Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Document with reflections, sheet music, and song lyrics, 9 pages.
White envelope with handwritten message in black ink, reading: "In Greatest Sympathy to Residents of Squirrel Hill and Tree of Life Community and Jewish people throughout the world." Staining, creasing, and tearing on the edge due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Card addressed to Daniel Stein. Cover features a reproduction of a painting by Frank Crosby, a resident of the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh. The inside contains messages of love and support written by other members of the Emmaus Community.
Post-it note with handwritten message in black marker. The message reads: "Hate Only Destroys." A Star of David appears below.
Folded card on light green paper with hand drawn illustrations in marker and pen. The front cover features a Star of David in black marker filled in with red scribble-scrabble. The inside contains an illustrated portrait of a young girl, labeled "Maya" in both Hebrew and English, wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt with a Star of David. Rainbow colored lines appear above the figure's head.
Folded card with repeating diagonal plaid pattern in green and dark blue marker on yellow paper. The inside contains the following words in a cloud-shaped bubble with emanating light rays: "I am sorry for what happened. It will be ok. [Heart]." A Star of David surrounded by tiny dots appears in the upper left corner.
Floral tag from floral arrangement addressed to David Rosenthal from Gayle and Gloria. The tag reads: "To David, Beautiful person, kind, loving, and so sweet! Love, Gayle and Gloria." The note is handwritten in blue ink on a pink printed tag with a logo in the lower center.
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 contains an illustrated tree, labeled "Tree of Life" and reads: "Tree of Life Members, I am really sorry for your loss. I'm praying for you everyday. May all people that have passed away rest in heaven peacefully, and all that are injured good luck to recovery. May all the souls' hearts that have been broken recover and rejoy: Much Love From, Elaina, Holy Angels Church, 6th Grade."
Handwritten letter from a student at Hebrew Academy, a private Jewish day school in Montreal, Quebec. The letter reads: "Dear Rabbi, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope it does not happen again. Refua Shleima (speedy recovery). I hope that everyone is comfortable and safe. Ahava Montreal ha [Hebrew Academy] 4A.
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. It is signed: "[S]ean [last name redacted] Holy Angels CCD Grade 5." Due to water exposure at the memorial site, the message in this card has been partially erased. The remaining text inside reads: "[D]ear Tree of Life Members, I am very sorry of what happened... that peace is comforting everyone...tragedy in synagogue. P.S. Peace be with you.
Folded card on brown paper. Two circular stamped imprints visible in the center of both the right and left flaps. Due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial, the message on this card is no longer visible.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue ink. The message reads: "We are here."
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue ink. The message reads: "We love [heart] Tree of Life." Staining and color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Card from the Friendship Circle of Illinois. Front cover reads: "From: Menachem [last name redacted] To: Jewish Community of Pittsburgh." Inside reads: "To the Jewish community of Pittsburgh sheyichyu (may they live). Passed away: 11, Injured: 2 Yidden (Jews) + 2 policemen=4. Illustrated below there is a wagon holding the shooter, who says in a word bubble: "I just wanted to kill Jews." A man with a hat, perhaps a police officer, is seated on the right.
Post-it note with handwritten message in green marker. The message reads: "Love Wins [heart]."
Note addressed to Jerry Rabinowitz written on the back of a business card from Doug [last name redacted], a certified Pilates instructor in the Pittsburgh area.
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.
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.