Learning opportunities in memory of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims
In-person and virtual study sessions offered on Nov. 18 and 19
On Oct. 27, 2018, an antisemite burst into the Tree of Life building in Squirrel Hill and murdered 11 innocent people from three congregations: Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life. The date on the Hebrew calendar was 18 Cheshvan, 5779.
Each year since then, Pittsburghers mark Oct. 27 by volunteering in memory of those killed and by gathering together for a commemoration ceremony.
On 18 Cheshvan — which doesn’t necessarily coincide with Oct. 27 — community members study Torah to mark the yahrzeit of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger
This year, on 18 Cheshvan (Monday evening, Nov. 18 – Tuesday evening, Nov. 19) the 10.27 Healing Partnership is hosting several learning opportunities.
An in-person Torah study will be held at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill on Nov. 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Speakers include Eric Lidji, director of the Rauh Jewish Archives, who will talk about the origins and significance of the minyan — the quorum of 10 required for Jewish prayer. Cantor Kalix Jacobson of Temple Emanuel of South Hills will lead a study and song experience about Jewish music in times of despair. Social worker Rhonda Rosen will offer insights into Jewish contemplation practices; Amitai Ben-Nun, a senior research scientist at Motional LLC, will speak on Parshat Vayera; and Jill Joshowitz, the Oct. 27 project coordinator at the Heinz History Center, will offer a session on “Hanoten Teshua,” the traditional Jewish prayer for the welfare of the government.
Virtual learning opportunities will continue on Nov. 19 when community members can learn with Jewish scholars beyond Pittsburgh.
From 11 a.m. to noon, Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, president of the J.J. Greenberg Institute for the Advancement of Jewish Life and founding president of CLAL: The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, will lead a Torah study session; and from noon to 1 p.m. community members can learn from Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, a senior fellow of the Schusterman Fellowship who works extensively on interfaith engagement, and Cantor Joanna Dulkin, president of the Cantor’s Assembly.
For more information and to register, go to 1027healingpartnership.org. PJC
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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