Casey, Fetterman host exhibit in Congress honoring memories of 10/27 victims
Tree of Life to become living memorial to lives lost to antisemitism
Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, both of Pennsylvania, hosted the exhibit, REMEMBER REBUILD RENEW: LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD, in the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The exhibit honored the 11 people murdered during the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting — the deadliest antisemitic attack in United States history.
The exhibit also depicted the community’s response to the massacre “and presented the next phase of the congregation’s story,” according to a news release from Casey’s office. “REMEMBER REBUILD RENEW: LIGHTING THE PATH FORWARD featured artifacts from the synagogue, on display for the first time, as well as educational posters about the legacy of antisemitism in America.”
As antisemitism surges around the country, Casey said, “this exhibit serves as an important reminder that the dark, cold evil of antisemitism is no match for the bright light of education that inspires compassionate communities. We must always honor the memories of the 11 worshipers who lost their lives six years ago: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. Antisemitism is not a Jewish problem; it is an American problem, and I will keep fighting until we root it out.”
Fetterman said that “in the aftermath of the horrific and hateful act of violence in 2018, it’s incumbent on all of us to stand together, vocally and across party lines, to declare that antisemitism has no place in our country or beyond. Today’s political climate sadly underscores that need. I want to commend The Tree of Life congregation and community at large for their tireless work on the path to recovery. It is an honor to help them share their story here in the Senate.”
Tree of Life, Inc. is collaborating with diverse partners to preserve its historic Pittsburgh synagogue while also establishing a memorial to commemorate the lives of the 11 worshipers from three congregations — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, constructing an education hub to share the history of antisemitism and its manifestations in the United States and developing national educational programs to fight hatred in all its forms. PJC
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