New Pittsburgh synagogue shooting film chronicles bravery of first responders

A new film about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting gives voice to the heroes who ran toward danger to face down an antisemitic murderer on Oct. 27, 2018.

“Confronting Hate: Responding to the Tree of Life Attack” is the first documentary about the shooting in which first responders share their stories regarding the most violent antisemitic incident in U.S. history. Eleven Jews from three congregations — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — were killed that day: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. Two other worshippers, Dan Leger and Andrea Wedner, were shot and seriously wounded but survived. Four first responders were acutely wounded as well.

While other films about the shooting have amplified the stories of the survivors of the attack and the families of those who were killed, “Confronting Hate” chronicles the events of that day from the perspective of SWAT officers and other first responders. It is the first time they have spoken publicly about Oct. 27, 2018, outside of the trial of the shooter, according to filmmakers.

Get The Jewish Chronicle Weekly Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Both Leger and Wedner are featured in the film as well, sharing honest and heartbreaking testimonies of what they saw and endured during the attack, and their personal journeys of recovery.

The documentary was produced by “The Debrief with Jon Becker,” a podcast examining tactical operations and crisis response. The hour-long film, which premiered Aug. 26 at the National Tactical Officers Association’s Law Enforcement Operations Conference in Washington, D.C., is now streaming on YouTube.

On Oct. 27, 2018, an antisemitic gunman entered the Tree of Life building during Shabbat services and shot everyone he saw. Armed with multiple firearms, “he engaged in a prolonged firefight with Pittsburgh police and SWAT units,” the filmmakers said. “The incident tested the limits of tactical response, coordination under fire, and post-incident resilience.”

In “Confronting Hate” viewers learn details about the tactical decisions made by the first responders, and about their roads to physical and psychological healing following the trauma they sustained that day.

Notably, the shooter’s name is not mentioned in the film.

“Although there have been several documentaries made about Tree of Life, we were deeply troubled by two things: the attention paid to the perpetrator of the attack, and the complete disregard for the men and women who responded to the event,” said Jon Becker, host of “The Debrief” and producer of the film. “This film isn’t about the killer, his motives, or the political views surrounding the incident. It’s about the heroes who stopped him. We focus entirely on the responders, their courage, and the lasting impact of that day, ensuring the victims’ names are remembered and the attacker’s is forgotten.”

The documentary is available to stream on YouTube under the show’s YouTube channel @thedebriefwithjonbecker. PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.