
The October 27 Archive currently contains 1333 objects and is regularly being expanded with more material. The archive includes flyers and programs from community gatherings held since the October 27 attack, a comprehensive collection of news coverage about the day of the event, oral history recordings reflecting a diverse array of experiences, and historical documentation about the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania.
You can view all the materials currently included in the archive using the browser below. Each object has been described and cataloged to help you discover materials, learn about these materials, understand the context in which these materials were created, and draw connections between different materials. You can refine the browsing experience using various filters, including creator, type, and subject. Some of these filters have already been used to create preset galleries, each organized around specific aspects of the archive. You can also look for specific words and phrase found in the archive using a keyword search.
Western Pennsylvanians share their life stories and reflect on the impact of an antisemitic attack in a beloved Jewish neighborhood.
Documentation of the October 27 attack as it was unfolding, told through news articles and oral histories.
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Pages of typed text.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated 11/4/18 and reads: "To our people of God. Our prayers of love and support are with you always. The loss of your friends and family is horrible. Our prayers for healing are with you all. God promises in Malachi 4 that 'Goodness will shine like the rising sun and will bring healing.' Take heart. With love, Liliana [last name redacted]."
Hand painted card with abstract lines and shapes in brown, green, and blue paint on paper. Signed: "Love, Khira D." lower right. The card has been laminated.
Navy blue cotton t-shirt with white and gold screen-printed lettering. Lettering on front reads, "Pitt/Stronger Than Hate" with a Star of David taking the place of the dot above the letter I in "Pitt."
Post-it note with handwritten message in black marker. The message reads: "When we work together, hate can't win. -Max S."
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: "I'm so sorry for you this is terrible the synagogue was bad. You're in my prayers!! Sincerely, Emma Pack , Holy Angels, Grade 4." Spelling errors corrected for clarity. Color bleeding due to water exposure at the memorial site.
Folded cardstock program for "Mona Golabek in The Children of Willesden Lane: A Tale of Music, Hope and Survival." Cover features image of a girl with a suitcase on a dark red background. Interior pages lists speakers and performances, describes the production, and provides background information about Mona Golabeck, Kristallnacht, and the Kindertransport. Back page describes the missions of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, Classrooms Without Borders (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and the Pittsburgh Willesden Lane Read, and includes a memorial to the victims of the October 27 attack.
Printed pamphlet in blue, white, and black ink on blue and white paper. The front cover reads, in English and Hebrew: "Messiah Revealed." The inner panels contain ten biblical prooftexts in support of the claim that the Hebrew Bible foretold the coming of the messiah, "Yeshua" (Jesus).
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.
Folded card on yellow paper with extensive dirt stains. Due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial, the message on this card is no longer visible.
Handwritten note in black marker which reads: "Love is that which enables choice. Love is always stronger than fear. Always choose on the basis of LOVE." Tearing in left upper corner due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Oral history of Moshe Baran, recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Project.
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.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "We are thinking of you and hope you may find peace during this tough. You and your families are in our thoughts. I know God is thinking of you and will keep you protected in his hands while you go through this. It is not fair and we won't understand why this happens. It is terrible and God doesn't give us more than we can handle but it sure feels that way sometime. Just keep peace in your heart and forgiveness for this senseless act.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated 11/4/18 and reads: "Tree of Life Community- All of your brothers and sisters at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church mourn with you. We are absolutely devastated at the events of last week's service, and there are no words one can say to make sense of it. The God of Abraham, Isaac, David, and Jacob is with you, and we pray for comfort, community, city, our country and our world.
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.
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: "Even in dark times there's still hope! I'm praying for you ALL! From Holy Angels CCD." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.
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.
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by John [last name redacted]. The tag reads: "For the innocents who[se] lives were taken- Eternal Love." It is signed John [last name and address redacted] of Phillipsburg, North Carolina. The contact information for James Flower and Gift Shoppe is included below. The message is written in black ink on a printed tag with an ombre background resembling a sunset.
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.