
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "My heart aches for all of your community of faith who have suffered such a senseless and tragic loss. Please know that we, who have faith and hope in God, know that you are not alone. We are with you. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. I pray for your peace. Shalom, Sarah."
Folded card with crayon illustrations. Cover features three human figures. One is standing and smiling. Second is prone and frowning. Third is floating with face obscured. Several balloon-like shapes float toward a colored band along upper margin. Interior reads, "We are here. Right by your side. Keep fighting and good things will come." Back reads "2018" above prone human figure.
Wooden pedestal painted white with white Star of David and red heart affixed to front. Handwritten in pencil and black marker on the Star of David is the name "Sylvan Simon." Collaged onto the heart are white pieces of paper and a translation of Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Accompanying image shows all 11 Stars of David in the series.
Card addressed to Cecil Rosenthal, written using personal details from various public sources.
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.
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.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "We love you. Love, Sophie."
Black and white reproduction of a photograph originally printed in a newspaper, showing Greek Revival synagogue. Cropped selection from larger image.
Single sheet folded in half. Contains photocopy of two pages from the "Readings: Prelude to Kaddish" section of the Kol Haneshamah Shabbat Vehagim prayerbook. One side contains the poem "Each Of Us Has a Name" in English and Hebrew. Other side contains "In Many Houses" by Diane Cole and "To open eyes when others close them" by Emmanuel Eydoux.
Collage with a hand drawn tree in the center; owl peeks out from a crevice in the upper trunk. Leaves comprised of multicolored tissue paper; six ready-made decorative leaves in peach fabric. Lightly shaded blue background; handwritten messages in black ink on either side of the tree.
Copy paper with the reflexive Hebrew verb for prayer written in dark blue marker. Inscription bleeds through back.
Handwritten note written in black ink on blue paper. The note, which contains dozens of small, illustrated hearts around a large heart in the upper center, reads: "Lots of Love."
Cardboard sign with the message "Words Matter" painted in white. Blank back. Warped from water damage.
Clear glass cylindrical vase with a bouquet of orange, white, and purple synthetic flowers. Bouquet is bound with green plastic ring and string of silver plastic gemstones.
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.
Large square card from a student at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, Co. Card reads: "Dear members of Tree of Life[s], I am an international student from China. I heard the sad news about the sad thing [that] happened in the Synagogue. I felt really sorry about that and I know I can't do anything to let you feel better. But I am always on your side. Support the sad family. So please strong to stay together. Peace be with you. - Isabel L." Illustrated Star of David and peace sign on lower left.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated 11/4/2018 and reads: "June [last name redacted] My sincere heartfelt condolences to my Jewish family. This is a really heartfelt and sad time for me as Jews from Philadelphia sponsored me into this beautiful country allowing me to become a permanent resident. I lived with them for 18 months and raised their daughters as her nanny house keeper.
Oral history with Josiah Gilliam recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th oral history project.
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.