
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Hand written and illustrated poem dedicated to the eleven leaves which feel from the Tree of Life, a euphemism for the eleven victims of the October 27 attack. Eleven illustrations of different kinds of leaves appear around the poem.
Letter dated 10/30/18 from a student at the Hadar Institute, an egalitarian Yeshiva and center for Jewish life located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
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.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of the word: "Smile" and other floral and geometric motifs. The back contains a handwritten note in fuchsia pencil, reading: "I've lost loved ones I care about and know how hard it is. Please know I am thinking about you and I'm sorry for your loss." The stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School" appears on the bottom right.
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover features the following quote: "Let your smile change the world but don't let the world change your smile." The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life Congregation, I am very sorry for the bad news. I am a social studies student in Goddard Middle School. I know the feeling of losing someone, and it must be a very hard time for you guys. just so you know we'll be there for you guys and you'll always be in our thoughts. Sincerely, Evangeline."
Single sheet folded to created four-page program. Cover includes title, date and time, logo for African Methodist Episcopal Church, and list of speakers. Interior pages detail elements of the service and include the names of the victims of the October 27 attack. Back page includes acknowledgements and clip art image of hands.
Post-it note with handwritten message in black ink. The note is written in Hebrew and English. Translated into English, the message reads: "All of Israel are connected to one another. We are with you!"
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.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "Love and solidarity from the Bay Area."
Card from the Friendship Circle of Illinois. The card reads: "Baruch [redacted]. To the Jewish community of Pittsburgh sheyichyu (may they live), I'm so sorry about what happened. I am going to bring and wash my hands in the morning in honor of all those people who passed away." A smiley face with a yarmulke (skullcap) with Hebrew letters appears below. The Hebrew acronym "B"H" (Bless God/Thank God) appears in the upper right. Spelling errors corrected for clarity.
Post-it note with handwritten message in green marker. The message reads: "You are not alone. [Heart]."
Invitation to Leah's Bat Mitzvah celebration on Sunday May 27th at the Tree of Life synagogue. Illustrations of a palm tree and a sun appear on either side of the central text. On the back, the sender wrote: "I had the best day of my life in this shul. We will never forget what happened. We will make the world a better place."
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "You are loved. You are stronger than hate. Love and more love."
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. The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life members, I'm sorry for all of the uncalled for events and all of the inconvenience of them. We hope you all feel better and don't worry but keep them in mind. Sincerely, Michaela [last name redacted] from Holy Angels CCD."
Hallmark card from a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The envelope features an illustrated heart. The front cover reads: "Faith is the friend that comes along when things just seem to go all wrong." The inside reads: "To the Tree of Life, My thoughts and prayers are with yours. Nancy [last name redacted]."
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a bird's feather with floral and geometric motifs. The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by the Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, California. The tag reads: "The Orange County Islamic Foundation in Mission Viejo, California extends its sincere condolences and prayers to your congregation. We join you and support you in your moment of grief." The message is printed on a tag from a local florist.
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.