
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
White posterboard with handwritten messages and hand drawn illustrations in pencil and marker. Large crease in the center. The upper half reads: "HAFTR stands with you Pittsburgh." The lower half features illustrations of six hands with signatures from HAFTR students.
Floral tag from floral arrangement addressed to Tree of Life synagogue. The message is printed on a tag from a local florist.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a leaf with geometric motifs. The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Envelope and card from administrators and affiliated staff at The Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking at Elizabethtown College. Envelope is inscribed: "Tree of Life" and illustrated with a Star of David and heart. Card features an illustration of peacock feathers on the front. Card reads: "Elizabethtown College's Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking shares our concerns and prayers for your community at this most difficult time.
Square card with white and yellow text against blue background. Card reads, "Mitzvah4Pittsburgh. Some spread darkness. We spread light. Choose a good deed. Choose a Mitzvah. Add light to the world," followed by four options and a place for respondents to list their name and email address. Some names and email addresses have been redacted for privacy.
Clear ribbed glass bottle with packing tape around base. Dirt and small leaf stuck to tape. Bottle contains a variety of synthetic flowers and greenery including sunflowers, oak leaves, grass, and glitter-covered poinsettias.
Card from a congregant at the Holy Angels Parish. The front cover contains a stock illustration of a haloed dove flying in front of Noah's ark. Due to water exposure at the memorial site, the message in this card has been partially erased. The remaining text reads: "[?] everybody is ok...praying for those...are hurt and kill. [Na]me: Elio age: 10... [Holy Ang]els" CCD."
Hardwritten card in blue pen on white paper, offering condolences following the October 27 attack.
Handmade, screen-printed card on red paper with blue paint. A heart appears in the center. Signed, lower right: "Love, Brian S." The card has been laminated. A piece of clear tape appears on the back.
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 contains message of support, affirmation, and love. The church's contact information is included on the back of the envelope.
Note from a member of The Church at Severn Run in Severn, Maryland. The front of the note reads: "Heaven is for everyone! God is Love- We love you. 'If any man says he love God, he's a liar if he loves not his brother.' 'Love they neighbor as thyself.' We are all children of the Lord. We are all the same in God's eyes. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament." Illustrations of a smiling heart, five-pointed star, cloud, rainbow, as well as flowers, appear below.
Handmade card in colored marker on paper. The card reads: "Love" and is illustrated with a heart below. Mild dirt stains throughout. The card has been laminated.
Typed memorial note in honor of Richard Gottfried. The author recalls personal details about Gottfried's identity as a Jew and his commitment to the field of dentistry.
Post-it note with handwritten message in green marker. The message reads: "You are not alone. [Heart]."
Prayer card with the words of a prayer to be recited every day at high noon. The prayer reads: "O God of mercy, give us peace. Peace in our hearts. Peace in our homes. Peace in our community. Peace in the world." Staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
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 reads: "Dear friend, Greetings and peace be with you today. I thank God for the opportunity to write to you this morning. I just wanted to let you know that I am committed to praying for you and serving our communities together. The world is full of broken people. Some of these broken people have caused unimaginable pain. To you my Jewish friends.
Clear glass globe vase with rippled lip. Vase filled with translucent marbles and two synthetic light pink roses.
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 reads: "Dear You, I have so much I could tell you, but what I want to share with you is a feeling. I want you to always feel God's love for you! I know sometimes (many times) God's love feels hidden. Where is love's light in our times of darkness? Two things help me to remember God's love each day. I hope that they can help you too.
Card from the Friendship Circle of Illinois. The front cover reads: "From Eli [last name redacted] Chicago, Il." The inside reads: "To the Jewish community of Pittsburgh sheyichyu (may they live), We were all so sad when he heard the news. We all hope very soon there will be tichiat hameitim (resurrection of the dead). My hachlata (resolution) is to look in my siddur (prayer book) while I daven (pray)." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Words can't begin to express the sorrow we have felt and experienced as a church, country and people for the senseless loss and hatred you all have experienced. We pray and hope you feel God's peace, comfort and loss in this time of great sorrow. Love will win. Peace will win. Always. Your sister in God's love..."
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.