
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
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.
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of the words: "Keep Going" surrounded by arrows, stars, and other faunal motifs. Handwritten notes of affirmation appears in the four corners. The back features an additional handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Post-it note with handwritten message in black ink. The message reads: "Am Yisrael Chai!" Translated into English, this means: "The People of Israel live!" Color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Post-it note with handwritten message in black marker. The note is written in Hebrew. Translated into English, it reads: "Be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened!"
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a bird holding a leaf in its mouth with geometric and floral motifs. The back contains a handwritten note, as well as the stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School."
Card from a student at West Allegheny Middle School in Imperial, Pa. The front features a hand-colored illustration of a turtle with floral and geometric motifs on its back, legs, and neck. The back contains a handwritten note and a sticker with blue text reading: "Stronger Together." The stock signature: "From your friends at West Allegheny Middle School" appears in the lower center.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated Nov. 4, '18 and reads: "We are so sorry to learn of the horrible tragedy that has befallen your church. Please know that we at Point Loma Pres. in San Diego are with you in prayer always and that God will always make things right in His own time and way. Stay strong in His word and trust Him to heal your hearts. In this we pray and support you from afar. Eric [last name redacted] PLPC."
Card made by a student from the George Washington University Hillel. Features a bilingual Hebrew and English message and reads: "Am Yisroel Chai (The People of Israel live) forever and ever. NEVER FORGET IT!!!"
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "Yes, we miss you with our hearts, Jerry." Signature illegible.
Floral tag from floral arrangement, which reads: "With Love from our Family to Yours [heart]." The note is written in black marker on rectangular piece of wrapping paper with brown and red stripes.
White poster with inscription and drawings in fuchsia marker. Bleeding on back. Staining throughout due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Single page with typed text and hand-drawn illustration of an open Torah scroll, Shabbat candles, and a kiddish cup. Text lists details of event and includes quotation from Statement of Principles.
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.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated November 2018 and reads: "God's peace be with you. Love, Peggy [last name redacted]."
Printed tag with a photograph of Bernice Simon. The tag reads: "In Memory of Bernice Simon." Creasing and staining due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The note is written in Hebrew and English. Translated into English, the message reads: "May God protect you when you leave and when you come. Happy Chanukah!" Signed in English by the Abrin family, followed by a heart.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "Dear Tree of Life Synagogue, Though I feel helpless and unsure of what to do or how to help, this I offer. I stand with you, I mourn with you, I fall on my [?] and cry with you, I get back up with you, I move forward with you. Good and beautiful people of Tree of Life. God bless you, Steve."
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "To our esteemed sisters and brothers I offer sorrow in your losses, comfort to enter into your memories and many blessings for your bright future as a synagogue to overcome. With all my love- Russell [last name redacted]."
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.