
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Folded card with colored pencil word art. Cover reads: "Have a good day". Interior reads: "Dear all, I'm so sorry to hear what happened there. We as a Beth Chai would like to send our heart to be there together. We believe world will be better. [Last name redacted for privacy] family."
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 with illustrated sunflower. Inscribed in ink with the following message: "Hate cannot break our Steel City." Signed: "equal [=] love [heart] Star of David."
Piece of notepad paper with a pencil drawing of a flying angel with wings and a halo.
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.
Handwritten note written in blue ink on lined paper. Addressed to the victims of the October 27 attack and their families. The note is signed by Natasha and reads: "I love you. I'm so sorry this happened to you." Staining and color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "To the Tree of Life Community, We are praying for you in San Diego and sending you blessings through this difficult time. God is with you and holding your members who passed in His loving hand. May His light fill your hearts during these dark times and remind you of His love even through the things we cannot explain. Bless you, Gresham." An illustration of a tree filled with hearts appears below.
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 "Joyce Fienberg." 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.
Printed translation of Psalm 43, according to the English Standard Version (ESV) translation. The person who printed this psalm included a personal, typed note below reading: "Tears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can't speak."
Post-it note with handwritten message in black ink. The message reads: "The strength of your Jewish community is inspiring. From NYC to Pittsburgh, we love you." Color bleeding due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Typed Hebrew letter from a student at Hebrew Academy, a private Jewish day school in Montreal, Quebec. Translated into English, the letter reads: "Dear Rabbi from the Tree of Life Congregation, My name is Hannah [last name redacted]. I am a student at Hebrew Academy of Montreal. I am truly sorry about what happened to your holy synagogue. I hope that this will not happen again. I give [?] all your family and loved ones of your synagogue."
Typed text on paper with gray background and blue and gold accents and logos for Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh. Text lists speakers and supporters for event.
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."
Folded card with colored pencil illustration. Cover shows a whimsical landscape with a tree, balloon, bushes, rainbow, flower, and a sun. Inside reads: "Stay strong, we're all standing with you. A little hope can go a long way [heart]. Best wishes; this too shall pass". Back cover reads: "2018."
Note from a member of The Church at Severn Run in Severn, Maryland. The note is enclosed in an envelope with church letterhead, reading: "The Church at Severn Run: Love Well, Live Jesus, Believe Big!" The note inside is dated October 28, 2018 and reads: "Dear Friends, Peace to you. May you live in the love, joy, and kindness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God is on the throne, always. Harry [last name redacted]." The church's contact information is included on the back of the envelope.
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "When there is dark be the one who turns on the light."
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads: "May you flourish in the future."
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.