‘Bringing Jewish life back’ to the corner of Shady and Wilkins
“Over 2,000 individuals have contributed, some making $18 gifts,” she said.
The Tree of Life has taken another step forward in its transformation.
And while the corner of Shady and Wilkins avenues appears much the same as it has for the last several years — with the remains of the original Tree of Life synagogue still overlooking the vacant lot where ground was ceremoniously broken nearly two years ago — the interior of the building tells a different story.
Only the frame of the edifice remains, leaving behind a cavernous empty space awaiting transformation into The Tree of Life organization’s ambitious new center, designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. Plans call for classrooms, a modern auditorium, and a museum and memorial dedicated to the victims of the Oct. 27, 2018, Pittsburgh synagogue shooting — the most violent antisemitic attack in United States history.
“How do you tell the story of the murder of 11 worshippers who woke on a Sabbath morning to come to their synagogue, to their community, to come together and pray and now they’re gone?” asked Carole Zawatsky.
Zawatsky is the chief executive officer of The Tree of Life. She spoke at a May 14 news conference introducing the next steps in construction at the site, as did Dunham reGroup’s Craig Dunham, who serves as the owner’s representative for the project, coordinating with the architecture and construction teams.
Dunham said the current phase of the project began in April and will continue through most of the summer, encompassing demolition and preparation of the building for upcoming work, including the removal of the bimah and floor, new utility lines and replacing a fence along a neighbor’s property line.
Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and is slated to be completed in 2028.
Libeskind was hired as the project’s architect in 2021, along with local firm Rothschild Doyno Collaborative. Last fall, it was announced the initial design plans had been scaled back and that IKM Architecture had come aboard as the local architect.
The revised building plan includes a reimagined façade; a 300-seat state-of-the-art sanctuary/theater that will provide space for both religious and cultural programming, and will include Tree of Life Congregation’s stained glass windows; and a memorial outside the building, designed by Studio Libeskind and the Memorial Working Group, which is composed of victims’ family members, communal leaders and congregational representatives, according to Zawatsky.
“We were able to create, with Daniel Libeskind and his team, a spectacular building at a cost that was more in line with what felt like this project should be,” Zawatsky said. “It’s a wonderful building that has allowed us to have more outdoor space, which is a tremendous asset for the entire community.”
More than $50 million of a $60 million goal have been raised to support the construction of the building and future programming. Zawatsky said the funding has come from a multitude of sources.
“Over 2,000 individuals have contributed, some making $18 gifts,” she said. “Those gifts are really significant for some people. … There are gifts as large as $10.6 million from the state of Pennsylvania, and we are incredibly thrilled to have that. There are gifts from Pittsburgh foundations, $3.5 million and $2 million.”
Zawatsky said it was “deeply personal” as an American and as a Jew to enter this phase of the project.
“This community will tell our story of resilience,” she said. “This community will never let our narrative be told by haters and killers.”
Dunham called his participation in the project “a highlight” of his career.
For Zawatsky, the significance of the Tree of Life project erected in the congregation’s former Squirrel Hill location can’t be overstated.
“The narrative we’re building is about bringing Jewish life back to the corner of Shady and Wilkins, which is an iconic corner in the history of Squirrel Hill and Pittsburgh, and a symbol for the nation,” she said. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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