New museum focused on American antisemitism breaks ground at Tree of Life site in Squirrel Hill

Pittsburgh took another important step toward healing Sunday as ground was broken on a new structure at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill that will house a memorial and museum to combat American antisemitism.

Emotions ran high 2,066 days after a gunman broke into the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, killing 11 Jews from three congregations that worshipped there. The shooting remains the largest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who survived the attack, said in his blessing in front of more than 500 people in attendance under a large tent that the day was a mixture of sadness and joy, and the commemoration was a sign of rebirth and recovery from the hateful attack.

“We announce loudly and clearly to the entire world that evil did not win,” Myers said. “It did not chase us from our home, and it never, ever will.”

The event started at 11 a.m. and was a culmination that brought together Jewish community members as well as other religious and civic leaders from across Pittsburgh in an invitation-­only event. Some attendees could be seen wiping away tears as they read displays commemorating the attack and detailing what the new structure will become.

Winds whipped as the program began, followed by light rain that lowered temperatures a bit on a steamy Sunday. Visiting dignitaries included CNN journalist Wolf Blitzer, Gov. Josh Shapiro and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris. The three men are Jewish, and all gave speeches.

Audrey Glickman, who fled and hid from the gunman during the Oct. 27 attack, blew the shofar — a ram’s-horn trumpet used by ancient Jews in religious ceremonies — to symbolize the renewal and the start of a new chapter at the Tree of Life site.

Diane Rosenthal is a sister of Cecil and David Rosenthal, who were killed in the attack. The two were present at services every Saturday and greeted congregants, Rosenthal said.

“My brothers Cecil and David loved this place. I can feel their presence even today,” she said, getting choked up.

Rosenthal said the renewal of the site is an important milestone for the community, and she is looking forward to welcoming in people to learn about the attack, the lives of those killed and how to combat anti­semitism.

“We don’t want our loved ones to be solely remembered for how they were killed. We want them to be remembered for how they lived their beautiful lives,” she said. “Vibrant Jewish life will return to this corner, where it has been for generations.”

A new structure

The new 45,000-square-foot structure will provide worship space for the Tree of Life congregation, an education and research center, a memorial to the Oct. 27 attack and the nation’s first museum that focuses on American antisemitism.

Religious leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim and other faiths were present at the groundbreaking and shared in an interfaith prayer. They included Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and Som Sharma, interfaith leader at the Hindu-Jain Temple in Monroeville.

Jeffrey Solomon, vice chair of the Tree of Life organization, lauded the interfaith support for the new Tree of Life building.

“By being here today, you are modeling what a world can look like, what the world should look like,” Solomon said.

He thanked the current and former elected officials who attended the event. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, former Mayor Bill Peduto, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, former Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, U.S. Rep. Summer Lee and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey attended.

The project received $1 million in federal funds, Casey announced last month.

Solomon said he celebrated his bar mitzvah at Tree of Life 45 years ago, and he thanked the supporters in the crowd because he is confident celebrations like that will return to the site.

“We will dance again,” Solomon said.

Gov. Shapiro spoke about his connections to the Tree of Life. One of the Bibles he used to swear into office was given to him by Myers, he said, and he talked about being in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018.

Shapiro said he understands the pain that everyone feels from that day but noted that there were also signs of light when the community came together in Squirrel Hill the night following the attack.

“On the corner of Forbes and Murray, hundreds of our neighbors came together, holding hands, locking arms, comforting one another and declaring with one voice that we would not let hate and antisemitism permeate and further infect this loving community,” Shapiro said.

He visited the site again more recently with his college-age daughter, and he said it is important to practice the Jewish tradition of l’dor vador, or to pass down teachings from older to younger generations.

Shapiro said the new museum at the Tree of Life site will continue that tradition and is channeling the spirit of that night at Forbes and Murray.

Emhoff said he has visited with the families of the victims several times over the years, and he was pleased to be back in Pittsburgh to celebrate the start of renewal.

But he also warned that since the 2018 attack, antisemitism in the country has only gotten worse.

“Since the evil of that day, we have seen antisemitism rise to unprecedented levels,” Emhoff said. “It is a crisis.”

The Anti-Defamation League recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents in America last year, more than double the total from the year before.

In the Pittsburgh area, there were nearly 70 antisemitic incidents reported in the first three months of 2024 — more than triple the number reported from January through March last year, federation officials said.

Emhoff touted the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism and said he will continue to push back against hate.

“Let me be very clear: When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or their identity, or when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism, plain and simple,” he said to a large applause from the audience.

The ceremony ended with a traditional glass breaking. Officials, families of victims and survivors were invited on stage to stomp on glass — a tradition in Jewish weddings to remember the pain of the past.

The sound of crushing glass was followed shortly by thunderous applause and expressions of joy.

The broken glass will be used to make mezuzahs — a piece of parchment inscribed with religious text — which will be affixed to the doorways of the new museum.