Construction commencement for innovative Tree of Life structure, nearly six years after Pittsburgh synagogue tragedy.
A remembrance project is set to acknowledge the victims of a horrific mass shooting that took the lives of 11 congregants and left six others injured. The attack occurred at a synagogue, which has since been partially demolished, as reported by KDKA, a CNN affiliate.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, second gentleman Doug Emhoff recalled the tragic events that unfolded around six years ago. A white supremacist carried out the deadliest attack ever against American Jews in the country, right at this location.
Emhoff described the event as an unimaginable act of violence, terror, and barbarism, fueled by hate towards Jews.
On October 27, 2018, an armed man identified as Robert Bowers stormed into the Tree of Life synagogue, armed with multiple firearms and began shooting congregants with an AR-15-style rifle. Four police officers who responded to the scene were also injured.
Sadly, the victims were: David and Cecil Rosenthal, 54 and 59; Richard Gottfried, 65; Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Irving Younger, 69; Daniel Stein, 71; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Bernice and Sylvan Simon, 84 and 86; Melvin Wax, 87; and Rose Mallinger, 97.
Last August, Bowers was sentenced to death on 22 capital counts, 37 life sentences, and 20 years each on four additional counts, according to previous CNN reports.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the rise in hatred towards Jews across the United States, referencing incidents on college campuses and in town squares. Despite achieving the highest number of antisemitic incidents in 2022, the number of such incidents increased by 140% in 2023, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Shapiro encouraged the site to serve as a sanctuary where individuals can find strength and work towards eradicating evil.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer was among the speakers at the ceremony in Pittsburgh. He stated that the new Tree of Life would not only serve as a tribute to the lives lost and a symbol of hope for future generations of the Pittsburgh Jewish community, but also as a place for teaching crucial lessons.
Community and religious leaders also spoke, emphasizing the importance of standing against evil, promoting renewal, and stressing the need for education and empowerment to combat antisemitism.
