Tree of Life’s mission to uproot antisemitism couldn’t come at a more critical time
OpinionEditorial

Tree of Life’s mission to uproot antisemitism couldn’t come at a more critical time

One of Tree of Life’s core missions is to uproot antisemitism and other identity-based hate.

Interfaith leaders say a group prayer at the Tree of Life groundbreaking. (Photo by Dale Lazar)
Interfaith leaders say a group prayer at the Tree of Life groundbreaking. (Photo by Dale Lazar)

Since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Jews around the world have been targeted by an alarming increase in antisemitic attacks —8,873 recorded incidents across the United States in 2023, representing a 140% increase from 3,698 incidents in 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Most of those incidents — 5,204 — occurred after Oct. 7, and more than half of those incidents included references to Israel, Zionism or Palestine.

So far in 2024, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has logged 145 antisemitic incidents, compared to 56 year-to-date in 2023, including anti-Zionist assaults and anti-Israel vandalism on both public and private property.

It is against this backdrop that Tree of Life, Inc. broke ground Sunday on its new building, an edifice that promises to be more than a memorial for the 11 beloved community members from three congregations who were murdered by an antisemite on Oct. 27, 2018: Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.

One of Tree of Life’s core missions is to uproot antisemitism and other identity-based hate through education, remembrance, celebrating the beauty of Jewish life and building bridges across diverse demographics.

Though catalyzed by a white supremacist attack at the Tree of Life building, that mission is even more critical now, as Jews worldwide face the assaults and lies of anti-Israel activists seeking to mask their Jew-hatred under the guise of anti-Zionism.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism — which has been adopted or endorsed by a majority of states, the Biden administration and many universities — includes “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor,” “Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation” and “Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel.”

Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, in his speech at the Tree of Life groundbreaking, specifically condemned the surge in antisemitism related to criticism of Israel.

“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,” Emhoff said.

The crowd responded with resounding applause.

Ending the millennia-old scourge of antisemitism is a herculean task, and one undertaken by a plethora of organizations in addition to the new Tree of Life. But as antisemitism spreads — by the far-right, the far-left and by anti-Zionist extremists — we applaud all efforts to root it out. And we are proud that some of those efforts will be coming from Pittsburgh.

At the event, Gov. Josh Shapiro quoted Rabbi Tarfon’s familiar edict from Pirkei Avot: “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.”

We wish Tree of Life, Inc. the utmost success in its efforts. They couldn’t come at a more critical time. PJC

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