
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Note from a member of The Church at Severn Run in Severn, Maryland. The note is enclosed in an envelope with church letterhead, reading: "The Church at Severn Run: Love Well, Live Jesus, Believe Big!" The note inside affirms the sender's belief that we are all God's children. The church's contact information is included on the back of the envelope.
Cover of bencher (grace after meals booklet) from the bar mitzvah of Nate Itskowitz. Features illustration of a black and yellow sports jersey with the name Itskowitz, a Steelers logo modified to read "Nate" and the date "10-27-18," and Hebrew text listing the event and date.
Red card with circular design in black marker. Extensive tearing and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Handmade card illustrated with assorted hearts of varying sizes. A large red heart appears in the middle, surrounded by smaller hearts in varying colors. Color bleeding and fading due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a flower. The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Envelope addressed to Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life. Front cover of the enclosed Hallmark card features floral imagery and says "Thinking of You." Inside reads: "My only connection to each of you is that of a fellow caring, loving human spirit that has the incredible gift of being able to learn and exist with all other living beings on this Earth. Even though that is my only tie to each of you, it is strong enough to share in your sadness and loss..." Continues on the back: "As a community and as a fellow human. May love always conquer hat and fear.
Handwritten card in blue and purple marker on paper. The card features a large heart, over a Star David, with the first names of the eleven victims of the October 27 attack. The card reads: "We can't take away the pain, we can only add our love. Love, The Ettingers."
Summary: Timeline arranged by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette listing six mass shootings in the Pittsburgh region since 2000, including incidents in Wilkinsburg, Beaver County, Stanton Heights, Collier, and Mt. Lebanon.
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of seven children holding hands around a table with a large goblet and loaf of braided bread, and seven doves. The illustration is labeled: "We are people of God's peace." The inside reads: "I send you all of my sorrowness, and I pray for the victims of the shooting."
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of seven children holding hands around a table with a large goblet and loaf of braided bread, and seven doves. The illustration is labeled: "We are people of God's peace." The inside reads: "The Tree of Life Members, even though you are going through something tough you will get through it by praying and being with each other. Sincerely, Holy Angels CCD."
Hallmark card from a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The envelope contains the following handwritten message: "Peace and Comfort." The front cover reads: "LOVE." The inside reads: "Dear Family in God, There are not any adequate words to express the horror of what happened to you in your synagogue. May the love of God and those near and far begin to heal the hurt of your losses. Our heartfelt love and prayers are with you in fellowship. Peace and comfort to you.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated November 4, 2018 and reads: "Dear Friends, May I never understand the anger and the hatred that has been loosed on you in Pittsburgh. May the awful misunderstanding that leads to these feelings in too many others be washed from the face of the Earth. I am ashamed for so many on our planet, whether they murder Jews, Coptics, journalists, or perceived blasphemers. And I am angered by the fomenting of such terror by our leaders and by the silence of our politicians.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Tree of Life, I bleed for you and with you. My soul hurts for you. I stand with you in your faith. I pray for healing. Lola. Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church."
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by L.F., which reads: "To my Hebrew family- I'm so sorry for your loss. There are no words. But the strength that you have shown is what we need. Stay strong. We are all here with you. L.F. [heart]." The message is written in black ink on a printed tag; a Star of David appears in the upper left corner.
Handwritten note in red marker on a piece of brown paper from a family. Dated 10-27-18.
Summary: The Incline report from first press conference following the October 27 attack. Includes quotes and facts drawn from the comments of several public officials, including Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, Gov. Tom Wolf, and others.
Folded card with colored pencil illustration. Front and back of card feature Stars of David enclosed by hearts. Inside reads: "Thumbs up I feel your pain" and features a stylized thumbs up and a smiley face.
White envelope addressed to Tree of Life Congregation. Handwritten in black ink. Staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
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.