
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.
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.
Post-it note with handwritten message in red marker. The message reads: "May God's Peace and Love grow in Pittsburgh and everywhere!"
Rectangular piece of plywood wrapped in metal with embossed design of Hebrew word "Chai," meaning "Life."
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated Nov. 4, 2018 and reads: "Dear Members of the Tree of Life Synagogue, An attack on your community of faith is an attack on all of us. We stand with you from afar, and renounce the hatred that brought that madman to your door. Our pastor, Karla Shaw, will deliver this letter (and many others) as a sign of our solidarity with your community. This is a tangible sign of our prayers for your community- for peace, for protection, for security, for understanding.
Handwritten letter written in black ink on lined notebook paper from Michelle. Michelle is a lifelong Pittsburgher whose mother worked in Squirrel Hill when Sophie Masloff, Pittsburgh's first Jewish and female mayor, was in office. Michelle recalls her mother's pride in serving Masloff. Michelle notes that she is a student at the University of Pittsburgh and currently lives in Squirrel Hill. She apologizes for being "neglectful" of her ties with the Jewish community. She wrote this letter to extend "my very friendly hello" and to communicate her solidarity.
Handwritten, folded card written in blue marker on scratch paper. The note, written in bubble letters, reads: "LOVE WINS." Staining and creasing due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Oral history of Lauren Bairnsfather, recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Project.
Handmade card illustrated with multi-colored crayons on light purple paper. The front features a child's illustration of an animal, perhaps a horse, with its mouth open wide in the shape of the letter C. The back features a blob outlined in brown crayon and other undecipherable imagery.
Oral history of Tracy Baton, recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Project.
Black cotton t-shirt with the words Stronger Than Hate in white to the left of a modified Pittsburgh Steelers logo with a Star of David replacing the yellow hypocycloid.
Post-it note with handwritten message in black marker. The message reads: "With you in strength and heartbreak and love that remembers all that you are."
Post-it note with handwritten message in red marker. The message reads: "Love Wins. Love and prayers from York, AA. T.B.I."
Post-it note with handwritten message and illustration in blue, red, and black ink. The message reads: "Stronger Than Hate" and is accompanied by the adapted Steelers' emblem with blue and red diamonds and a Star of David.
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: "We are praying you. We don't deserve this [heart symbol]. Nicole [heart symbol]."
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "Stronger Than Hate. Rachel [last name redacted]." A Star of David appears in the lower left corner.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The front cover of this card features a heart with the words "God is love." The inside reads: "May you find God's comfort in knowing we are with you in spirit- May the spirit of God stir in the souls of all on our earth to stop the violence against God's people. We want peace on earth and it starts with us knowing our God of peace and love. God bless you and your whole community of believers. Pt Loma Community Pres. Church Loves you all."
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." Signed "-Jenna [last name redacted]" in the lower right corner. The inside contains several messages, including: "We love [heart symbol] you... Get well soon!!!!... Get well soon... I'm praying for you...hope you get better...we hope you heal fast...get well soon.
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.