helped run a committee to discuss building plans. Whether that becomes the primary memorial for the shooting is not yet decided.
“The community on a much wider scale than just Tree of Life is dealing with the issue of how you memorialize those events,” he said.“The community on a much wider scale than just Tree of Life is dealing with the issue of how you memorialize those events,” he said.
But it would not be surprising if the official memorial did end up there, on the now internationally recognized corner of Wilkins and Shady Avenues. From the earliest hours after the shooting, when a makeshift monument of flowers and candles and tokens of sympathy began to grow under the stained-glass windows of the building that bears its name, Tree of Life has accepted being the public face, “whether they like it or not,” Professor Young said.But it would not be surprising if the official memorial did end up there, on the now internationally recognized corner of Wilkins and Shady Avenues. From the earliest hours after the shooting, when a makeshift monument of flowers and candles and tokens of sympathy began to grow under the stained-glass windows of the building that bears its name, Tree of Life has accepted being the public face, “whether they like it or not,” Professor Young said.
It is still unclear whether the two other congregations that worshiped in that building — New Light and Dor Hadash — will return. Some have insisted that going back is a victory over terrorism. Others never want to set foot inside the building again.It is still unclear whether the two other congregations that worshiped in that building — New Light and Dor Hadash — will return. Some have insisted that going back is a victory over terrorism. Others never want to set foot inside the building again.
For its own physical memorial, New Light has begun considering something more intimate, perhaps in its cemetery. Being part of a larger national remembrance is not a priority for Rabbi Perlman. He was heartened by how people from many backgrounds reached out after the attack, and continue to do so. Still, he is skeptical the rest of the country will continue to remember this so intensely.For its own physical memorial, New Light has begun considering something more intimate, perhaps in its cemetery. Being part of a larger national remembrance is not a priority for Rabbi Perlman. He was heartened by how people from many backgrounds reached out after the attack, and continue to do so. Still, he is skeptical the rest of the country will continue to remember this so intensely.
But they will at New Light, a small 120-year-old conservative shul. They will make sense of this with each other, in prayer and study.But they will at New Light, a small 120-year-old conservative shul. They will make sense of this with each other, in prayer and study.
“We still go back to the archetypes that we find the Bible,” the rabbi said.“We still go back to the archetypes that we find the Bible,” the rabbi said.
A year ago, Rabbi Perlman was hiding in a pitch-dark closet with three members of his congregation. One of them, 87-year-old Melvin Wax, would be shot dead before the morning was over.A year ago, Rabbi Perlman was hiding in a pitch-dark closet with three members of his congregation. One of them, 87-year-old Melvin Wax, would be shot dead before the morning was over.
At a feast five months later during the Jewish holiday of Purim, in the brightly lit banquet room of the synagogue where New Light now meets, Rabbi Perlman was onstage putting on a goofy, lighthearted Purim play along with his wife and the two other people from that closet who had survived.At a feast five months later during the Jewish holiday of Purim, in the brightly lit banquet room of the synagogue where New Light now meets, Rabbi Perlman was onstage putting on a goofy, lighthearted Purim play along with his wife and the two other people from that closet who had survived.
The tragedy was the unspoken backdrop, explicitly mentioned only in Rabbi Perlman’s remarks that night. He tied what happened that morning in October to the basis of the Purim holiday itself: the deliverance of the Jews from those who would destroy them.The tragedy was the unspoken backdrop, explicitly mentioned only in Rabbi Perlman’s remarks that night. He tied what happened that morning in October to the basis of the Purim holiday itself: the deliverance of the Jews from those who would destroy them.
“Judaism,” the rabbi said, “is being able to understand history through the lens of our ancestors.”“Judaism,” the rabbi said, “is being able to understand history through the lens of our ancestors.”
Among the members of Dor Hadash, the memorial most often discussed is this: action. Doing something. Right now.Among the members of Dor Hadash, the memorial most often discussed is this: action. Doing something. Right now.
“To us there’s no question that we must act, that we are called to act,” said Carolyn Ban, a retired professor and longtime member.“To us there’s no question that we must act, that we are called to act,” said Carolyn Ban, a retired professor and longtime member.
This has been the credo of Dor Hadash since it formed as a small study group in the 1960s, a congregation dedicated to the Jewish concept of “tikkun olam,” repairing the world.This has been the credo of Dor Hadash since it formed as a small study group in the 1960s, a congregation dedicated to the Jewish concept of “tikkun olam,” repairing the world.
In the days and weeks after the shooting, Professor Ban and several others from the congregation’s social action committee formed a group called Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence. It has since become a separate nonprofit organization — not technically affiliated with Dor Hadash, but spiritually very much a creation of it — with an array of members pushing for a change to gun laws at the state and national level.In the days and weeks after the shooting, Professor Ban and several others from the congregation’s social action committee formed a group called Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence. It has since become a separate nonprofit organization — not technically affiliated with Dor Hadash, but spiritually very much a creation of it — with an array of members pushing for a change to gun laws at the state and national level.
This was the imperative of remembering what happened to the 11 worshipers last October, said Professor Ban, “to make sure that this never happens to anybody else.”This was the imperative of remembering what happened to the 11 worshipers last October, said Professor Ban, “to make sure that this never happens to anybody else.”
On Thursday afternoon the group organized its memorial, along the Pittsburgh riverfront, with 11 empty chairs signifying those who were killed. A crowd of people lined up to place stones and flowers in memory of victims of gun violence. Fliers that were handed out included the phone numbers of politicians and lists of specific gun control policies.On Thursday afternoon the group organized its memorial, along the Pittsburgh riverfront, with 11 empty chairs signifying those who were killed. A crowd of people lined up to place stones and flowers in memory of victims of gun violence. Fliers that were handed out included the phone numbers of politicians and lists of specific gun control policies.
“For a tragedy like this,” Professor Ban said, “the work is never done.”“For a tragedy like this,” Professor Ban said, “the work is never done.”