
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Black and white sticker with the word "LOVE" in large capital letters.
Floral tag from floral arrangement, which reads: "May they Rest in Peace." The message is written in blue ink on a printed tag with multicolored flowers in the lower right corner. The reverse is stamped with the contact information for Squirrel Hill Flower Shop.
Handwritten "Prayer of St. Francis" written in black ink on white paper, glued to cardboard. Warping due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Floral tag from floral arrangement, which reads: "Love will always prevail. Together against hate." The message is written in black ink on a printed tag with multicolored flowers in the lower right corner. Tape in the upper center. The reverse is stamped with the contact information for Squirrel Hill Flower Shop.
Handwritten note written in brown marker on green coloring paper reading: "Let there be love and light in this world. Our thoughts are with this community. We send our love, light and peace. C. [last name redacted]."
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by Paul and Namoi [last name redacted]. The tag reads: "Praying for comfort for all who mourn. Isaiah 6, verse 2. Our sincerest condolences and love. Paul and Namoi [last name redacted]." Message is written in black ink on a printed tag with white lillies on the left edge.
Handwritten letter written in green ink on white coloring paper, folded in half, from Lizzie, age twenty. Addressed to Lizzie's community in Pittsburgh. Lizzie explains her impulse to write this letter: "I'm not sure how to put this in words, but I do know that I have the urge to send something." Lizzie identifies herself as Jewish in her card. Tearing in upper center may be due to exposure to the elements sustained at the Wilkins memorial.
Letter written with red ink on lined notebook paper. The letter reads: "Stay strong. Gone but neve[r] forgotten. From Graccie [last name redacted]. We miss you." Illustrated with a small heart and Star of David.
Handwritten note written in yellow marker on a printed paper with a framed picture with leaves around the edges. The note is written inside the leaf frame and reads: "Eleven beautiful leaves for eleven beautiful sweet souls ripped away... Six strong trees for the six injured but here to stay. Hated can't weaken a city of steel."
Typed poem by Sylvan Kametz and Rabbi Jack Riemer titled "We Remember Them." This poem was originally published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis in a 1978 prayerbook pamphlet geared for Reform Jewish mourners. A handwritten note dated 11/4/2018, written in blue ink appears on the upper register. Tearing and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Handwritten condolence note written in black marker on yellow paper addressed to the congregants of the Tree of Life synagogue.
Typed letter addressed to Jerry Rabinowitz from Louis D. Louis identifies himself as a gay patient of Rabinowitz during the 1980s. He thanks for Rabinowitz for his sensitivity and care. The letter is enclosed in a plastic page protector and has tape residue on the back from the Wilkins memorial.
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by the Brown family. The tag reads: "Pittsburgh Strong. We grieve with you. There are no words. Thank you for standing for love. Thank you for fulfilling Exodus 22:21." Note handwritten in blue ink on a printed tag featuring a white rose on the left.
Handwritten note written in blue ink on lined paper. Addressed to the victims of the October 27 attack and their families. The note is signed by Natasha and reads: "I love you. I'm so sorry this happened to you." Staining and color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Print outs with English and Hebrew lyrics from popular Jewish and Israeli artists and poets, including Hannah Szenes (Senesh), Arik Einstein, Matisyahu, and Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. A handwritten note in blue ink reading "May your memory be eternal" appears on the second page.
Printed text of the Hebrew poem "Shalom Aleichem," which is traditionally recited on Friday evenings to welcome the Sabbath angels. Translated into English here. Some of the text in the first line of the final stanza has been cut off. Staining and creasing due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Floral tag from floral arrangement. The tag features a quote from Psalm 121:4, which reads: "Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber no sleep." The message is handwritten in black ink on a printed tag with white and purple flecked flowers.
Double-sided letter. The front features a letter written in blue ink on a white background. The letter is addressed to the families and friends of the October 27 attack victims, the three congregations that gathered to pray at the Tree of Life synagogue, the people of Squirrel Hill, the people of Pittsburgh, as well as all citizens of the world. The addressees are listed in six respective hearts in the upper center. The hearts are surrounded by the branches of two trees which frame either side of the letter.
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by the Alexander family. The tag reads: "Wishing you all peace" followed by two hearts. Message handwritten in blue ink on a printed tag with a red border and a floral bouquet on the lower left.
Laminated copy of poem by Sandra Sturtz titled "May You Always Feel Loved." Poem is printed in black ink with two flowers in the upper right and left corners. Photograph of a sunset over a rocky sea shore in the background.
Terms of Use
The October 27 Archive collects responses to an antisemitic attack in Pittsburgh, Pa. on October 27, 2018. These responses take many forms but share a motivating impulse. Each began in the mind and heart of someone who was moved by the events of that day and was compelled to create something meaningful from that feeling. By sharing these responses, those people chose to be vulnerable for the sake of a greater good. The October 27 Archive website was launched with the belief that sharing these responses with the world can provide an avenue for people all over the world to reflect, learn, and heal.
By entering this website, you agree to honor the spirit in which these responses were created and in which they are being shared with the world.
The materials on this website are being made available exclusively for research purposes. For permission to use any of the materials on this website for any other purpose, please contact the archive. If you are the creator of any of the material on this website, and you would like to provide context or request to have something removed, please contact the archive. If you intend to reference any material found on this website, please attribute all citations to the Rauh Jewish Archives, so that other researchers can easily locate these materials in the future.