
Primary Type – Cards
Secondary Type - Cards
Language – Cards
Creator – Cards
Date – Cards
Group – Cards
Location – Cards
Event – Cards
Floral tag from floral arrangement sent by Bham. Handwritten note in black ink on printed tag with various flowers in the upper and lower left corners. The reverse is stamped with the contact information for Squirrel Hill Flower Shop.
Postcard with a monumental building with a dome, perhaps a mosque, from Azerbaijan on the cover. Tearing due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial. The message on the back contains words of prayer and the senders' commitment to welcoming all in Squirrel Hill.
Oral history of Victoria Butch, recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Project.
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 "Jerry Rabinowitz." (The name is misspelled as "Terry Rabinowitz.) 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.
Patch featuring logo of Pittsburgh Penguins adapted to resemble a Star of David above the words "Stronger Than Hate."
Large bound volume. Cover features gold writing embossed onto white leather and reads, "Book of Life, New Light Sisterhood, Donated By Mr. and Mrs. Harold Marcus in memory of Herman L. Katz." Interior pages contain handwritten messages in calligraphy.
Summary: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report interviewing Squirrel Hill residents and local religious leaders about the October 27 attack. Includes comments from Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter is dated November 4, 2018 and reads: "Dear Friends, May I never understand the anger and the hatred that has been loosed on you in Pittsburgh. May the awful misunderstanding that leads to these feelings in too many others be washed from the face of the Earth. I am ashamed for so many on our planet, whether they murder Jews, Coptics, journalists, or perceived blasphemers. And I am angered by the fomenting of such terror by our leaders and by the silence of our politicians.
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.
Blank pink envelope with tape affixed on the reverse. Staining and fading due to exposure to the elements at the Wilkins memorial.
Summary: New York Jewish Week report compiling responses to the October 27 attack from prominent Jews on Twitter.
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."
Summary: Embedded Tweet by local news reporter, featured by The Incline, shows scene at havdalah vigil at the corner of Murray and Forbes avenues on the evening of the October 27 attack.
Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote attributed to O.G. Mandino: "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." Illustrated with the image of two stick figures, labeled "strength" and "failure" respectively standing on either side of a wall. The inside reads: "Dear Congregation of the Tree of Life, I am sorry for what happened and I hope everything gets better.
Oral history of Rabbi Aaron Bisno, recorded as part of the Meanings of October 27th Oral History Project.
Post-it note with handwritten message in red marker. The message reads: "Stronger than hate. Never forget the day."
Letter from a member of the Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California. The letter reads: "To Members of Tree of Life Synagogue, We are family and feel your grief. Prayers for our world to know and respect our roots together. Love and hope to you as you recover and move on with joy. Sincerely, Christi [last name redacted]."
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. Due to water exposure at the memorial site, the message in this card has been partially erased. The remaining text reads: "everyone...we wish the best for everyone who was effected. Michael, Holy Angels CCD 6th grade."
Post-it note with handwritten message in blue marker. The message reads, in English and Hebrew: "Be strong, be strong and may we all be strengthened."
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.